Suet Cake Preferences Study Type ID # Suet name 1 Heath Blend 2 Heath Orange Burst 3 Heath Peanutty Raisin 4 Heath Apple Dough Test description: Suet cake halves are side by side in the same hanging suet feeder. The feeder has a wooden frame around the suet. The lower portion of the frame serves as a tail prop for woodpeckers. Squirrels are not able to reach the feeder. This study was conducted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in June/July 2003. Bruce Bowman -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Test Results Test Type and No. Date amount eaten Birds observed 1 06/28/03 1 5% 3 100% downie,hairy,red-belly,flicker 2 06/30/03 2 25% 3 75% same plus a starling 3 07/04/03 1 67% 4 83% " " 4 07/07/03 2 35% 4 95% " " 5 07/12/03 1 60% 2 80% " " 6 07/18/03 3 83% 4 50% " " 7* 07/23/03 3 50% 4 83% *plus blue jay & grackles 8 07/28/03 1 ? 2 ? (study terminated) * aberrant result? - excluded from analysis -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analysis of results for suet types 1, 2, 3, and 4 Suet Type 1 - Heath Blend - liked less than all others Test 1 - liked FAR less than Peanutty Raisin Test 3 - liked less than Apple Dough Test 5 - liked less than Orange Burst 2 - Heath Orange Burst - 2nd worst; liked only slightly more than Blend Test 2 - liked much less than Peanutty Raisin Test 4 - liked much less than Apple Dough Test 5 - liked more than Blend 3 - Heath Peanutty Raisin - easily the best liked Test 1 - liked GREATLY more than Blend Test 2 - liked much more than Orange Burst Test 6 - liked significantly more than Apple Dough, the second best 4 - Heath Apple Dough - easily the 2nd best liked but not close to the best Test 3 - liked more than Blend Test 4 - liked much more than Orange Burst Test 6 - liked significantly less than Peanutty Raisin Note: These tests were done in mid summer. A similar study conducted in winter might produce different results. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary Rank Suet name Comment 1 Heath Peanutty Raisin (ID = 3) the clear winner 2 Heath Apple Dough (ID = 4) 2nd but not close to 1st 3 Heath Orange Burst (ID = 2) not close to 2nd 4 Heath Blend (ID = 1) even worse than 3rd -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommendation If using Heath brand suet cakes always put out two types, Peanutty Raisin and Apple Dough. You may need to stock nearly twice as much Peanutty Raisin as Apple Dough. Don't use either Blend or Orange Burst. While other brands of suet cakes were not tested, the results of this study suggest that peanut-based suet cakes of any brand will be the single best choice for birds and feeder watchers. In the winter real suet is also relished by many feeder birds, especially woodpeckers. It should be put out in addition to the suet cakes. As noted above, these tests were done in mid summer. A similar study conducted in winter might produce different results. Also, results of studies done in other parts of the country clearly could be different. Bruce Bowman Ann Arbor, Michigan August 10, 2003