The Impact of Urbanization on the Type and Distribution of Different Northern Bird Species

• Jeffrey D. Ivicic

  Juniata College

  Author

• Zachary J. Vilkauskas

  Juniata College

  Author

A bird’s choice in its habitat influences all aspects of the bird being able to acquire energy for growth and reproduction. With the increasing urbanization, due to humanity’s impact on the environment, it puts added stressors on several native northern bird species. Birds are increasingly being able to be classified as urban exploiter, adapters, or avoiders in response to their behavior to urban cities and developments. A total of 191 birds were observed, 150 at a rural feeding site in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, and 41 at an urban feeding site in Northampton, Pennsylvania. A bird’s preference for feeding on the feeder or the ground below the feeder was also observed, with 94 birds feeding on the feeder in the rural site and 56 feedings on the feeder in the urban site. A total of 56 birds feedings on the ground at the rural site and 13 birds at the urban site, in both field sites the birds had access to the same energetically rich black oil sunflower seeds. A Simpson’s Diversity Index was performed and found the diversity value to be 0.93 in the rural site and 0.83 at the urban site indicating that northern bird species diversity is greater in rural environments than urban ones regardless if there is additional feeding in these areas.

• PDF