Characteristics of Bird community of Urban Forests in Research Complex of the Daejeon Metropolitan City, Korea

Abstract

Abstract: In order to determine the importance of urban forests as habitat for birds and to provide basic informationnecessary to increase avian species diversity in cities, the relatively green area of 3 sites of the urban forest withinthe research complex of Daejeon was studied for its avian colonies. A total of 505 birds of 28 species were observedin the urban forest within the research complex of Daejeon in February and June of 2009, and in terms of theindividual sites, site 1 observed 167 birds of 20 species, site 2 observed 108 birds of 17 species and site 3 observed230 birds of 17 species. Dominant species included the magpie (Pica pica), vinous-throated parrotbill (Paradoxorniswebbianus), brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis), yellow-throated bunting (Emberiza elegans) and the great-tit (Parus major). Ecological status analysis showed that, in terms of nesting guilds, all 3 sites showed relativelysimilar ratios, and bird species which breed in tree holes made up 50% of the total, followed by, in decreasing order,those found in canopy, bush, ground and others. The foraging guild observed species which feed on canopy, water,ground, bush, dead wood and air, and showed that the 3 sites showed over 50% of the species feed on canopies.Keywords: guild, urban forest, avian species diversity, ecological niche