Higher Bird Abundance Research Articles

Outcomes of community-led urban rat control on avifauna

Cities are increasingly recognised as important sites for biodiversity and essential for improving human-nature connections. However, urban areas are also hotspots for rats, which negatively impact biodiversity due to competition and depredation. Urban residents may undertake rat control on their properties, but the effectiveness of such volunteer initiatives for broader biodiversity outcomes has not been tested in urban environments. We conducted a comprehensive study inclusive of rat abundance, adult bird diversity, and bird breeding success. We monitored rat (Norway rat Rattus norvegicus; ship rat Rattus rattus) presence and modelled detection probabilities and occupancy in suburban residential backyards in Auckland, New Zealand. We also compared bird abundance and richness among backyards and recorded 140 nesting attempts from 15 bird species between September 2021 and February 2022. Despite rat control, rats were detected at some point in all backyards, though relative abundance was low, and fewer rats were detected in backyards with more frequent rat control. Higher bird abundance, and to a lesser extent richness, were associated with proximity to native vegetation patches and more frequent rat control. Overall fledging success was relatively high and predation by rats was relatively low compared to previous research. Nest survival was slightly higher for introduced bird species. Daily nest survival rate increased with nest height, proximity to native vegetation patches, and when rat detection rates decreased. Although the effect was small, frequent rat control within a backyard was associated with increased fledging success and increased bird species richness and abundance. Further research is required to explore the factors that interact with backyard rat control to improve local outcomes for birds. High levels of community participation in backyard rat control are required to improve neighbourhood-wide outcomes for birds.

Landscape level associations between birds, mosquitoes and microclimates: possible consequences for disease transmission?

BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases are on the rise. While climatic factors have been linked to disease occurrences, they do not explain the non-random spatial distribution in disease outbreaks. Landscape-related factors, such as vegetation structure, likely play a crucial but hitherto unquantified role.MethodsWe explored how three critically important factors that are associated with mosquito-borne disease outbreaks: microclimate, mosquito abundance and bird communities, vary at the landscape scale. We compared the co-occurrence of these three factors in two contrasting habitat types (forest versus grassland) across five rural locations in the central part of the Netherlands between June and September 2021.ResultsOur results show that forest patches provide a more sheltered microclimate, and a higher overall abundance of birds. When accounting for differences in landscape characteristics, we also observed that the number of mosquitoes was higher in isolated forest patches.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that, at the landscape scale, variation in tree cover coincides with suitable microclimate and high Culex pipiens and bird abundance. Overall, these factors can help understand the non-random spatial distribution of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.Graphical

The Importance of Wetlands for the Conservation of Birds in Tigray National Regional State (Northern Ethiopia)

Many birds use wetland habitats for all or part of their lives. This study was conducted to investigate the significance of wetlands and associated habitats for bird conservation in the central zone of Tigray, northern Ethiopia, from June 2022 to May 2023. The point count method was used to study the bird assemblage structure and diversity. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index and ANOVA were used to analyze the wetland bird community structure. A total of 4337 individual birds belonging to 120 species, 15 orders, and 41 families were recorded. Among the identified bird species, the Abyssinian catbird, white‐winged cliff chat, Abyssinian longclaw, wattled ibis, and black‐winged lovebird are endemic and near‐endemic species, which are found only in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Passeriformes order had the greatest number of species (n = 68), followed by the Columbiformes order (n = 9). The​ Mai‐Shigurti Wetland had the greatest abundance of birds (N = 2472), while the Hatsebo Wetland had the least (N = 936). A high abundance of birds was recorded during the wet season (N = 2805), and a low abundance was recorded during the dry season (N = 1532). A significant difference in the abundance of bird species was observed among wetlands and seasons (p < 0.05). The highest species diversity (H′ = 4.13) was recorded in Mai‐Shigurti during the wet season, whereas the lowest was recorded in Hatsebo during the dry season (H′ = 3.2). The highest species evenness was recorded in Hatsebo (E = 0.82) during the dry season, and the lowest was recorded in Mai‐Shigurti (E = 0.72) during the wet season. The results show that wetlands support a high diversity of birds; however, they are highly threatened by anthropogenic threats, including solid waste disposal, erosion, agricultural expansion, human settlement, livestock overgrazing, military camping, and eucalyptus cultivation. Therefore, community‐based conservation initiatives should be implemented to mitigate these threats. Moreover, wetland management policies should be established to safeguard wetlands and their biological resources.

Elevation and distance to human habitation regulate high bird diversity and abundance across sacred groves in Aravalli range, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Elevation and distance to human habitation regulate high bird diversity and abundance across sacred groves in Aravalli range, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Bird community to be developed for birdwatching in Buperta Cibubur Urban Forest, Jakarta

The urban forest of Buperta Cibubur as a recreational and educational site can be developed for birdwatching. This study aims to identify the bird species in four tracks (ranging from 1.9-2.9 km across the built area, open area, 2 tracks in the sparse forest, and thick forest), and provide recommendations (tracks, timing, potential species found) for birdwatching activity. Bird data was collected in March-April 2022, using the standard point count method (replicated three times), in the early morning and late afternoon, totaling 90 observation hours. There were 39 species from 25 families found in all tracks. The thick forest and the built area had the highest number of species (both 27 species). The built area also had the highest bird abundance (1098 individuals). Meanwhile, sparse forest#2 had the least species (19). Some birds were common in all tracks, including Sooty-headed Bulbul, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, and Small Minivet. Other attractive and rare species found in the thick forest were the Blue-eared Kingfisher and Javan Blue-flycatcher. The most effective time to conduct birdwatching is suggested at 6-7 am and 4:30-5:30 pm, especially in built areas, forests, and open area tracks. As birdwatching is relatively new in Jakarta, while Buperta has a diverse bird species in the urban area, we recommend developing a birdwatching activity in Buperta.

The ecological role of native‐plant landscaping in residential yards to birds during the nonbreeding period

AbstractResidential yards are a form of urban land use that cover a considerable amount of area in cities worldwide and provide important habitat for wildlife, especially when landscaped with native plants. Nevertheless, most native‐plant landscaping and wildlife research in the northern temperate regions of the world has been conducted during the spring and summer breeding period, leaving a gap in our understanding of the importance of residential yards and native plants as habitats for animals during the nonbreeding period. To fill this gap, we quantified the ecological role of native‐landscaped yards to avifauna throughout Greater Los Angeles (LA), California, during the winter nonbreeding period, which is a time of year when the region hosts a high abundance and diversity of migratory and resident birds. We surveyed birds and habitat features from October to March of 2020 and 2021 at 22 pairs of native‐ and non‐native‐landscaped yards plus 10 additional native‐landscaped yards. We had three objectives for our study. First, we compared avifaunal communities, including feeding and nonfeeding behaviors, and habitat features between native and non‐native‐landscaped yards. Second, we quantified relationships between habitat features and bird richness, abundance, and feeding and nonfeeding behaviors—focusing on species affiliated with urban or natural terrestrial ecosystems of the region. Third, we documented feeding and nonfeeding behaviors by birds with native and non‐native plants. Native‐landscaped yards had a greater cover of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and a higher cover of natural habitat elements, including leaf litter and bare‐ground cover. Bird richness and abundance—especially bird species affiliated with tree‐ and shrub‐dominated ecosystems—were greater in native than non‐native‐landscaped yards. Further, yards with a higher cover of native plants supported greater numbers of feeding birds, with individuals focusing their foraging behaviors on distinct native trees and shrubs, including Quercus spp. (oak), Heteromeles spp. (toyon), Arctostaphylos spp. (manzanita), and Salvia spp. (sage). Our results suggest that residential yards landscaped with native plants provide important habitat for birds during the nonbreeding period and are a viable approach for residents and cities if improving conditions for birds throughout the annual cycle is a goal.

Bird abundance and diversity in shade coffee and natural forest in Kenya

Coffee, one of the major traded commodities in the world, has economic value for rural livelihood and potentially as habitat for forest wildlife. Previous work in Central Kenya has demonstrated that when cultivated with shade trees, coffee farms can host high levels of bird diversity. However, questions of how the African bird communities in shade coffee farms compares to those in natural forest remained unanswered. Using three visits to each of 160-point count locations in natural forest (80) and shade coffee sites (80) in Central Kenya, we estimated bird abundance and species richness in natural forest and shade coffee. Specifically, we tested hypotheses that the abundance and diversity of birds in shade-coffee and natural forests varies by feeding guilds and forest-association status. We found that, compared to natural forest, shade coffee had higher bird abundance and species richness of carnivores, granivores, omnivores, and insectivores, including understory forest insectivores specifically. Frugivores and nectivores had similar abundance in forest and coffee, but were more species rich in forest and coffee, respectively. The abundance and species richness of forest specialists and forest visitors were higher in natural forest than in shade coffee, whereas forest generalists and birds with no forest association status were more abundant and species rich in shade coffee. Our study confirms the value of remnant native trees within coffee plantations for the persistence and conservation of avian communities, while also clarifying that some groups of birds are reliant on natural forests and unlikely to be conserved in shade coffee farms.

When a pest is not a pest: Birds indirectly increase defoliation but have no effect on yield of soybean crops.

Natural habitats near agricultural systems can be sources of both ecosystem services and disservices on farms. Ecosystem disservices, those aspects of an ecosystem that have negative impacts on humans, may disproportionately affect conservation decisions made by farmers. Birds, in particular, can have complex effects on crops, ranging from positive to neutral to negative. Therefore, it is important to quantify them in a meaningful way. Birds may be more abundant on farms near natural areas and may provide ecosystem services by consuming insect pests. However, when birds consume beneficial predatory arthropods rather than pest species (intraguild predation), they can provide a disservice to the farmer if the intraguild predation decreases crop yield. We studied bird intraguild predation in Illinois (USA) at six soybean fields adjacent to grasslands that provided source habitat for bird populations. We placed cages over soybean crops, which excluded birds but allowed access to arthropods, and measured differences in leaf damage and crop yield of plants in control and exclosure plots. We also conducted point counts at each site to quantify the bird communities. We found that plants within the bird exclosures had lower levels of leaf damage by pests than those in control plots, but there was no resulting effect on crop yield. We also found that sites with higher bird abundance had higher levels of leaf damage by pests, but bird species richness was not a significant predictor of leaf damage. These results suggest that although birds may have released pests through intraguild predation, there was no net disservice when considering crop yield, the variable most important to stakeholders.

CONTRIBUTION OF INFORMAL GREENSPACE TO BIRD CONSERVATION IN CITIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE DIVERSITY OF BIRD COMMUNITIES IN VACANT LANDS, URBAN PARKS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Vacant lands are part of the informal greenspace and could maintain native fauna in urban ecosystems. To provide scientific evidence that promotes bird conservation in cities, we compared different bird community attributes among vacant lands, urban parks, and residential areas in the city of Santiago de Chile. For this, we estimated taxonomic diversity in the three land uses, investigated the species richness and abundance (total and native, including three trophic guilds: granivores, insectivores and omnivores) among land-use types, and evaluated the influence of habitat variables on bird species richness and abundance recorded at sites. We found that vacant lands supported a diverse, with low species dominance, species rich and abundant bird community, comprised mainly by native granivorous and insectivorous birds. In contrast, birds with generalist diet (omnivores) reached high abundances in urban parks and residential areas. While parks and residential areas were dominated by a single omnivore species (Turdus falcklandii and the exotic Passer domesticus, respectively), in vacant lands a set of native species reached high abundances. They included granivorous birds (Sicalis luteola, Zenaida auriculata y Zonotrichia capensis) and insectivorous birds (Tachycineta meyeni y Anthus correndera). Sites with larger cover of herbaceous plants exhibited greater richness and abundance of native birds. In addition, sites with larger proportion of their area covered by bare ground exhibited greater abundance of native birds. Our results demonstrate that vacant lands maintain high bird diversity, as well as a high species richness and abundance of native birds with specialized diets (granivores and insectivores), offering new opportunities to conserve biodiversity in cities.

