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Birding & Gardening: paradise
in
the
making
John C. Robinson, Scotts Ornithologist
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Birds and Birders are Everywhere
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Topics
• How
is
birding
defined?
• How many birders are there in the US?
•
What is the birder profile?
• How are
birding
&
gardening
linked?
•
How can your garden be a paradise for birds…and
for
you?• What is Scotts doing to help create this paradise?
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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•
Government agencies have conducted surveys
to estimate
the
size
of
the
birder
population,
using different definitions/questions:
– During the
past
12
months,
did
you
view,
identify,
or
photograph birds outdoors?
(NSRE, 2008)
–
Did you take a “special interest”
in wildlife around your home,
or take a trip for the “primary purpose”
of wildlife watching?
(USFWS, 2006)
What is a Birder?
Sources: Birding In The United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2006; American Birders, Part 1: Their Numbers and Outdoor Activity Profiles;
Internet Research Information series, National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, U.S. Forest Service & other government agencies
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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How Many Birders?
• Age 16+: 21%; 48 million people (USFWS)
• Age 16+: 35.4%; 81.8 million people (NSRE)
• Whatever it is – it’s a LOT!
Sources: Birding In The United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2006; American Birders, Part 1: Their Numbers and Outdoor Activity Profiles;
Internet Research Information series, National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, U.S. Forest Service & other government agencies
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Birder Demographic Profile
•
The government studies suggest that birders
– Are somewhat
more
likely
to
be
female
–
Tend to be middle‐aged or older
–
Average age 50 (USFWS)
– Skew toward
Northeast
&
Midwest
regions
(NSRE)
Region Percentage
Northeast 38.3
Midwest 37.6
South 34.4
West 33.0
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Passion for Birds
and “Viewing” Levels Vary
34%
33%
33% Occasionals (1
to 6 days)Actives (7-60days)
Enthusisats(61-365 days)
Birding Segments Based
On Number
Of
Days
Watch/View
1% 8%
91%
Occasionals (1
to 6 days)Actives (7-60days)
Enthusisats(61-365 days)
Share Of Days Watch/View
By Segment
Sources: NSRE
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Birders Love Nature… and Enjoy Gardening!
Source: NSRE
2004
‐2007
Occasional Birders Active Birders Enthusiast Birders
Definition Go Birding 1 to 6 days annually
Go Birding 7 to 60 days annually
Go Birding 61 to 365 days annually
% Of Total Annual Birding Days
1.1% 7.9% 91.0%
% Who
Garden: 78.1% 85.3% 85.1%
% Who Walk: 91.2% 92.3% 90.6%
% Who
View
Natural
Scenery83.0% 87.0% 84.4%
% Who View Other
Wildlife69.8% 79.5% 78.7%
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Wild Bird Food Users Enjoy Gardening
74% of Wild Bird Food Users Participated in Gardening in the Past 12 Months
versus 40% of Non‐Birders
Favorite Activities/ Hobbies
(Rated in the top 3)
Gardening 53%
Surfing Internet 37%
Reading 34%
Traveling in the US 33%
Hiking / Camping 30%
Wild Bird
Food
Users
Favorite Activities/ Hobbies
(Rated in the top 3)
Playing Sports 55%
Craft Projects 44%
Exercise/Fitness 42%
Gardening 39%
Traveling in the US 39%
Non‐Birders
Which are
your
top
3 favorite
activities
or
hobbies? Source:
Scotts
Proprietary
Research,
2008
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How Are Birding & Gardening Linked?
