FEATURED PHOTO: ATTRACTION OF BIRDS TO HUMAN FOOD IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA

Abstract

We studied the attraction of birds to human food at 50 picnic sites in Yosemite National Park, California, during summer 2009. At each site we made two 10-minute point counts, one in the morning, when human food was never present, and one at midday, when human food was always present. Eight of 26 species fed on human food. We found fewer individuals and species during counts with human food at high-elevation sites and more individuals and species during counts with human food at low-elevation sites. Significantly more Steller’s Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) and significantly fewer Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) occurred during counts with human food.