An animal geography of avian ecology in Glasgow

Abstract

Animal geography has created a ‘new’ look at animal–human relations, incorporating the shared subjectivities of jointly ‘actant’ behaviour. This approach is particularly relevant to urban geographies of avian presence, given the increased intensity of human habitation, with birds as the commonest and most mobile urban animals. The inter- and intra-species, competitive foraging of three bird species in Glasgow, and the shared reactions between the birds and humans is examined using an animal geography and urban ecological approach. The animal geography approach, emphasising bird–human actant interactions, supported by a rigorous, positivist ecology, enables a more informed assessment of urban biogeography and conservation possibilities.