To compare the bird utilization of various residential areas, and to determine the components of the habitat associated with certain birds, bird counts and habitat measurements were made in seven neighborhoods. These. suburban neighborhoods differed in age, housing density, architectural design of the buildings and evidence of the habitat type prior to development.
Birds seen or heard were counted in 4-minute periods (28 in each of two winters, 21 in one breeding season) in three 0.84 ha plots in each neighborhood. Measurements were taken of architectural features (eaves, vents, and an ornamental design), vegetation (including deciduous and evergreen volume in six horizontal layers, plus area of lawn and garden), A attraction devices (feeding stations and nest boxes), and sources of disturbance (housing density, vehicles, dogs and cats).
Bird species diversity and degree of utilization by most of the common bird species were found to be different among the residential areas, during both the winter and breeding season. Some significant differences were also found among streets within neighborhoods.
Housing developments built within wooded areas had consistently greater bird species diversity than developments of approximately the same age built on open ground. Within each group, species diversity increased with the age of the neighborhood.
The multiple regression equations of the most common winter and breeding birds and bird species diversity contained 1 to 4 (mode=2) significant independent variables. Mourning doves (Columba livia) were associated with shrubby vegetation, particularly evergreens; (winter R² =0.82, spring R²=0.70). Blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) preferred wooded, less open neighborhoods; (winter R²=0.65, spring R²=0.79). House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) were correlated with area of gardens and moderately high deciduous cover; (spring R²=0.40). Mockingbirds (Mimus Polyglottos) were most common in open residential areas with some shrubs (particularly evergreens); (winter R²=0.38, spring R²=0.59). American robins (Turdus migratorius) were associated with deciduous and evergreen vegetation up to a height of 30 ft; (spring R²=0.82). Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were ubiquitous, though more common in areas of dense housing; (winter R²=0.37, spring R²=0.34). House sparrows (Passer domesticus) were also associated with areas of dense housing and utilized ornamental architectural designs; (winter R²=0.69, spring R²=0.96). Common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) were most common in areas with abundant vegetation, low evergreens in particular; (spring R²=0.65). Cardinals (Richmondena cardinalis) were associated with deciduous shrubs and gardens; (winter R²=0.81, spring R²=0.71). Evening grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina) were also correlated with area of garden (winter R²=0.60); but field observations showed their affinity for feeding stations. Purple finches (Carpodacus purpureus) were shown to be correlated with feeders; (winter R²=0.38). Dark-eyed juncos (Junco Hyemalis) showed an affinity for gardens, and were observed less often in the heavily wooded neighborhoods than elsewhere; (winter R²=0.56). White-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia eucophrys) were associated with low shrub growth, particularly evergreen, and avoided areas with open expanses of lawn; (winter R²=0.77). Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were correlated with volume of vegetation near ground level; (winter R²=0.29, spring R²=0.35). / Ph. D.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53922 |
| Date | January 1974 |
| Creators | Lucid, Vincent John |
| Contributors | Wildlife Biology |
| Publisher | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation, Text |
| Format | xii, 164 leave, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 40107958 |
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