Superior Feeder Completes Al Geis’ Legacy

Byron C. Hall, Jr.

 Wildlife biologist Aelred D. Geis, PhD, was the foremost expert on bird feeding. He studied and quantified the popular activity of feeding wild birds for the first time in a report entitled "Relative Attractiveness of Different Foods at Wild Bird Feeders," published in 1980 as Special Scientific Report No. 233 of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Dr. Geis continued testing bird foods and bird feeders until his death in 2007

Thomas D. Canby	Aelred D. Geis

                                                             

 Dr. Geis also helped Thomas D. Canby develop and test a bird feeder that is vastly more attractive to birds and easier to clean. While he did not live to see the end result, his work on the feeder is part of his legacy. Dr. Geis was instrumental in the Blandair Foundation’s acquisition of the patent for the feeder in 2002. After seven years of further development, this break-through feeder is now available commercially to the bird-feeding public as Blandair’s durable Perches & Platform.™

Perches & Platform™ Size: 20 in x 20 in x 23 in Weight: 4 lbs Capacity: 6 qt Materials Top: Aluminum w steel hardware Hopper: Polycarbonate w aluminum squirrel guard Platform: Steel mesh w steel hardware

 In contrast with token numbers of surface-feeding birds using perch-type feeders and token numbers of perching birds using platform-type feeders, both types of birds use this feeder in substantial numbers. With an adjustable purge portal, the feeder can accommodate any feed mix. During the testing period, birds using the feeder included House Finches, Gold Finches, Cardinals, Chickadees, White Breasted Nuthatches, White Throated Sparrows, Titmice, Red Belied Woodpeckers, Cowbirds, Juncos, Mourning Doves, Red Winged Black Birds, and Blue Jays – often many birds at one time.

 With its superior attractiveness to birds, ease of cleaning, and durability, one can understand why we say that Blandair’s Perches & Platform™ feeder is “designed for avid backyard birdwatchers.”

Byron C. Hall, Jr. is Chairman of the Blandair Foundation www.blandair.org