1. Correlations between Weather and Bird Feeding Activity
Victoria Acosta, Kaitlyn Marston, Cole Milliron, and Andrea Soles
Longwood University
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

2. General Background
Birds endure various abiotic factors of the environment.
Factors include air pressure, temperature, and wind speed. 1

3. General Background
As barometric pressure decreased, white- throated sparrows visited the food cup more often (Metcalfe 2013).
Lower temperatures and higher wind speeds produced significant changes in foraging habits (Grubb 1975).

4. Research Question
In what ways are birds affected by these aspects of weather?
Hypothesis:
H0: There is no correlation between weather parameters and the amount of bird activity.
Weather Parameters:
Air pressure
Temperature
Wind speed
UV index
Cloud cover
Humidity
Precipitation

5. Study Area Location of observation:
Environmental Education Center.
Along the wood line at the top of a cleared, maintained hill
Field Method:
Point Counts

6. Data Collection Observe Timespan: 3 weeks Frequency of observations:
Tuesday and Thursday,
11am and 4pm
Total observations: 12
Bird Identifications:
Merlin Bird ID App
Observe

7. Data collection Predictor variables: Air pressure Response Variables :
Temperature
Wind speed
UV index
Cloud cover
Humidity
Precipitation
Weather Parameters (wundeground.com)
Response Variables :
Number of birds
Species of birds
Statistical analysis with the use of “R” - Simple linear regression test
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

8. Dominance and Heterogeneity
Dominance Simpson’s Index (D) D = ΣPi Heterogeneity Shannon-Weiner Index (H’) H’= Σpi*lnPi

9. Results 15 species recorded- 757 total individuals
Zonotrichia albicollis
Cardinalis cardinalis
Thryothorus ludovicianus

10. Results: Weather Parameter Averages
day 1
day 2
day 3
day 4
day 5
day 6
temperature(Celsius)
17.6
11.45
4.5
5.2
18.45
6.75
windspeed(mph)
4.8
8.6
6.9
9.7 3
3.5
UV index
2.5
1.5
Air Pressure(mmHg)
30.25
30.07
29.64
30.225
29.92
30.57
Precipitation(% chance) 10
Humidity(%) 52 29 86
28.5 56
30.5
Cloud cover(0-8 scale) 7 1 6
0.5

11. Air Pressure
P= R²=
P= R²=

12. Temperature
P= R²=
P= R²=

13. Humidity
P= R²=
P= R²=

14. Results: Species vs. Weather Parameters

15. Results: Individuals vs. Weather Parameters

16. Results: Dominance vs. Weather Parameters

17. Results: Heterogeneity vs. Weather Parameters

18. Discussion All Null Hypotheses were supported except for temperature.
The temperature Null Hypothesis was proved to be significant.
Previous studies produced significant changes in foraging habits (Grubb 1975) and can be correlated to our temperature results where there was an decrease in activity when the temperature increased.
While the barometric pressure decreased white throated sparrow activity increased (Metcalfe 2013), our data showed no significance.

19. Discussion: Future Research
More research into temperature versus bird feeding.
Short term studies of this nature could possibly not yield significant relationships, a longer study can result in more accurate or different results
A lack of variation in weather patterns possibly affected current results
Altering observation times could result in different data
Earlier morning times
Later evenings
Addition of early afternoon observation

20. Acknowledgements Dr. Henkanaththegedara
Longwood University; Biological Science Department

21. Sources
Articles:
Grubb, T.C., Weather-Dependent Foraging Behavior of Some Birds Wintering in a Deciduous Woodland. The Condor, 77:
Metcalfe J., Schmidt K., Kerr W., Guglielmo C., and MacDougall-Shackleton S White-throated sparrows adjust behavior in response to manipulations in barometric pressure and temperature. Animal Behaviour 86:
Pictures: