Studies Find Urbanization Reduces Bird Diversity

Research on North American birds found that species able to breed in varied habitats are generally more tolerant of cities, while birds tied to grasslands and boreal forests are among the least tolerant. A separate global study of more than 10,000 bird species found that cities have about a third fewer species than natural areas and that urbanization weakens the usual tropics-to-poles diversity gradient, with especially steep losses in tropical cities. In Kauai, an exhibit celebrating native birds and forests is paired with workshops, presentations and a tree-and-plant giveaway. Houston, meanwhile, offers varied birding habitats and sees more than 300 species pass through annually, with spring and fall migration as the prime viewing seasons.