Researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center have found four bird species living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region that survive longer than those living in rural settings. The study was led by the Migratory Bird Center using the Smithsonian’s Neighborhood Nestwatch program in which citizen scientists and researchers visit participating residences and parks to collect information about local bird populations. From 2000 to 2012, Neighborhood Nestwatch participants captured, tagged and released more than 7,000 birds from about 280 sites within the urban forest of Rock Creek Park, suburban Maryland backyards and the National Mall.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center have found four bird species living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region that survive longer than those living in rural settings. The study was led by the Migratory Bird Center using the Smithsonian’s Neighborhood Nestwatch program in which citizen scientists and researchers visit participating residences and parks to collect information about local bird populations. From 2000 to 2012, Neighborhood Nestwatch participants captured, tagged and released more than 7,000 birds from about 280 sites within the urban forest of Rock Creek Park, suburban Maryland backyards and the National Mall.
Individual birds were identified by colored ring tags, and project participants searched for those birds throughout the year and reported their findings to the Migratory Bird Center. Scientists then used that information to estimate the survival of each species in urban, suburban and rural environments. The results of the study were recently published in the journal Ecology and found that the northern cardinal and gray catbird showed peak survival in urban habitats, while the American robin and song sparrow lived longest in suburban habitats. This suggests that species vary in their response to human disturbance. The remaining species—Carolina chickadee, Carolina wren and Carolina house wren—did not show a difference in survival in response to urbanization.
The increase of urban development in the late 20th century has shaped wildlife populations by modifying landscapes, introducing novel predators and creating increased competition for resources. Despite this impact on urban wildlife, few studies have examined how human-induced changes affect the well-being of animals living in these landscapes. Studies such as this help scientists understand the positive and negative impacts on wildlife.
See more at Smithsonian Science.
American robin image via Shutterstock.
