Observer Identity and Safety Clothing Effects on Songbird Foraging Rates

ABSTRACT Observer effects occur when the presence of human observers alters animal behavior and have been widely documented in several species. A recent study found observer distance and identity effects on foraging of mixed‐species flocks of Carolina chickadees ( Poecile carolinensis ), tufted titmice ( Baeolophus bicolor ), and white‐breasted nuthatches ( Sitta carolinensis ). We extended these observer effect studies by assessing potential effects of clothing recommended for researcher field safety. We used a within‐subjects design; birds' seed‐taking rates were compared when observers wore neon safety clothing versus camouflage clothing, in addition to a between‐subjects manipulation of observer identity. Our results indicated a significant interaction between observer identity and observer clothing. This study highlights the need to balance field researcher safety with high‐visibility clothing while minimizing detectability and altered behavioral responses in focal animal species.