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Supplementary feeding restructures urban bird communities
Wednesday, 2015/05/27 | 08:08:00

Josie A. Galbraith, Jacqueline R. Beggs, Darryl N. Jones, and Margaret C. Stanley

ECOLOGY

 

Significance

Bird feeding is essentially a massive global supplementary feeding experiment, yet few studies have attempted to explore its ecological effects. In this study we use an in situ experimental approach to investigate the impacts of bird feeding on the structure of local bird assemblages. We present vital evidence that bird feeding contributes to the bird community patterns we observe in urban areas. In particular, the study demonstrates that common feeding practices can encourage higher densities of introduced birds, with potential negative consequences for native birds.

 

Abstract

Food availability is a primary driver of avian population regulation. However, few studies have considered the effects of what is essentially a massive supplementary feeding experiment: the practice of wild bird feeding. Bird feeding has been posited as an important factor influencing the structure of bird communities, especially in urban areas, although experimental evidence to support this is almost entirely lacking. We carried out an 18-mo experimental feeding study at 23 residential properties to investigate the effects of bird feeding on local urban avian assemblages. Our feeding regime was based on predominant urban feeding practices in our region. We used monthly bird surveys to compare avian community composition, species richness, and the densities of local species at feeding and nonfeeding properties. Avian community structure diverged at feeding properties and five of the commonest garden bird species were affected by the experimental feeding regime. Introduced birds particularly benefitted, with dramatic increases observed in the abundances of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) in particular. We also found evidence of a negative effect on the abundance of a native insectivore, the grey warbler (Gerygone igata). Almost all of the observed changes did not persist once feeding had ceased. Our study directly demonstrates that the human pastime of bird feeding substantially contributes to the structure of avian community in urban areas, potentially altering the balance between native and introduced species.

 

See: http://www.pnas.org/content/112/20/E2648.abstract

PNAS May 19, 2015 vol. 112 no. 20 E2648-E2657

 

Fig. 2. NMDS ordinations of avian community composition (A) before, (B) during, and (C) after the experimental feeding regime at urban study properties in northern Auckland, New Zealand, grouped by experimental treatment. The dotted ellipses denote the 95% confidence intervals for each experimental (Exp.) group. The species centroids (relationships among species as defined by their relative abundance at different sites) are also presented (D) for the “during feeding” period, scaled by percentage of total abundance (square root-transformed) for that period. Species abbreviations (for scientific names see Table S1): BBGL, southern black-backed gull; BLKB, Eurasian blackbird; CHFN, chaffinch; FNTL, New Zealand fantail; GDFN, goldfinch; GRFN, greenfinch; KNGF, New Zealand kingfisher; MYNA, common myna; RSLA, eastern rosella; SEYE, silvereye; SPDV, spotted dove; SPRW, house sparrow; STRL, common starling; SWAL, welcome swallow; THSH, song thrush; TUI, tūī; WBLR, grey warbler.

 

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