Perceptions of Birds by Urban Residents in an Australian Regional City and Implications for Conservation

Abstract

Given the prevalence of common and threatened bird species within cities, more research is necessary to determine human attitudes to urban birds and how this may affect conservation in urban areas In Australia, few studies have considered the impact of human attitudes on birds; those that have focused primarily on particular species. In this study, we aim to understand the perceptions of urban residents of an Australian city (Ballarat) by examining the ways they categorise birds (using the multiple sorting technique). We found that people were particularly enamored by large, exotic species, but if familiar to them, native species were positively perceived by people. People tended to view aggressive species negatively, but only where this aggression was directed at humans. This approach gained important insight into the attitudes of these urban residents to local birds and their conservation. We used this insight to suggest how attitudes to avian species conservation may inform conservation initiatives and methods for maintaining biological diversity in urban areas.

Human Perception of Birds in Two Brazilian Cities

“…These species are associated with disease, dirt, disgust, and ecological imbalance, according to respondents. This result is similar to other research, in which it was observed that particular species are more appreciated (e.g., squirrels) than others (e.g., arthropods) [10,21].…”

“…Research in the field of environmental psychology has shown that exposure to natural systems positively affects human well-being and health [9,20,47,48]. Other studies conducted in Australia and South Africa also found that most people have positive attitudes towards birds [11,21,49]. However, there is a knowledge gap in research examining how people perceive urban wildlife, and the range of animals studied remains severely restricted [10,14,15].…”

“…Among birds, this systematic review found only one study about people's perception of them [11]. A recent study conducted in Australia found that most residents had a generally positive attitude towards all birds [21]. Birds are of vital importance for ecological balance: they are responsible for seed dispersal and pollination, the control of insect populations, and assist in the balance of the food chain as predators and prey [22][23][24][25].…”

A Bird in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush: Bird Visibility as a Predictor of the Perception of Birds by Humans

“…Human dimensions of wildlife, especially of birds, are an increasingly popular research topic [1][2][3][4][5]. One aspect may be the function of charismatic and/or iconic species for nature conservation purposes [6,7].…”