BirdLife International Global Survey On The Status of Urban Bird Conservation

BirdLife International
global survey on the status

of urban bird conservation
Fergus, R., Louwe Kooijmans, J., Kwak, R.
BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation
P EREGRINE FALCON (F ALCO PEREGRINUS ) IN THE PORT OF A MSTERDAM . P HOTO :W ILL LEURS
Page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... 4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................ 5
BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL GROUP ON URBAN BIRDS ............................................................... 6
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 8
2.
WHAT IS URBAN? ........................................................................................................... 11
3.
URBAN BIRDS ................................................................................................................. 13
4.
RED LIST .......................................................................................................................... 19
5.
NON-NATIVE SPECIES..................................................................................................... 21
6.
NUISANCE BIRD SPECIES ................................................................................................ 23
7.
ICONIC URBAN BIRD SPECIES......................................................................................... 25
8.
URBAN IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS AND HABITAT RESERVES ........................................ 27
9.
URBAN MIGRATION MONITORING STATIONS .............................................................. 30
10.
URBAN BIRD MONITORING ........................................................................................... 31
11.
AWARENESS ................................................................................................................... 35
12.
GARDEN BIRD COUNTS .................................................................................................. 39
13.
BIRD FRIENDLY GARDENING.......................................................................................... 41
14.
ADVICE ON CITY PLANNING.......................................................................................... 43
15.
CONSERVATION OF URBAN BIRD SPECIES .................................................................... 45
16.
BEST PRACTICES AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE ............................................................... 47
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................... 58
A.
COUNTRY PROFILES AND SURVEY RESPONSES ............................................................ 59
B.
RESPONSES FROM INDEPENDENT AUDUBON CHAPTERS (USA) ................................. 159
C.
LOCAL URBAN REDLIST SPECIES BY CONTINENT......................................................... 163
D.
ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF BIRD SPECIES MENTIONED .............................. 165
Recommended Citation:
Fergus, R., Louwe Kooijmans, J., Kwak, R.,
BirdLife International Global Survey on the Status of Urban Bird Conservation,
BirdLife International, Cambridge, 2013
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B ARN OWL (T YTO ALBA) THE MOST WIDE SPREAD URBAN BIRD.
P HOTO : P AUL HOBSON
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PREFACE
Across the world more than 50% of all people already live in towns and cities, and this is a
percentage that is growing rapidly. By 2050 it is anticipated that more than 70% for people will be
urban-dwellers. For BirdLife, this means that our members and prospective supporters will
increasingly be town and city-based. Urbanisation that disconnects people from wild nature is a
cause of increasing concern to the conservation community, and there is growing evidence that
access to wildlife can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. People's concerns are
different everywhere around globe, but we all share a same first experience with nature close to our
home. From the outset, I have been a keen supporter of the BirdLife International Group on Urban
Birds (BIG UB) and I would like to congratulate all the Partners that have contributed to this survey.
This report is a first global overview of what BirdLife partners do for the conservation of birds in
urban areas. Through our work on species of concern and, of course, important bird areas (IBAs) in
urban areas, I see lots of opportunities to engage people, particularly young people, in bird
conservation. Biodiverse green spaces in towns and cities can make a huge difference to people,
and people can help ensure these areas continue to exit. How we manage the landscape around us;
whether it is a forest, a meadow, a simple city street or town garden, influences the wildlife it
supports. And cities and towns that are fit for birds, are surely going to be fit for us as well.
Marco Lambertini, Chief Executive of BirdLife International
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to the founding members of the BirdLife International Group on Urban Birds (BIGUB) who
outlined areas of interest and established an organizational agenda at the initial 2009 organizing
meeting in Leiden, NL: Fahrul Amama, Birgit Brenninkmeijer, Claire Cazier, Marco Dinetti, George
Eshiamwata, John Fanshawe, Rob Fergus, Katie Higgens, Iordan Hristov, Astrid Leoni, Jip Louwe
Kooijmans, Robert Kwak, Rosabel Miro, Darren Moorcraft, Martijn Overbeeke, Holly Parsons, Dian
Prihanggalasari, Henny sembiring, Sergey Sklyarenko, Don Geoff Tabaranza, Ishana Thapa, Manon
Wilmering, Fred Wouters.
Our greatest thanks to those who provided responses to this BIGUB survey: Ruth Akagu, Fahrul Amama,
Amir Balaban, Richard E. Barrett, Dave Bengston, Mary Ellen Bittorf, Dieudonne Bizimana, Mike
Blackbird, Andrs Bosso, Linda Brinker, Wayne Buchholtz, Greg Butcher, Sarah Campbell, Agustin
Carriquiry, Jim Clark, Eric Clough, Bradley Cornell, John Cortes, Jennifer Coulson, Patricia Cruse, Jean
Daly, Mark Delwiche, Dabby Ding, Craig Dockrill, Shannon Dougherty, Joel Dunnette, Jeff Ebright,
Jaanus Elts, Virginia Escandell, Jacqueline Evans, Claudia Feltrup-Azafzaf, Mary Ford, Laurie Foss,
Michael F. Garbo, John Gerwin, Lois Gundrum, Anuradha Gupta, Jurij Hanel, Harvey, Seiji Hayama,
Iordan Hristov, Bubba Hubbard, Richard Ingram, Sreyya Isfendiyaroglu, Shannon Kennedy, Marianne
Korosy, Jip Louwe Kooijmans, Mark W. Larson, Robert Lee, Diane Lembck, Judy Liddell, Travis Longcore,
Patric Lorg, Jacque Lowery, Gerry Luginbuhl, Haley Main, Nancy Manning, Mark Martell, Bill Miller,
Rosabel Miro, Ireneusz Mirowski, Alvaro Moiss, Keddy Mooketsa, Cristina Morales, Ron Morris, Werner
Mller, Tiwonge I Mzumara, Kroly Nagy, Mercy Ndalila, Serge Nsengimana, Michael Opige, Clairie
Papazoglou, Holly Parsons, Gregory Pasztor, Glenn Phillips, Helen Pugh, Aalbert Rebergen, Ernst Retief,
Enas F. Sakkijha, Mudhafar A. Salim, Elina Sarantou, Kabelo Senyatso, Loren H. Smith, Adrian Soria,
Nancy Streiffert, Elchin Sultanov, Don Geoff Tabaranza, Ishana Thapa, Meelis Uustal, Wim Van den
Bossche, Metodija Velevski, Zdenek Vermouzek, Donald Ware, Bob Wasilewski, Kerrie Wilcox,
Magdalena Zadrg.
Last but not least special thanks to BirdLife officials, Beverly Childs, John Fanshawe, Hazell Thompson.
C OMMON STARLING (STURNUS VULGARIS ) P HOTO: J IP LOUWE K OOIJMANS
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BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL GROUP ON URBAN BIRDS

