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12 pages, 1289 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exploring Mountain Hikers’ Wildlife Value Orientations and Disturbance of Birds of Prey: A Case Study from Norway

by Yosra Zouhar, Øystein Aas and Hilde Nikoline Hambro Dybsand

Birds 2024, 5(3), 363-374; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030024 - 23 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) are useful for gaining knowledge about how humans’ relationship to nature, wildlife, and management differs between groups in society. Our study investigated the level of acceptance for the implementation of measures to avoid the disturbance of golden eagles among [...] Read more.

Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) are useful for gaining knowledge about how humans’ relationship to nature, wildlife, and management differs between groups in society. Our study investigated the level of acceptance for the implementation of measures to avoid the disturbance of golden eagles among hikers with different WVOs. Our results indicated differences between WVO typologies regarding how they assessed the consequences of outdoor recreation on nature and wildlife, as well as measures to manage human traffic. These findings contributed to confirming our hypotheses that peoples’ WVOs have an impact on how people assess wildlife and the natural environment, and that WVOs affect the acceptance of management measures. This study concluded that identifying and studying visitors’ WVOs contributes to understanding the underlying dimensions that influence peoples’ attitudes and behavior. WVOs has not been studied in a Norwegian context previously, and this study contributes new knowledge that is useful for managing human–wildlife relations in more sustainable ways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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13 pages, 897 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bird Species Knowledge and Its Antecedents in US High School Students—A Case Study from Michigan

by Robin Egger, Talia Härtel and Christoph Randler

Birds 2024, 5(2), 265-277; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5020018 - 7 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1110

Abstract

Bird identification is a necessary skill for citizen science projects, and teaching and learning about species is essential to halt the decline in biodiversity. Here, we investigated bird species knowledge in a case study of Michigan high school students using an online survey. [...] Read more.

Bird identification is a necessary skill for citizen science projects, and teaching and learning about species is essential to halt the decline in biodiversity. Here, we investigated bird species knowledge in a case study of Michigan high school students using an online survey. Participants were asked to identify 21 common species, covering a wide range of orders and families. On average, high school students achieved a correct identification score of 35%. The most well-known species were the American Robin, Blue Jay, Cardinal and Turkey Vulture. We found no difference between boys and girls, but identification scores declined with increasing age. Interest was an important predictor of identification knowledge, as were activities (field trips, outings) both in and out of class. Among species traits, high knowledge of a species was positively related to the number of eBird entries (as a proxy for year-round population size), body mass (heavier species were better known) and internet presence. We suggest expanding this study to other states, and we encourage educators and teachers to improve bird knowledge through birding field trips. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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15 pages, 3798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Perception of Birds in Two Brazilian Cities

by Gabriela Rosa Graviola, Milton Cezar Ribeiro and João Carlos Pena

Birds 2024, 5(2), 202-216; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5020014 - 19 Apr 2024

Viewed by 2271

Abstract

Understanding how humans perceive animals is important for biodiversity conservation, however, only a few studies about this issue have been carried out in South America. We selected two Brazilian cities to assess people’s perceptions of birds: Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil) and Belo Horizonte [...] Read more.

Understanding how humans perceive animals is important for biodiversity conservation, however, only a few studies about this issue have been carried out in South America. We selected two Brazilian cities to assess people’s perceptions of birds: Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil) and Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil). From the available bird data for each city, we developed a questionnaire and applied it between September 2020 and June 2021. The data obtained were analyzed by simple counts, a Likert scale, and percentages. Also, human feelings related to birds were placed on the Free Word Cloud Generator website. Our study confirmed that most respondents were aware of the importance of birds to ecological balance and that respondents had a generally positive attitude towards most of the bird species. However, they disliked exotic species such as the Domestic Dove and the House Sparrow, which are associated with disease, dirt, and disgust. Respondents also underestimated the number of birds that can live in urban areas and the song of birds is still a sense less experienced and perceived by people. Understanding these human–biodiversity relationships can help guide public policies and environmental education activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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14 pages, 1372 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

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

by Christoph Randler, Talia Härtel, Nadine Kalb and Janina Vanhöfen

Birds 2024, 5(1), 24-37; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5010002 - 28 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1436

Abstract

Human dimensions of birds are becoming increasingly popular. One aspect is charismatic species and their impact on nature conservation, and the other is the positive impact of birds on human well-being. Studies exploring these relationships are mostly based on species richness, but specific [...] Read more.

Human dimensions of birds are becoming increasingly popular. One aspect is charismatic species and their impact on nature conservation, and the other is the positive impact of birds on human well-being. Studies exploring these relationships are mostly based on species richness, but specific species traits are usually not studied. Here, we propose two new variables, visibility duration, and obstruction, being relevant to human–bird encounters. Visibility measures if and for how long a bird is visible. Obstruction measures to what extent the bird is concealed by vegetation. We collected behavioral data using focal animal sampling (3 min with blocks of 15 s, one-zero sampling). Additionally, species identity, sex, flocking (yes/no) and observation distance were collected. This was combined with an assessment where three experts scored the visibility of the different species on a scale from 1 to 5. The most significant predictor of visibility duration was species identity with an explained variance of 44%. Concerning obstruction, 34% of the variance was explained by species identity. Sex and flocking were not significant. A cluster analysis on the species level led to a three-cluster solution. The mean expert assessment correlated positively with visibility duration (r = 0.803) and negatively with obstruction (r = −0.422). The behavioral trait of visibility may be an important aspect in the analysis of human–bird encounters but also ecological bird studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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12 pages, 2369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

200 Years of Caprimulgid Records in Southern Brazil: A Comparison between the Literature and Citizen Science Data

by Vagner Cavarzere

Birds 2023, 4(4), 303-314; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds4040026 - 30 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1331

Abstract

Although the ornithological history of southern Brazil has been amassed over the last 200 years, few attempts have been made to describe how species have accumulated. Furthermore, the collaboration of citizen scientists has considerably changed the way researchers analyze empirical data. Caprimulgidae (Nightjars [...] Read more.