•
Birding and Gardening bring nature & the joy of life closer
• Enhancing the
garden
experience
–
Colorful flowers are natural bird attractants
–
Color & Beauty
–
Decor
–
Nature
•
People both garden & bird watch–
Relaxation
–
Enjoyment
–
Escape
–
Create a “vacation destination”
at home
S Wild Bi d F d U G
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Some Wild
Bird
Food
Users
Grow
Plants To Attract Birds
Things Done To Attract Wild Birds*
67
65
60
57
51
6
Grow Plants That Provide
Fruit, Seeds Or Nuts For
Wild Birds
Provide Bird Baths
Landscape To Provide
Shelter
Provide Bird Houses
Grow Any Other Types Of
Plants That Attract Birds
Other
Source: BASES Study, 2008
•Source: Scotts
Proprietary
research,
2008
Nearly 40% of wild bird food users do something else to attract wild birds in
addition to feeding
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What Can Gardeners Do To Attract
Birds?•
Create habitats and cover
•
Provide water and
hydration
•
Ensure food or source of nourishment
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Create Cover Habitats
•
Objective: meet foraging, reproductive, and survival needs of birds
–
Attracts
more
birds
by
providing
shelter,
food,
habitat, hydration
–
Makes home birding environment more enjoyable for birders
–
Sources
for
nesting
and
natural
foods
(e.g., fruit)
•
15‐20 feet from bird feeders
•
Bird‐friendly plantings, flowers, trees, shrubs,
•
Examples:
oak,
hawthorn,
nut
trees,
holly,
cedar,
dogwood, cherry, berry shrubs, red tubular flowers (columbine or trumpet vine)
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Water
•
Objective: provides a
source of water for drinking
or
bathing
purposes –
Examples: bird baths,
water drip
system,
waterfall or fountain in
pond
–
Keep water circulating
with
a
pump
or
refresh
on a weekly basis
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Food
•
Objective: provide a source of food year‐round for the birds in your yard
–
Bird
Feeding
– wildly
popular
–
Year‐round opportunity
•
Seasonal needs
–
Options for different species and/or season
•
Traditional bird seed
•
Suets
•
Pressed seed and snacks
–
Look for field‐tested, scientifically formulated products that
contain only
high
‐quality
ingredients:
•
Scotts®
Songbird Selections®
–
Bird Smart ™blends
–
All Purpose Blends
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Profiles of gardeners: who are they?
•
Thomas J. Cleaver, Jr.
–
Master naturalist, avid
gardener, and
bird
watcher
–
Helped inner city youngsters
to appreciate nature and
sports
–
Died
on
9/15/2004
at
age
57–
“No man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.”
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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•
Marloe
Woollett
–
Professional gardener, bird
enthusiast
–
“Your garden becomes twice as alive and many times more a
joy & delight”
–
“Birds are your singing, flying
flowers – as
much
a
natural
part of your garden as your plants!”
Profiles of gardeners: who are they?
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The Scotts Solution
•
Birds are all around us –
Universally, one of the most visible of all creatures
–
There
are
over
9000
different
species
of
birds
in
the
world
today
•
Birding and gardening complement one another
•
Natural extension of the lawn and garden experience so
familiar to each of us
8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL
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Our Data is Supported by Extensive Field Studies and
an Industry‐leading Scientific Approach
•
Five geographic testing locations spanning
more than 15,000 acres across the US
• At least
four
Stations
in
each
geographic
location•
Data Assimilated in 2007 to 2008: –
45,900 Individual Birds Tallied
–
All results statistically analyzed …
•
Fifteen
partnerships
with
outside
consultants,
technical advisors, and trade organizations
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The Magic of Birding
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Creating a Memorable Experience
Scotts ® Songbird Selections ®
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Background on Scotts Ornithologist
John Robinson, Chief Ornithologist, The Scotts Company
• Over 30
years
in
wildlife
biology
•
BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Iowa State University
•
Served with U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
•
Professional affiliations with Audubon Society, American Ornithologists’
Union, American Birding Association, Iowa Ornithologists’
Union,
Tennessee Ornithological Society
• Conducts birding
and
natural
history
tours,
authored
six
books,
service
on
wildlife organization boards, participated in environmental initiatives and
worked at wildlife refuges across the country.
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To arrange an interview with John Robinson, detail on his
presentation, or
for
more
information
on
Scotts
Wild
Bird
Food, contact:
Keri Butler
937.644.7410
http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/birdfood/birdfoodLanding.jsp?camp
aign=rdswbfdotcom