Student Research

Exploring the Impact of Food Supplementation on Eastern Bluebirds and Their Parasites

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Mahima Mehta and Eastern Bluebird to the right

(Mahima Mehta ’25, Photo Credit: Tharun Palla) (Eastern Bluebird, Photo Credit: mattcudaphotos)

One of our MPH students, Mahima Mehta and her colleagues recently worked on project entitled, Understanding spatiotemporal effects of food supplementation on host-parasite interactions using community-based science.

Sarah A. Knutie, Rachel Bahouth, Matthew A. Bertone, Caroline Webb, Mahima Mehta, Mia Nahom, Rachael M. Barta, Sharan Ghai, Ashley C. Love, Sydney Horan, Alexandria Soldo, Elizabeth Cochrane, Jenna Bartholomew, Emily Cowan, Heather Bjerke, Susan L. Balenger, Michael W. Butler, Allison Cornell, Ashley C. Kennedy, Virginie Rolland, Elizabeth M. Schultz, Mark Stanback, Conor C. Taff, Gregory F. Albery bioRxiv 2022.06.02.494595;

How does feeding wild birds impact their health and interactions with parasites? This question led to the creation of the Nest Parasite Community Science Project, a large-scale community-based science initiative that collected data from bird enthusiasts across the eastern United States.

Key Findings:

  • Community Involvement: Over three years (2018-2021), 68 dedicated nest box stewards from 26 states monitored 646 eastern bluebird nests.
  • Feeding Practices: Stewards provided mealworms or suet to some bluebirds and recorded their nesting success, including the number of eggs laid, hatched, and fledged.
  • Health Benefits: Food supplementation generally boosted fledgling numbers and success rates, indicating better overall health for the birds.
  • Parasite Patterns: The study identified common nest parasites like blow flies, fleas, and mites. Blow flies were more prevalent in northern areas, and their abundance was influenced by food supplementation, although the effects varied yearly.
  • Regional Differences: Interestingly, more southern stewards provided food compared to their northern counterparts, differing from other community-based projects’ findings.

Conclusion: While food supplementation increased the fitness of eastern bluebirds, it didn’t consistently protect them against parasites across all years. This research underscores the value of coordinated, long-term studies across various locations to understand complex ecological interactions and inform effective wildlife management strategies.

For a deeper dive into the study, check out the full article on bioRxiv.