Foraging strategies of wintering corvids Corvidae in suburban agrocenoses

Jadczyk, P.

doi:10.2478/v10067-010-0014-9

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“…Although there have been numerous papers about the habitats and foraging preferences of corvids during the breeding season, the literature concerning the selectivity of wintering birds is scanty and usually concerns farmlands (e.g. Wilson et al 1996;Jadczyk 2009). Very little research of relatively recent date has been conducted in urban landscapes during the winter (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter habitat selection of Corvids in an urban ecosystem

2020

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Urban areas attract birds during the winter when cities provide a predictable source of food and relatively stable weather conditions. However, many other factors determine the occurrence of birds in cities. This study analysed the relationship between corvids wintering in the city of Poznań, in western Poland and habitat features. Each of 32 research site was investigated three times. The most abundant species was the rook (mean = 17.4 individuals/site); the most frequent was the Eurasian magpie (88% of all sites). To determine variables that influence the abundance of birds, a set of generalised linear models was created, with model averaging being selected for each species. The abundance of hooded crows was positively influenced by surface of parks, water and by the length of tram tracks. The number of rooks was positively linked with the number of walnut trees, garbage cans and the surface of the water and negatively linked with the length of watercourses. Jackdaw was affected positively by the number of garbage cans, the surface of the water and negatively by the cover of trees. The number of magpies was associated with the number of walnut trees, garbage cans and negatively influenced by the surface of trees. None of the investigated habitat variables significantly affected the abundance of European jay. We also found a positive correlation between the abundances of hooded crow, rook, jackdaw and magpie. The results indicate that corvids wintering in urban ecosystems exhibit selectivity toward specific habitat features and that preferences differ among the studied species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%