The Netherlands is one of the most urban nations on earth, and Vogelbescherming Nederland / Birdlife
Netherlands early recognized that urban settlements are important habitats for both birds and people, and
that cities are where most people are likely to be recruited in support of bird preservation. Since several
other BirdLife partners were also working on urban bird issues and involving the public in bird protection in
their urban daily living space, Vogelbescherming Nederland initiated efforts to bring these partners together
as a working group on Urban Birds within BirdLife International. The BirdLife Group on Urban Birds (BIG UB)
works to increase BirdLifes expertise, influence on policies, public profile and fundraising opportunities in the
field of the urban environment as a habitat for birds and people, by focusing on synergy between partners
by exchange of knowledge, experience and practical tools for conservation as well as communication. Group
organizing began with informal discussions at Urbio 2008 (Erfurt 2008) and the BirdLife World Conference in
Argentina (Buenos Aires 2008), and the group formally convened for the first time a year later in Leiden, The
Netherlands (6-7 November 2009).
TOP 5 ACTION LIST

BIG UB members identified the following Top 5 action list for the group:
1)
2)
Compile a list of current activities and best practices for publication in an official BirdLife paper on
urban bird conservation.
Utilize the BirdLife paper to create a framework for BirdLife urban bird conservation
recommendations for rollout and discussion at a BirdLife Global Meeting.
3)
4)
Identify gaps in knowledge and education needed for conservation or birds in urban areas
Create a list of Important Bird Areas & threatened birds in urban areas
5)
Convene an international conference on urban bird conservation to include a second BIG UB meeting
A BIG UB steering committee formed to further these actions and the work of the group.
MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE:

Robert Kwak,
Vogelbescherming Nederland, moderator
George Eshiamwata, BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat.
John Fanshawe,
BirdLife International Secretariat.
Jip Louwe Kooijmans, Vogelbescherming Nederland
Rosabel Miro,
Panama Audubon Society.
Darren Moorcroft,
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Holly Parsons,
Birds Australia.
Sergey Sklyarenko, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.
Rob Fergus,
external expert
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H OUSE SPARROW (PASSER DOMESTICUS ) P HOTO: MARTIN H IERCK
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1.
INTRODUCTION
In order to begin addressing their Top 5 Action List, BirdLife International Group on Urban Birds (BIG UB)
members compiled a list of survey questions in 2010. In June 2011 the BirdLife International office in
Cambridge sent the survey to all BirdLife partners and affiliates. Partners and affiliates were asked to
fill out the survey online via SurveyMonkey.
By the end of August 2011, 49 of 125 BirdLife country partners had responded to the survey (see Map
1.1 and Table 1.1). These included:
18
[39%, n=46] from Europe,
2
[18%, n=11] from the Middle East,
10
[41%, n=24] from Africa,
6
[35%, n=17] from Asia,
4
[50%, n=8] from the Pacific,
9
[47%, n=19] from the Americas
In addition, responses were received from 47 local chapters of the National Audubon Society (10%,
n=460)the U.S. BirdLife partner (see Appendix B).
Map 1.1 2011 BirdLife International Group on Urban Birds Survey Respondents
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Table 1 .1 Respondents2011 BIG UB Survey
Country
BirdLife Partner
Argentina
Australia
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Botswana
Bulgaria
Burundi
Canada
Cook Islands
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Falklands/Malvinas
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Liberia
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malawi
The Netherlands
Nepal
New Zealand
Nigeria
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Poland
Rwanda
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
United States
Uruguay
Aves Argentians
Birds Australia
Azerbaijan Ornithological Society
Natuurpunt (branch of BirdLife Belgium)
BirdLife Botswana
Bulgarian Society for the Protection of birds / BirdLife Bulgaria
Association Burundaise pour la protection des Oiseaux-ABO
Bird Studies Canada
Te Ipukarea Society
BirdLife Cyprus
Czech Society for Ornithology
Aves y Conservacion
SalvaNATURA
Estonian Ornithological Society
Falklands Conservation
Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society
Hellenic Ornithological Society
Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (MME)
Burung Indonesia
Nature Iraq
Society for conservation of nature in Israel SPNI
Wild Bird Society of Japan
The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
Nature Kenya
Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia(SCNL)
LNVL - BirdLife Luxembourg
Macedonian Ecological Society
Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi
Vogelbescherming Nederland / BirdLife Netherlands
Bird Conservation Nepal
Forest & Bird
Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Palau Conservation Society
Sociedad Audubon de Panam
Asociacin Guyra Paraguay
Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources
Oglnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptakw (OTOP)
ACNR(Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda)
Nature Society (Singapore)
DOPPS - Birdlife Slovenia
BirdLife South Africsa
SEO/BirdLife
SVS/BirdLife Switzerland
Chinese Wild Bird Federation
Association "Les Amis des Oiseaux" (AAO)
Doga Dernegi
Nature Uganda
National Audubon
Aves Uruguay
Page 9
BIG UB survey responses came from BirdLife country partners representing nations with a wide range of
populations. Partners from the smallest countries responding were Palau with 20,796 inhabitants and
Gibraltar with 28,000 inhabitants. The largest countries represented in the survey were the United States
with 308 million inhabitant at a density of 31.9/km and Nigeria with 150 million inhabitants at a
density of 161.5/km.
Population densities of responding country partners also varied greatly. The highest densities reported
are from the city states of Singapore (7,315/k) and Gibraltar (4,672.3/km), the third and fifth densest
populations in the world. More moderate but still densely populated countries such as Taiwan
(638.5/km) and the Netherlands (401.4/km) were also represented, as were countries with very low
population densities including the Falklands (0.3/km), Australia (2.7/km), and Canada 3.4/km).
Accelerating rates of urbanization around the world underscore the growing importance of conservation
in cities. Since 2007 over 50% of the world population is found in cities. Responses to the BIG UB survey
generally reflected this high percentage of urbanism. Only seven of the 49 countries reported urban
population percentages lower than the world average of 50% (Table 1.2).
Table 1.2 Countries Reporting Urban Populations Below 50%
Country
Rwanda
Nepal
Luxembourg
Kenya
Slovenia
Nigeria
Philippines
Percent Urban Population

16.9%
19%
30%
42%
44%
48.7%
48%
Most countries reported urban percentages between 60-90%. Since urban population percentages are
available for most countries, some respondents provided very accurate governmental statistics (eg.
Jordans 82.6% from their department of statistics, end of 2010) and Australia reporting 68.4% in major
cities and 29.2% in regional centers. Other respondents did not reference official statistics, but provided
estimates or educated guesses.
The highest urban percentages reported in the BIG UB survey came from Uruguay (92%) and Gibraltar
(95%). However, reported percentages are not strictly comparable, as they are influenced by widely
varying local definitions of urban (see next section on definitions of urban).
While the subject of urban bird conservation might appear to be of more interest to partners in countries
with high urban populations, interest and programming in urban bird programs were reported by
partners from across the urbanization spectrum. Also perhaps surprisingly, some countries with high urban
populations reported very little by way of urban bird conservation programming.
This report summarizes and provides an initial review of the responses to the 2011 BIG UB survey.
Responses to each survey question are summarized in sections 2-15 and complete survey responses from
each country partner are also provided (Appendix A).
This report uses the follows the taxonomy, common names, and scientific names as published in BirdLife
Checklist Version 5. Scientific names for all species mentioned in the text are included in Appendix D.
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2.
WHAT IS URBAN?
One of the challenges in discussing or studying urban bird conservation across the globe is the lack of a
universally accepted definition of urban. This is hardly a problem restricted to ecologists or
conservationists; even the United Nations adopts a vague definition of urban settlements as those defined
as such by various national statistical agencies (see box). When asked to clarify their definition of urban
areas, most BirdLife partners responded with a general definition referring to cities and towns.
Some partners provided broad qualitative descriptions of urban areas, such as
Nepal: High settlement areas in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities consisting of
municipalities, very less agricultural areas.
Iraq: Areas that are used permanently or frequently by people.
Nigeria: An area characterized by higher population density and vast human features in
comparison to areas surrounding, it means an area of continuous development may be cities,
towns or conurbations.
17 partners referred to local official definitions of urban areas, including:
Botswana: Adopted statutory definition, which is more political, rather based on human
population; these are towns managed by central and not local government.
Czech Republic: Official list of towns and cities.
Taiwan: Municipalities.
11 partners provided a more quantitative definition of urban areas based on the number of inhabitants
in a settlement. Most definitions required the presence of at least 1000 inhabitants to qualify as urban,
for example Estonia defined urban areas as compact settlements with a high population density and
total population of at least 1000 people. Only Uruguay, with a minimum threshold of 500, defined
urban areas as settlements with fewer than 1000 inhabitants. Other partners cited higher minimum
population requirements for a settlement to qualify as urban:
Slovenia 2,000
Philippines 2,000
United States 2,500
Japan 4,000
Jordan 5,000
Only the Philippines provided a clear urban definition that involved measurements of population density:
(1) cities and municipalities with at least 1,000 persons/sq km; (2) central districts of municipalities and
cities with at least 500 persons per sq km; (3) barangay (smallest political unit) with at least 1,000
inhabitants and primary occupation is non-fishing.
In providing answers to this survey, Poland limited its definition to include only big cities with over
200,000 inhabitants.
While most urban definitions are based on population criteria, urban ecologists seek to identify urban
areas based on measures of landscape features. While individual researchers often create their own
criteria for determining what is or is not urban, these definitions often involve a gradient of landscapes
based on how much of it is dominated by pavement or built structures and ornamental vegetation (Box
1.2). Interestingly, no survey responses relied upon specific ecological criteria, and only a few described
specific landscape features. Burundi mentioned modern and complex infrastructure, while Panama
described urban areas as areas with road, electricity, water and sewage systems, with public services
(schools, hospitals, police station, etc.) and private services (banks, supermarkets, shops, etc.)
Page 11
Without a universal definition of urban areas, the BIG UB survey responses are not strictly comparable
from country to country, however they are illustrative of a wide diversity of perspectives and approaches
to dealing with birds in variously defined urban areas.
Box 1.1 United Nations Definitions of Urban

a) Urban. Settlements or localities defined as "urban" by national statistical agencies.
b) Urbanization. The process of transition from a rural to a more urban society. Statistically,
urbanization reflects an increasing proportion of the population living in settlements defined as
urban, primarily through net rural to urban migration. The level of urbanization is the percentage of
the total population living in towns and cities while the rate of urbanization is the rate at which it
grows.
c) Urban growth. The increase in the number of people who live in towns and cities, measured either in
relative or absolute terms.
d) Natural increase. The difference between the number of births and number of deaths in a given
population.
e) The urban transition. The passage from a predominantly rural to a predominantly urban society.
State of world population: Unleashing the potential of urban growth. New York, NY: The United Nations
Free Peoples Association; 2007.
Box 1.2 Ecological definitions of urban landscapes