How citizen scientists are rapidly generating big distribution data: lessons from the Arewa Atlas Team, Nigerian Bird Atlas Project

The Arewa Atlas Team (AAT) in northern Nigeria has set an example for a robust methodological data collection and made a big impact for the African Bird Atlas Project. To broaden national bird atlas projects and coverage across the continent, this paper reports on the activities and protocols of the AAT. We set out how we have galvanised bird clubs and bird club members to participate in this important monitoring project. We then focus on a bird atlas expedition conducted to the Bauchi State as an example. The outing was carried out from 24 to 28 September 2020 in line with the BirdMap protocol. For the first time, the AAT atlased 100 pentads and recorded 8 591 individual birds of 222 species (24.21% of Nigerian birds) from 67 families. We explore what can be done with these data, by presenting a summary of descriptions of the birds observed. For instance, we recorded 184 resident species, nine intra-African and 24 Palearctic migrants. The highest bird abundance (120 individuals) was recorded at 11°00′26.9″ N, 9°29′46.5″ E, pentad 1105C0925. Furthermore, the Rock Firefinch Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis was out-of-range from Lumba. The Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (Vulnerable) and Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (Near Threatened) were species of conservation concern. Results of this survey shows that citizen science is a powerful tool to make rapid biodiversity assessments of bird species richness and abundance and provides insights into bird occurrence and composition. This can be extended to distribution over time at a local geographic scale. Continuous efforts to map bird distributions are therefore recommended, mostly in regions and countries where atlas projects have not been established or still in the formative stages. It is important that bird atlas teams maximise ways to accomplish more noteworthy coverage in their respective national bird atlas projects and here we outline how we accomplished this as motivation and a model for the African Bird Atlas Project.

Spatial Heterogeneity of Steppe Bird Community in the Azov-Black Sea Enclave of the European Dry-Steppe Zone (Southern Ukraine)

Over the period 2007–2019, the author’s censuses of steppe birds in the Azov-Black Sea dry-steppe enclave determined five species as dominants and co-dominants by their abundance. Thus, Melanocorypha calandra dominates throughout the whole area, Emberiza calandra dominates in 4 subregions and co-dominates in 5 subregions, Motacilla feldegg, Emberiza hortulana, Anthus campestris, Alauda arvensis dominate in 1 subregion and do not dominate or co-dominate in 1–4 subregions. There is a general increasing trend in the total abundance of steppe birds and the number of their rare breeding species from north-west to south-east, whereas the number of their dominants and co-dominants grows in the opposite direction. According to the list, the correlation between the dominants/co-dominants and the number of rare breeding steppe species, it was revealed that the most valuable for the support of the steppe bird populations are subregions with the largest areas of virgin steppes (the Kerch Peninsula, Western and Central Crimea). The least important are the subregions with the highest degree of anthropogenic transformation (northern part of the Syvash region, western part of the Black Sea region) and the Lower Dnipro wetlands. Therefore, it is a high abundance of steppe birds and the maximum number of rare steppe species which should be a specific ornithological indicator of the status of zonal landscapes in the dry steppe zone (especially within protected natural areas of Ukraine) rather than general avian species diversity including introduced, invasive species, synanthropes, etc.

BIRD AND ARTHROPOD COMMUNITIES IN FRAGMENTED HABITAT OF TERNATE

Habitat loss and fragmentation affect bird communities. Edge area created by fragmentation can affect bird communities through availability of arthropod. The objectives of this study are to examine whether there is any difference in bird diversity and abundance between different plantation types and location between fragments, and to examine if there is any correlation between arthropod and birds. To record Bird community was recorded using point count method with a distant between points 50 m and a fix radius of 25 m in each point for 10 minutes observation. Observation points were placed in each of edge and interior habitat of Cocos nucifera plantation and Syzygium cumini plantation. Arthropod sampling was done twice using yellow trap. High bird abundance and richness were recorded in edge habitat. A total of 24 bird species of 18 families and 10 orders of arthropod were identified in the study plots. There is no correlation between arthropod and bird abundance. Based on major diet, 46% of bird species were insectivores, while 54% species where other types of eater such as 29% species were frugivores, 9% species were nectarivores, and each 4% of bird species were seabirds, carnivores and scavengers, omnivores, and other bird groups). 
 Key words: arthropod communities, bird communities, fragmentation, Ternate

