garden writers association fall symposium 10.05.09 final

8/8/2019 Garden Writers Association Fall Symposium 10.05.09 FINAL

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Birding & Gardening: paradise

in

the

making

John C. Robinson, Scotts Ornithologist



Birds and Birders are Everywhere



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?



•

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



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



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



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



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%



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



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



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



What Can Gardeners Do To Attract

Birds?•

Create habitats and cover

•

Provide water and

hydration

•

Ensure food or source of nourishment



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)



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



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



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.”



•

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?



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



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



The Magic of Birding



Creating a Memorable Experience

Scotts ® Songbird Selections ®



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.



To arrange an interview with John Robinson, detail on his

presentation, or

for

more

information

on

Scotts

Wild

Bird

Food, contact:

Keri Butler

[email protected]

937.644.7410

http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/birdfood/birdfoodLanding.jsp?camp

aign=rdswbfdotcom

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.scotts.com/smg/brand/birdfood/birdfoodLanding.jsp?campaign=rdswbfdotcom





mailto:[email protected]

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