(based on Marzluff, Bowman, and Donnely, A historical perspective on urban bird research: trends,
terms, and approaches, in Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World, Klewer, 2001)
Landscape
Percent Built
Building
Density
Residential
Human
Density
Additional Description
Urban
>50
>10/ha
>10/ha
Mostly covered with buildings
Suburban
30-50
2.5-10/ha
>10/ha
Single-family housing and yards
Exurban
5-20
<2.5/ha
1-10/ha
Scattered building in native matrix
Rural
5-20
<2.5/ha
1-10/ha
Scattered building in agricultural matrix
Wildland
0-2
<1/ha
Mosly unsettled
Page 12
3.
URBAN BIRDS
BirdLife partners were asked to determine the number of species with city or other urban areas as prime
habitat and to provide a list of those species, as well as the basis for this list (science based versus
educated guess). As with the definition of urban, the criteria for determining what is an urban bird, or
what constituted prime habitat, varied widely.
Countries reported the number of urban bird totals ranging from 2 species to 300clearly representing
different interpretations of the question as well as differing views of what constitutes an urban bird. Most
responses listed only the most urban-dwelling birds (those which primarily use cities as opposed to other
landscapes), while a few partners emphasized the long list of birds that are found across a wide range
of habitats within their urban areas.
Despite the different approaches to delineating urban bird species, this survey provides an instructive
overview of urban birds on each continent. The survey responses also illustrate how little studied urban
birds are in most countries--only a few partners were able to quantify their responses based on scientific
studies, with most having to rely on expert opinion. (see Table 3.1).
Expert Opinion vs.

Scientific Research
17
24
35%
50%
7
15%
Expert Opinion
Table 3.1 Urban Bird Species Determinations Based on Expert Opinion vs.
Scientific Research
Continent
Expert Science % Expert
%Science
Europe
8
2
8
[44% n=18] [11%]
Africa
6
1
3
[60% n=10] [10%]
Asia
2
2
2
[33% n=6]
[33%]
Pacific
4
0
0
[0% n=4]
[0%]
America
3
2
3
[33% n=9]
[22%]
Middle East 1
0
1
[0% n=2]
[0%]
Science
No Response
B IRDS AND PEOPLE . HOUSE SPARROW (PASSER DOMESTICUS ) P HOTO: MARTIN H IERCK
Page 13
EUROPE
34 urban bird species were mentioned by more than one country in Europe:
House Sparrow (15)
Common Swift (15)
Eurasian Collared-dove (15)
Rock Pigeon (10)
Northern House-martin (10)
Eurasian Jackdaw (9)
Barn Swallow (7)
Barn Owl (6)
Eurasian Blackbird (5)
Common Kestrel (4)
Black-billed Magpie (4)
European Greenfinch (4)
European Goldfinch (3)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (4)
Black Redstart (4)
Peregrine Falcon (4)
Hooded Crow (3)
Rook (3)
Little Owl (3)
White Stork (3)
Laughing Dove (3)
White Wagtail (3)
Great Tit (2)
Lesser Kestrel (2)
Yellow-legged Gull (2)
Spotted Flycatcher (2)
Common Starling (2)
Pallid Swift (2)
Alpine Swift (2)
Carrion Crow (2)
Common Redstart (2)
European Serin (2)
Common Myna (2)
Crested Lark (2)
MIDDLE EAST
As befits its geographic location, urban birds in the Middle East represents a mixture of European,
African, and global species. 24 urban bird species were reported in the Middle East:
Eurasian Collared-dove
House Sparrow
Laughing Dove
Rock Pigeon
Common Starling (in winter)
White Wagtail (in winter)
Barn Swallow
Barn Owl
Himalayan Bulbul
Page 14
White-throated Kingfisher
Syrian Woodpecker
Red -rumped Swallow
Northern House-martin
White-spectacled Bulbul
Eurasian Blackbird
Graceful Prinia
Great Tit
Palestine Sunbird
Eurasian Jay
Hooded Crow
House Crow
European Greenfinch
Common Kestrel
Rose-ringed Parakeet
ASIA
Seven species were listed by two or more countries:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (2)
Little Swift (3)
Barn Swallow (2)
Cattle Egret (2)
Jungle Crow (2)
Rock Pigeon (2)
Black Kite (2)
AFRICA
Seven species were mentioned by more than one country:
Common Bulbul (3)
House Sparrow (3)
Pied Crow (2)
House Crow (2)
Northern House-martin (2)
Laughing Dove (2)
Speckled Pigeon (2)
PACIFIC
Only two countries provided a list of species in this section, which included 24 species:
House Sparrow (introduced)
Micronesian Myzomela
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Palau Scops-owl
Palau Swiftlet
Micronesian Starling
Collared Kingfisher
Pacific Reef Heron
Red Junglefowl (feral)
Pacific Golden Plover
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Page 15
Wandering Tattler
White Tern
Cook Islands Fruit Dove
Common Myna
AMERICAS
Six species were mentioned by more than one country:
House Sparrow (2)
Monk Parakeet (2)
Rock Pigeon (2)
Chimney Swift (2)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (2)
Grey-breasted Martin (2)
27 species were mentioned on more than one continent (Table 3.2), with the Barn Owl and House
Sparrow appearing on all continents.
Page 16
Table 3.2 Most Widespread Urban Birds