Resident Birds Show Different Patterns in Species Composition and Functional Diversity in Differently Managed Coffee Plantations in the Western Ghats, India

Understanding the patterns and drivers of bird species composition and diversity outside Protected Area networks is essential to develop landscape-level conservation strategies. The Western Ghats' coffee plantations of India form an important agro-ecosystem and help maintain a significant portion of regional avian diversity. However, knowledge of the composition and functional diversity of birds in differently managed coffee plantation is lacking from the Western Ghats. In this study, we compared the composition and functional diversity of resident birds between shade and open coffees plantations. We counted 3,846 birds of 87 species, and found species richness to be higher in shade (78 species) than in open coffee plantations (55 species). Interestingly, 32 species were unique to shade and nine were unique to open coffee plantations, with 46 species found in both types of plantation. Overall species composition and functional diversity were different in differently managed plantations. Species richness and abundance (birds/point/visit) were higher in shade coffee, reflecting the availability of multiple strata and habitat heterogeneity. Results revealed that different farm management practices can affect functional bird richness and its abundance in coffee plantations. Therefore, retaining shade-trees of native varieties in coffee plantations is important for supporting high functional diversity, richness, and abundance of birds in the coffee plantation of the Western Ghats.

Native Shade Trees Aid Bird Conservation in Tea Plantations in Southern India

In the Western Ghats, India, we study how different intensities of tea cultivation influence birds. We com-pared bird communities in conventional monoculture tea and mixed-shade tea plantations, both of which use agrochemicals, with organic tea plantations, a rainforest fragment, and continuous rainforest within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. In 225 point count sur-veys, overall bird species richness and abundance were lowest in conventional tea and up to 33% higher in organic tea. Mixed-shade tea had 40% higher spe-cies richness (including 15 canopy and 4 shrub and mid-storey species – primarily frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores), and 83% higher bird abundance than conventional tea, with a greater proportion of forest-affiliated birds and similarity in species compo-sition with forest sites. The rainforest fragment and continuous rainforest had a higher proportion, richness and abundance of forest-affiliated birds and fewer open-country birds, unlike tea plantations where the pattern was reversed. Habitat associations of 62 bird species in indicator species analysis revea-led similar patterns. Thus organic tea is better than conventional tea for birds, but mixed-shade tea is even better, although still poorer than forests. Retaining or promoting native shade trees in tea plantations will increase bird diversity and abundance, including of forest-affiliated species and support landscape-level bird conservation.

From mixtures to monocultures: Bird assemblage responses along a production forest conifer-broadleaf gradient

Increasing the prevalence of broadleaf trees in conifer-dominated production forests is a recommended means of improving habitat availability for broadleaf and mixed-forest species. The implications for biodiversity are often measured by contrasting broadleaf-conifer mixtures with conifer-dominated stands. However, few studies include broadleaf-dominated stands in these assessments. Here we contrasted the bird assemblages of even-aged production forests along a mixture gradient from Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated, to birch (Betula spp.) dominated stands in southern Sweden. We conducted point count surveys of bird individuals exhibiting breeding behaviour within 30 stands varying from <0.5% to over 98.5% broadleaf by basal area. A total of 355 birds were detected, comprising 36 bird species, seven of which are classified as near threatened by the Swedish Red-list. Our results indicate i) a distinct shift in bird community composition linked to the percentage of broadleaf trees at stand and landscape scales, ii) significantly higher bird species richness, evenness, and abundance in stands with a higher proportion of birch, iii) higher bird abundance in birch-dominated stands than in mixtures, and iv) shifts in bird species guilds as related to stand basal area, the amount of shrubs in the understory, and quantities of dead wood. All of these results have implications for the ways in which production forest management could be altered to enhance avian diversity, and we discuss these with respect to the use of broadleaf versus mixed-species stands.

