Gender Gap at the Feeders?

Project Feeder Watch is introducing a supplemental study looking at the possibility of a gender gap at the feeders. We have decided to participate in this as well. Just thinking about it, we see more male cardinals than females, and we see the male red-bellied and haven't see the female in ages. Generally, we also see more male cowbirds, red-winged blackbirds, house finches, and house sparrows. However, I would say we see equal numbers of male and female downy and hairy woodpeckers.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/Gender/gender_gap_landing.html

Is there a gender gap at feeders?

In Project FeederWatch, we only report the largest flock size for each species seen at one time. But what could we learn if we counted males and females separately? Let's find out!

We are inviting FeederWatchers to help with an optional study in which the numbers of males and females visiting feeders are counted separately.

Why? In some species, females move farther south in winter; in other species there are differences in feeder visitation between males and females over the course of the winter. To examine these differences, we are asking FeederWatchers to send us counts of males and females for select species in which gender is easily determined.

Quick instructions

Count from your usual FeederWatch count site on one day every week or two, between your normal FeederWatch counts. Keep a tally of the maximum number of males seen at any one time, a separate tally of the maximum number of females seen at once, and a tally of the maximum number of each species (regardless of gender) seen at one time.

It's not too late to participate! Even if you aren't getting any birds, that's significant too. Help them out!!!