Africa
Asia
Middle
East
Europe
Pacific
America
Barn Owl
House
Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
6
6
4
Laughing
Dove
Eurasian
Collareddove
Rose-ringed
Parakeet
Peregrine
Falcon
Common
Myna
Whitespectacled
Bulbul
Northern
House-martin
Barn Swallow
Blackcrowned
Night-heron
White
Wagtail
Cattle Egret
Common
Starling
House Crow
Common
Kestrel
Common Swift
Great Tit
Hooded Crow
Alpine Swift
Pallid Swift
Black Kite
European
Greenfinch
Eurasian
Blackbird
Little Egret
White Stork
Canada
Goose
Introduced by man
ALL
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
?
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
introduced by man, but partly

native
Native
Page 17
C HIMNEY SWIFT (C HAETURA PELAGICA ). STRIKINGLY HOUSE BREEDING BIRD SPECIES ARE UNDER PRESSURE
P HOTO : S.D.K. M ASLOWSKI
Page 18
4.
RED LIST
BirdLife countries named as urban birds 16 species on the IUCN world red list (Table 4.1). It is not clear if
all these birds are using the urban habitat as a breeding habitat or if these birds primarily occur in cities.
None of those are European species, while Europe is the most urbanized continent.
In addition to IUCN red list species, many local red-listed species and birds of lower concern on a global
scale are also listed urban birds. Respondents mentioned 40 species considered to be on local red lists
(see Appendix C). Strikingly house breeding birds are under pressure, such as Chimney Swift in the
Americas and Northern House-martin in Europe. Peregrine Falcon is locally red listed on three continents.
In some cases, cities can provide habitat for introduced populations of birds that are red-listed in their
native habitats. One example is the Java Sparrow, a globally red listed species that has a successful
introduced population in the Philippines.
In other cases, birds red-listed in part of their range can even become a pest or nuisance species when
introduced elsewhere. The most remarkable example of this is the House Sparrow. Red-listed in some
parts of Europe and Australia , it is at the same time considered a pest species in most parts of the world
where it is introduced by man.
Local red lists may have different criteria. If no birds where mentioned as red-listed, this clearly does not
mean that there are no endangered species present. In some cases, as indicated in the honest response
from Argentina, BirdLife organizations have yet to fully assess possible urban habitat use by red-listed
species.
Species
IUCN
Status
Continent
Countries
Remarks
Chinese Egret
EN
Asia
Philippines
Non breeding visitor
Philippine Duck
VU
Asia
Philippines
Endemic
Hooded Vulture
EN
Africa
Uganda, Nigeria
Grey Crowned-crane
VU
Africa
Nigeria
National bird
VU
Pacific
Cook islands
Non breeding visitor
Bush Thick-knee
NT
Pacific
Australia
Partly urban
Chinese Crested Tern
CR
Asia
Philippines
1 record, Non breeding

visitor
VU
Pacific
Cook islands
Only on two islands

Rarotonga and Atiu
Superb Parrot
VU
Pacific
Australia
Partly urban
10
Grey Parrot
NT
Africa
Nigeria
12
Chimney Swift
NT
Americas
USA
Highly urban
13
Regent Honeyeater
EN
Pacific
Australia
Partly urban
14
Papyrus Gonolek
NT
Africa
Nigeria
15
Papyrus Yellow Warbler
VU
Africa
Nigeria
16
Java Sparrow
VU
Asia
Philippines
Introduced
Page 19
Responses represented a wide range of approaches to classifying birds as urban or to inclusion on local
red lists.
PHILIPPINES
Here the responses included very rare birds that have occurred infrequently in urban areas, as well as an
introduced bird of global conservation concern:
Chinese Crested Tern migrant; recorded in Manila Bay 1905
Chinese Egret migrant; frequently recorded in coastal areas near built-up areas such as Manila
Bay.
Java Sparrow introduced; has established small populations built-up areas and surrounding
agricultural areas such as Metro Manila
Philippine Duck endemic; a population of at least 80 individuals have taken up residence in the
coastal lagoons of the Las Pinas Paranaque Critical Habitat & Ecotourism Area in Manila Bay.
PACIFIC
In the Cook islands, eight species were listed as urban red list species, representing birds of primarily
local conservation concern, as the global status for most of these species is of Least Concern:
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Vulnerable)
Cook Islands Fruit Dove (Vulnerable)
Pacific Reef Heron (Least Concern)
Red Junglefowl (Least Concern)
Pacific Golden Plover (Least Concern)
Wandering Tattler (Least Concern)
White Tern (Least Concern)
Common Myna (Least Concern)
USA
The Chimney Swift (Near Threatened) was the only urban Red List species mentioned by Audubon.
However, local Audubon chapters reported three additional Red List species (see Appendix B). Many
other IUCN, federal, or state listed endangered or threatened species occur in urban areas, and there
may be a wide variety of interpretations to this questions based on judgment calls of where the "cut-off"
should be on the continuum of how commonly a given species (particularly a migratory species) is
encountered in urban areas. For instance, Willow Flycatchers and Yellow-billed Cuckoos arent usually
considered primarily urban species, but they were listed as urban Red List species in Central New Mexico
because they occur in riparian areas within the Greater Albuquerque area.
In New York, the Peregrine Falcon is listed by the state as Endangered, reflecting the history of this
species during the last 50 years more than its current population levels, which are healthy. Peregrine
Falcons were extirpated in the eastern half of the United States and suffered severe population declines
around the world after World War II due to the use of the pesticide DDT. The species was successfully
restored in New York and elsewhere in much of its former habitat in the United States, and the federal
government removed the Peregrine Falcon from its list of endangered and threatened species in 1999.
New York state authorities have opted to continue listing it as endangered in consideration of its post
WWII decline and the tremendous effort involved in restoring it.
Page 20
5.
NON-NATIVE SPECIES
Urban ecologists have long noted that urban avifaunas are often characterized by exotic species that
are able to use built structures for nesting sites or take advantage of foraging and shelter opportunities
afforded by exotic vegetation. BirdLife partners were able to list over 50 species of exotic species in
their cities, which reflect both introduced species as well as invasive range expanders: like Eurasian
Collared-dove and Laughing Dove in Asia and Europe or the Great-tailed Grackle in the Americas. 12
of these species are listed as exotic or invasive species on several continents (see Table 5.1).
Table 5.1 Exotic & range expanding birds mentioned on more than 1 continent around the world
Number of countries where each species is listed as exotic or range expanding in the survey.
Africa
Rock
Pigeon
Asia
Middle East
Rose-ringed
Parakeet
Common
Myna
Common
Starling
House
Sparrow
House
Crow
Canada
Goose
European
Greenfinch
Mallard
European
Goldfinch
Eurasian
Collared-dove
2
1
2
Pacific
Americas
Exotic
Continents
2
1
2
2
1
Range Expander
2
2
Laughing
Dove
Exotic
Europe
2
Native
1
Partial Native
Remarkably, despite their near ubiquity in large cities around the globe, relatively few countries included
mention of feral Rock Pigeon. Additional information would be required to explain this glaring
inconsistency. Perhaps since genuine wild Rock Pigeons were native to Eurasia, their locally feral
descendants are not considered exotic, or maybe pigeons are so common that theyre not even noticed
anymore. Exotic species are often overlooked by birders more interested in native species, as well as by
conservationists focused on native habitats. For instance, in the Americas, despite their presence since
Colonial times, tallies of Rock Pigeons were not included in Audubons annual Christmas Bird Count until
1973.
Island states and countries reported the most exotic species, including Taiwan (21 species), New Zealand
(17 species, and Australia (12 species) (see Table 5.2). Island avifaunas are at particular risk from
competition with exotic species, and urban areas may serve as a source population for these invasive
competitors to continually threaten more intact rural habitats.
Page 21
Table 5.2 Exotic Urban Species on Islands