Vegetation, bird and soundscape characterization: a case study in Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

We assessed the structural complexity of vegetation, birds and soundscapes in two areas of Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica, with different road exposure, as baseline information for conservation and management. We measured vegetation structure complexity, surveyed birds and recorded soundscapes in an area adjacent to the National Highway 32 (Quebrada) and another area 20 km away (Ceibo). Quebrada presented a more open forest structure and lower density of trees and shrubs; lower evenness and higher acoustic complexity, higher bioacoustic activity and sound pressure level; higher bird abundance and richness. Ceibo showed a higher density of trees and shrubs, higher complexity of vegetation structure, higher proportion of biophonies than anthrophonies, and an acoustic community with higher diversity and entropy. The study sites differed in characteristics of their bird communities in an unexpected way; these differences appear to be mostly influenced by the structure and complexity of the vegetation surrounding the road. However, the soundscapes seemed to properly reflect the habitat condition, and are promising for evaluating the ecological condition of a site.

Inventario, abundancia y distribución espacial de mamíferos marinos y aves en las Islas Galápagos durante el Crucero Oceanográfico (Bae Orión) en abril 2009: Implicaciones para conservación

Field surveys to determine the species, relative abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals and sea birds were conducted during theoceanographic cruise onboard the BAE Orion around the Galapagos Islands and the Ecuadorian coast on April 02-23, 2009. A total of 90 sightings ofmarine mammals, including eleven species identified, were performed. Among the cetaceans, the following species and mean group size (mean ±SD, n) were recorded: Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus (1, n=1); Pilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus (from 24 ± 22.6 to 29 ± 29.7, n =2);Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus (4 ± 4.24, n=2); Fraser’s Dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei (300, n=1); Stripped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba(60, n=1); Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Stenella attenuata (from 175 ± 35.4 to 200 ± 70.7, n=2); Short-beaked Common dolphin, Delphinusdelphis (119 ± 65, n=5); and, Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (102 ±172, n=7). The two endemic species Galapagos pinnipeds, the Galapagossea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki), and the Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis), were also reported. Furthermore, sixteen species of sea birds from 460 sightings (1,490 birds) were identified, including two species critically endangered (CR) under the IUCN-threatened categories: the Galapagos albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), and the Galapagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia). The major sea bird species and relative abundance (number of birds) throughout the cruise track were, Galapagos/Waved albatross, P. irrorata (15); Galapagos Petrel, P. phaeopygia (24); Galapagos Shearwater, Puffinus subalaris (123); Cape Petrel, Daption capense (1); Parkinson’s Petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni (5); Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus (1); Wedge-rumped Storm Pertrel, Oceanodroma tethys tethys (144); Swallow-tailed Gull, Larus furcatus (119); Blue-footed Booby, Sula nebouxii excisa (46);The Nazcabobby, Sula granti (797); Red-footed Booby, Sula sula websteri (200); Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens magnificens (11); Red-billedTropic Bird, Phaethon aethereus (11); and, Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis urinator (1). The Nazca bobby was the most abundant speciesaccounting for 51% of the total abundance of sea bird species. Most of the sightings of sea birds and marine mammal species were abundant andaggregated in places southwestern Galapagos (0º–2ºS; 94–91ºW), where generally nutrient-enriched, upwelling areas are found. However, during thecruise the areas showing the highest values of primary productivity (0.46- 0.50 mg/m3) were detected southeast of the Galapagos around 2–3ºS and88ºW, where a high abundance of sea birds was also observed. These observations underline the potential use of these warm- blooded, marinevertebrates as eco-markers of primary productivity. Several sea birds and marine mammals, including threatened species, were recorded in foragingareas off the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) boundaries, implying the risk of by catch due to long-line fisheries, gillnets and other anthropogenicimpacts in these unprotected areas

Insectivorous Birds in Edge and Interior Habitats of Forest Plantation in Gunung Walat, Sukabumi