Although the ornithological history of southern Brazil has been amassed over the last 200 years, few attempts have been made to describe how species have accumulated. Furthermore, the collaboration of citizen scientists has considerably changed the way researchers analyze empirical data. Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Nighthawks) species were used to illustrate how species have been recorded since the 1800s in Paraná State by comparing traditional and citizen science data. In addition, reports from both researchers and citizen scientists on the breeding biology of these caprimulgids have been verified. A literature review was conducted searching for the Caprimulgid species within the territory of Paraná. Regarding citizen science, records were obtained from four ornithological platforms. Overall, 14 species were detected within the state, 13 of which have been described in the literature, including 1 endemic to the Atlantic Forest and 3 threatened species. Citizen scientists detected all 13 taxa, in addition to one undocumented species that has never been recorded by researchers. There were 12 times more records on ornithological platforms in half of the sampling effort accumulated in studies, but most of them date from the last five years. Citizen scientists also visited 4.5 times more locations than researchers. Citizen scientists accumulated more records around September and November, and most (59%) records were from 2020–2022. Researchers mentioned species as early as 1820, while continuous studies only began during the 1980s; they concentrated their fieldwork mostly in September. Only one (2%) study sought to describe the breeding biology of a caprimulgid species, but there were 84 observations on ornithological platforms between 2004–2022 on their reproduction. Because of the evident mismatch between traditional and citizen science data due to a lack of congruence between their actions, it is suggested that ornithology in Paraná, as well as other Brazilian regions, would benefit the most if traditional and citizen scientists improved their networking communication to focus on common purposes instead of acting independently. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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15 pages, 1960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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

by Brendan S. Champness, James A. Fitzsimons, Dave Kendal and Grant C. Palmer

Birds 2023, 4(3), 262-276; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds4030022 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3085

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 [...] Read more.

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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18 pages, 2759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Photographic Records of Brazilian Birds Available in the WikiAves Citizen Science Database

by Dárius Pukenis Tubelis

Birds 2023, 4(1), 28-45; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds4010003 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2879

Abstract

About four million photographic records of Brazilian birds are deposited in the WikiAves database. The objective of this study was to examine the spatiotemporal distribution of photographic records available in this database. Searches were performed in the database in 2022. Record numbers produced [...] Read more.

About four million photographic records of Brazilian birds are deposited in the WikiAves database. The objective of this study was to examine the spatiotemporal distribution of photographic records available in this database. Searches were performed in the database in 2022. Record numbers produced by citizens were obtained by selecting states and municipalities in different periods. The annual record production in Brazil has increased substantially since 2009, reaching about 400,000 records per year in 2020–2021. Most records were obtained in the Sudeste and Sul geopolitical regions. Seasonal variations in record production in the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest are comparable, with more records obtained in July–October. In Amazonia, a more substantial decrease in record production occurred between November and April. The monthly record production was more uniform in the Caatinga. When municipalities were compared, similar seasonal variation in record production was observed for four ecosystems (Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Pampa). However, substantial differences were observed for municipalities in the Pantanal and the Caatinga. The results indicate that high human density, high individual income and the breeding season of birds are potential factors leading to high record production. On the other hand, heavy rainfall, flooding, remoteness and environmental harshness are pointed out as factors potentially leading to relatively fewer records. Further, this article discusses the implications of record availability for ornithological studies that use photographic records deposited in the WikiAves database. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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13 pages, 2091 KiB

Open AccessEssay

Birds and People: A Symbiotic Relationship in Practice

by Richard William Butler

Birds 2024, 5(2), 328-340; https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5020021 - 19 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1307

Abstract

This Special Issue of Birds is focused on a number of ways in which people and birds interact with nature, and the example discussed here incorporates four of the seven relationships noted. These are: how birds and birding connect people with nature, the [...] Read more.

This Special Issue of Birds is focused on a number of ways in which people and birds interact with nature, and the example discussed here incorporates four of the seven relationships noted. These are: how birds and birding connect people with nature, the role of communities in the study and conservation of birds, the involvement of people with professional ornithologists, and citizens’ perception and knowledge of birds. The island of Fair Isle provides the location for the examination of these relationships, illustrating the positive interaction between the two human populations of the island and the two avian populations. It is based on fieldwork and literature studies conducted at intervals over a sixty-year period and a review of written and photographic evidence dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century. The purpose of the paper therefore, is to discuss how the relationships between the human and avian populations of the island have changed over time to a more positive and mutually dependent relationship, which is somewhat unique and can be described as symbiotic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds and People)

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