Taiwan
New Zealand
Australia
White-vented Myna
Common Myna
Jungle Myna
Vinous-breasted Starling
Asian Glossy Starling
Black-collared Starling
White-throated Munia
African Sacred Ibis
Indian Peafowl
Common Pheasant
Blue Magpie
White-rumped Shama
Zebra Dove
Village Weaver
Pin-tailed Whydah
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Azure-winged Magpie
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Black-throated Laughingthrush
House Sparrow
Common Starling
Common Myna
Australian Magpie
European Greenfinch
Yellowhammer
European Goldfinch
Eurasian Chaffinch
Common Redpoll
Eurasian Blackbird
Song Thrush
Hedge Accentor
Eastern Rosella
Spotted Dove (local)
African Collared-dove (local)
Mallard
Canada Goose.
Common Starling
Common Myna
House Sparrow
Eurasian Blackbird
European Goldfinch
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Spotted Dove
Rock Pigeon
Mallard
House Crow
Page 22
6.
NUISANCE BIRD SPECIES
In urban areas, where large human and bird populations come into contact, there are often conflicts when
birds become a nuisance. When asked to list pest or nuisance bird species, most categorized species
came from six bird families:
doves and pigeons

starlings and mynas
corvids
gulls
weavers
parrots
In most parts of the world, urban pest species are mostly exotic birds, especially Eurasian introductions,
such as feral Rock Pigeon, Common Myna, Common Starling and House Sparrow. In Australia several
native parrots including Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, and Long-billed Corella are
listed as pest species locally, while these birds are admired for their beauty in most other parts of the
world.
Strikingly some birds are mentioned as a pest in one country while declining or even red listed in others.
These include the Eurasian Jackdaw listed as a nuisance in Estonia, while near threatened in the Czech
Republic and Slovenia, as well as the House Sparrow which is considered a pest in Uruguay and Israel,
though near threatened in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Additional nuisance or pest species include several species of cowbirds in the Americas, which threaten
some native songbirds with their brood-parasitism. In Israel, Cattle Egrets are also listed as a nuisance.
Page 23
F ERAL ROCK PIGEONS (C OLUMBA LIVIA) LIVE IN ALMOST ALL CITIES AROUND THE WORLD
P HOTO : J IP LOUWE K OOIJMANS
Page 24
7.
ICONIC URBAN BIRD SPECIES
BirdLife partners were asked to list any iconic urban birds in their country. Partners listed 38 species as
iconic or potentially iconic urban species (see Table 7.1). Responses varied based on two different
interpretations of what defined an iconic birdsome countries listed species that are most typical of
urban habitats, regardless of their conservation status; other countries listed species that can serve as a
charismatic flagship species that the public can relate to as a conservation symbol.
Table 7.1 Iconic Urban Bird Species
Barn Owl
Barn Swallow
Chimney Swift
Common Bulbul
Common Kestrel
Common Myna
Common Swift
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Grey Fantail
Great-tailed Grackle
Grey Gerygone
House Bunting
House Crow
House Sparrow
Japanese White-eye
Laughing Dove
Lesser Kestrel
Light-vented Bulbul
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
Northern House-Martin
Oriental Magpie-robin
Palestine Sunbird
Pallid Swift
Piapiac
Pied Crow
Powerful Owl
Rock Pigeon
Rufous-bellied Thrush
Spanish Sparrow
Speckled Pigeon
Splendid Fairywren
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Superb Fairywren
Tropical Mockingbird
Tui
White Stork
White Wagtail
Wood Thrush
In Europe and the Middle East, House Sparrow and Common Swift were the most frequently mentioned
iconic urban birds. Only Hungary mentioned more charismatic flagship species such as the White Stork
and Barn Swallow.
Four partners (and three independent local Audubon groups) mentioned Rock Pigeons as iconic urban
birds. While these usually exotic urban species are not targets for urban conservation efforts, as perhaps
the most visible urban bird in many areas, they do provide a possible starting point for public discussions
about urban bird conservation. As noted in 2006 by Robert Dunn et al. in The Pigeon Paradox
(Conservation Biology 20(6): 1814-1816), conservation of all species and ecosystems may depend on
how well city dwellers can connect to pigeons and other urban species.
Thrushes may serve as iconic urban birds in many parts of the world. Rufous-bellied Thrush was mentioned
in Argentina, the Wood Thrush was mentioned in the USA, while independent Audubon groups mentioned
the American Robin. While the Eurasian Blackbird was not listed by any European partners, they might
also serve as a highly visible urban bird across its European range, as it shares a similar popularity with
other thrushes due to their rich song and habit of living close to human dwellings without usually
provoking a nuisance response from its human neighbors.
Bulbuls are another highly visible urban bird that may serve as a focus of public attention. Israel and
Nigeria each listed a bulbul species as an iconic urban bird.
Swifts are another iconic urban bird. Survey respondents listed Chimney Swift, Common Swift, and Pallid
Swifts as iconic urban birds. Since these aerial feeders nest on buildings, and may be declining in some
areas, they represent birds that require conservation action in urban areas.
Page 25
Almost any bird can serve as a focus for conservation action in urban areas, as indicated by the number
of species listed as iconic urban birds across the United States by local chapters of Audubon (see
Appendix B). These range from typical desert species like the Greater Roadrunner in New Mexico, to
coastal species such as Brown Pelican in San Diego.
S UPERB F AIRYWREN (M ALURUS CYANEUS , ICONIC A USTRALIAN G ARDEN BIRD

