Date: 10/23/26 2:48 pm From: Ian Stewart <istew...> Subject: [de-birds] Help needed with berry consumption study
Hello everyone,
I am conducting a study of berry consumption by Delaware birds and could
use your help! I have set up a short Google survey where I ask which birds
you have seen eating berries produced by 5 common native plants and 5
common non-native plants, and how many times you have seen this happen (1-2
times, 3 to 10 times, or more than 10 times). Your answers will help me
understand whether any of our fruit-eating birds have a strong preference
for certain berries and are either more or less likely to eat berries
produced by native versus non-native plants.
The survey does collect your email address in case I need to contact you
for further details about your observations. However, I am the only person
who sees your email address and the survey is otherwise anonymous.
I am also asking anyone who uses eBird to note in their comments if they
see a particular bird eating a berry that they are sure of the identity of
(for example, if you see a mockingbird eating a spicebush berry at Bombay
Hook, just enter ‘eating spicebush berries’ in the comment box next to
mockingbird). Updating past eBird lists is fine if you can remember what
berries you saw being eaten, and photographs are even better! I can then
search eBird for lists with comments and photos of foraging birds. I know
it’s getting late in the fall but there are still plenty of berries out
there!
The study is funded by the Delaware Nature Society and its donors, and a
conservation grant from the Delaware Ornithological Society, and I thank
them for their support. Thank you for your help collecting data on this
important part of bird diets!
