WHY STUDY BIRDS IN CITIES?
To figure out what habitats birds use in cities.
Scientists are beginning to realize two things about cities
- they provide important habitat for many birds
- little is known about how and when birds use cities
By participating in Birds
in the City, you can help scientists to learn more about urban birds in
their chosen habitats.
If you look for wildlife in your neighborhood, chances are that birds are
among the easiest to see. Some may be familiar, such as pigeons (Rock Doves),
European Starlings, and House Sparrows. Some species appear in such huge numbers
that you can't ignore them, for example Canada Geese, American Crows, and many
species of gulls. Other species are common during certain times of year, perhaps
only staying a few days during migration. In recent years, some birds of prey
have begun using tall buildings as nest sites, including Peregrine Falcons and
Red-tailed Hawks.
It is not very surprising that birds live in large city parks (such as
Central Park in New York or Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.) but there is
growing evidence that birds live in many types of city habitats.
To
learn about some urban birds, click here.
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