P HOTO : D AVE W ATTS
Page 26
8. URBAN IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS AND HABITAT RESERVES

Cities are often located in the most fertile regions of a landscapeincluding low elevations near water
with fertile soils and high biodiversity that attracted the first human settlers to the area. Large remaining
habitats in these cities may qualify as Important Bird Areas or be otherwise protected as parkland or
open space by local authorities. 21 BirdLife partners have designated over 100 IBAs within urban areas.
Map 8.1 BirdLife Partners with Urban IBAs
Countries with Urban IBAs

6
12%
22
45%
21
43%
Urban IBAs
Table 8.1 BirdLife Partners with Urban IBAs

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
5
11
2
[28% n=18]
Africa
5
4
1
[50% n=10]
Asia
3
2
1
[50% n=6]
Pacific
2
2
0
[50% n=4]
America
5
2
2
[56% n=9]
Middle East 1
1
0
[50% n=2]
No Urban IBAs
No Response
Canada reported perhaps the highest number of urban IBAs (<40), followed by the Philippines (29),
Taiwan (15) and Argentina (11). However, attempts to identify urban IBAs were plagued by ambiguity
over the criteria used to define what is meant by urban. As the response from Australia noted, the
number of urban IBAs depends upon urban classification criteria used. And even if there were a
universal definition of what is meant by urban, this survey illustrate several different ways one could
identify an IBA as urban. South Africa, identified 11 IBAs as urban because they include built up areas,
while Estonia listed a few IBAs as urban since they are adjacent to towns, though IBAs are natural areas
lacking urban characteristics themselves.
Page 27
In addition to listing urban IBAs, partners were asked about official urban reserves and other significant
habitat areas within cities. These questions also generated discussion about definitions and requests for
clarification, but 18 partners provided information about additional city reserves or habitats in their
country (see Table 8.2).
Map 8.2 BirdLife Partners Reporting City Reserves or Additional Urban Habitat Reserves
Countries With Additional

Urban Reserves
21
48%
18
41%
5
11%
Reserves
No Reserves
No Response
Table 8.2 BirdLife Partners Reporting City Reserves or Additional Urban

Habitat Reserves
Continent
Yes
No
Europe
7
2
9
[37% n=18]
Africa
5
1
4
[50% n=10]
Asia
3
0
3
[50% n=6]
Pacific
2
1
1
[50% n=4]
America
6
1
2
[67% n=9]
Middle East 0
0
2
[0% n=2]
Some respondents focused on officially declared urban reserves; South Africa has official city reserves
that are defined by national, provincial, and local legislation. Others like the Czech Republic noted a
lack of official criteria for designating official reserves, but cited the presence of large parks which are
forest enclaves within municipalities. Tunisia likewise mentioned that there are no official city reserves in
Tunisia, only urban parks as well as four major wetlands in and around cities and towns.
Many countries noted habitat value of numerous parks within cities, such as Karori (Zealandia) in
Wellington, New Zealand. Australia referred to an extensive collection of national parks, state forests,
conservation reserves in or adjacent to urban areas.
Page 28
Box 8.1 Example urban IBAs Aves Argentinas