Among forest birds, insectivorous birds are known to be most affected by habitat fragmentation. This study aimed at examining insectivorous bird communities in edge and interior habitats of a forest plantation. Monthly observation was conducted from January to June 2010 in Gunung Walat Education Forest, Sukabumi, to record bird community using point count method with a fix radius of 30m for 15 minutes. Observation points were placed in each of edge and interior habitats of broadleaves Schima wallichii and conifer Agathis damara stands. Arthropod sampling was done twice using window traps and yellow panes. A total of 44 bird species of 19 families were identified in the study plots, in which 54% (24 species) were insectivores. A higher bird abundance and richness were recorded in edge habitat. A positive correlation was found between the total number of birds and total number of arthropods. However, the richness of insectivorous species tends to be lower in edge habitats. There were also differences in insectivorous bird community between types of stands, with broadleaves stand had a higher species richness compared to conifer.

Rapid assessment of avian species richness and abundance using acoustic indices

• Monitoring environmental sound presents an opportunity for rapid biodiversity assessment. • Environmental sound can be readily described using acoustic indices. • Higher bird species-richness and abundance associated with patterns in indices values. • Patterns were coherent across multiple acoustic indices, and across habitat types. • We solve methodological issues and provide conceptual clarity for using indices. Accelerating global shifts in climate and land use change are altering natural habitats and species assemblages, making management interventions crucial to halt the biodiversity crisis. Management decisions must be informed by accurate biodiversity assessments. However, such assessments are often time consuming, expensive, and require specialist knowledge. Monitoring environmental sound may offer a novel method for rapid biodiversity assessment. Changes in species assemblages at a given location are reflected in the site’s acoustic energy, termed the soundscape. Soundscapes can be readily described using acoustic indices; metrics based on objective features of recordings such as pitch and amplitude. Changes in acoustic indices values may therefore reflect changes in species assemblages, alerting land managers to shifts in wildlife populations. However, thus far, evidence supporting the use of acoustic indices in biodiversity monitoring has been equivocal. Here, we test the practical application of acoustic indices for biodiversity monitoring while solving methodological issues and providing conceptual clarity. Using 84 h of audio recordings covering 315 dawns from 43 sites, coupled with bird assemblage and vegetation data collected in the field, we demonstrate strong relationships between acoustic indices and avian species richness and abundance. In contrast with many previous studies, we found that sites with high bird species-richness and abundance had less even soundscapes (i.e. acoustic energy was less evenly distributed among frequencies) compared with sites with low species richness and abundance. Crucially, these patterns were coherent across multiple acoustic indices, and across habitat types, emphasising their utility for monitoring. Acoustic indices sensitive to the frequencies at which birds sing are most useful for monitoring avian communities; the Acoustic Evenness Index, Biophony Index, and the biophony component of the Normalised Difference Soundscape Index exhibited the strongest relationship with species richness. Land managers can use acoustic indices for biodiversity monitoring, complementing other, more established, assessment methods.

Vacant lands as refuges for native birds: An opportunity for biodiversity conservation in cities

Vacant land in growing cities is commonly targeted for development because it is perceived as wasted land that provides no benefit for people or nature. However, vacant sites might contribute to biodiversity conservation. To help inform biodiversity-sensitive urban development, we examined whether vacant land provided suitable habitat for birds in the Latin American city of Santiago, Chile - a growing capital city located in a Mediterranean ecosystem identified as a global biodiversity hotspot. We posed the following questions: How do species richness and abundance of native and exotic birds vary among vacant lands, urban parks and residential areas? And does vacant land support a different bird community compared with urban parks and residential areas? We found that vacant lands helped conserve local birds. Vacant lands exhibited high species richness and abundance of native birds, and maintained significantly fewer exotic species than urban parks and residential areas. In addition, vacant lands supported a different bird community than urban parks and residential areas, including several native birds associated with grasslands and rural areas that are rare in the city. Although vegetation in vacant land was dominated by exotic herbaceous plants, they provided important resources for native birds. Our findings demonstrate that vacant land covered by spontaneous vegetation provides habitat for native birds. Given that vacant lands offer opportunities for biodiversity conservation and to connect urban residents with nature close to home, we discuss strategies to help maintain the benefits provided by vacant lands through urban design, land use planning and urban growth policies.