Argentina has a well developed program of urban reserves in Buenos Aires, with detailed criteria for inclusion in the
reserve network. Reserves are selected according to the following criteria:
1. Found within the urban grid, or no further than 10 km (or within 30 minutes traveling distance)
(MCBA et al. 1999) from a city or group of settlements with a combined population of at least
50,000 inhabitants;
2. Of small or medium size (covering from 5 to 5,000 ha);
3. Native habitats (essentially similar to the original habitats of the region) must be present in at least 40
percent of the land;
4. Objectives of the area must be aimed at the conservation of native ecosystems, and generating
opportunities for environmental education, research, and/or recreation within nature;
5. One or more of the following uses must be permitted in the area: Public access for recreation and/or
tourism; Environmental education and interpretation; Formal education at any level; Scientific research
related to the reserves ecosystems; Management of ecosystems or species aimed at their conservation.
Reference: MCBA (Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires), et al. 1999. Informe de Diagnstico
Ambiental. Plan Urbano Ambiental. MCBA, Buenos Aires
While the Buenos Aires reserves provide an excellent example of size, habitat, location, and land use
criteria for use in delineating urban reserves, they point to the need for local rather than global criteria
for reserve designation. For example, If the Buenos Aires criteria were used in a small country like the
Netherlands, all IBAs in the country would qualify as urban reserves, including the world heritage
Waddensea.
URBAN IBA FOR WHITE- COLLARED SEEDEATER (SPOROPHILA TORQUEOLA) IN TEXAS, USA
Page 29
9.
URBAN MIGRATION MONITORING STATIONS
Hundreds of bird species migrate through most large cities where urban populations can provide a ready
supply of volunteers who can assist with migration monitoring. Eleven BirdLife partners reported that they
conduct migration monitoring at a total of 26 urban migration posts or monitoring stations (Table 9.1).
Table 9.1 Urban Migration Monitoring Stations
Country
Station
Belgium
-Poland
Stacja Badania Wdrwek Ptakw (Bird Migration Research Station)
Israel
Jerusalem Bird Observatory
Turkey
amlca Hills, Saryer Hills, Princess Islands, Poyraz Hill
Malawi
-Nigeria
Hadejia, Nguru
Tunisia
TN009 Lake Tunis, TN010 Sebkhet Sedjoumi, TN014 Lagune de Korba,
TN027 Salines de Thyna
Singapore
Sungei Bulon Wetland Reserve for waders, 6 additional hawk watches
Canada
McGill Bird Observatory (Ste. Anne-de-Belevue), Tommy Thompson Park Bird
Research Station (Toronto), Inglewood Bird Banding Station (Calgary)
Panama
Ancon Hill
Paraguay
Office of BirdLife Paraguay and Guyra Paraguay
Africa and Asia reported the most migration monitoring stations (Table 9.2). Singapore reported the most
stations (7), while Turkey and Tunisia each reported four stations.
Urban Migration Monitoring

Stations
6
12%
11
23%
32
65%
Table 9.2 BirdLife Partners with Urban Migration Monitoring Stations

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
4
12
2
[22% n=18]
Africa
3
6
1
[30% n=10]
Asia
1
4
1
[16% n=6]
Pacific
0
4
0
[0% n=4]
America
3
4
2
[33% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
Station
No Station
No Response
While very few countries currently operate migration monitoring stations, these are often spectacular
sites featuring world-class migration spectacles, such as amlca Hills in Istanbul and Ancon Hill in
Panama. At Ancon Hill, where the Panama Audubon Society has been counting migrant raptors from
October 1 to November 18 each year since 2004, 1.7 million raptors were counted migrating over
Panama City in 2010.
Migration posts are often ideal locations to provide outreach and educational opportunities. At the
Jerusalem Bird Observatory, a one acre site located between the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and the
Supreme Court, volunteers and staff hosted more than 1400 visitors and banded more than 2,000 birds
in 1998.
Page 30
10. URBAN BIRD MONITORING

As monitoring is essential for conservation efforts, BirdLife partners were asked about monitoring
programs to census breeding or wintering birds in urban areas. Less than 1/3 of responding BirdLife
partners monitor for breeding or wintering birds in urban areas.
14 (29%, n=49) BirdLife partners report that they census urban breeding birds (See Map 10.1).
Map 10.1 Urban Breeding Bird Census
Urban Breeding Bird Census

6
12%
14
29%
29
59%
Table 10.1 Conducts Monitoring Census for Urban Breeding Birds

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
7
10
1
[37% n=18]
Africa
2
7
1
[20% n=10]
Asia
2
2
2
[33% n=6]
Pacific
1
3
0
[25% n=4]
America
2
5
2
[22% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
Census
No Census
No Response
Page 31
European partners reported the most breeding urban bird censusing efforts, with urban breeding
censuses reported by Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and
Turkey. Elsewhere, breeding urban bird censuses were reported by Malawi, Uganda, Singapore, Taiwan,
Palau, Canada, and Paraguay.
In the United States, Audubon did not report a nationwide urban breeding bird census, though two
independent Audubon chapters did report conducting an urban breeding bird census (see Appendix B).
14 BirdLife partners reported that they census urban wintering birds (see Map 10.2 and Table 10.2).
Map 10.2 Urban Wintering Bird Census
Urban Wintering Bird Census

6
12% 14
29%
29
59%
Census
Table 10.2 Conducts Monitoring Census for Urban Wintering Birds

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
8
8
2
[44% n=18]
Africa
1
8
1
[10% n=10]
Asia
3
2
1
[50% n=6]
Pacific
0
4
0
[0% n=4]
America
2
5
2
[22% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
No Census
No Response
Once again, Europe reported the most efforts in this area, with winter urban bird censuses conducted in
Belgium, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Poland. Outside of
Europe, winter urban bird censuses were reported from Malawi, Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada,
and Paraguay.
Page 32
While the United States did not report conducting a winter census for urban birds, six Audubon chapters
reported wintering bird surveys (see Appendix B) and Audubons 113 year old Christmas Bird Count
includes hundreds of annual winter counts conducted in and around most major American cities.
Even fewer BirdLife partners publish a report on the state of urban birds. Only eight partners, 13% of
the BIG UB survey respondents,
were publishing such a report as of 2011 (Table 10.3).
Report on State
of Urban Birds
7
14%
8
16%
34
70%
Report
Table 10.3 Produces

Continent
Yes
Europe
3
Africa
3
Asia
2
Pacific
0
America
0
Middle east 0
Report
No
12
6
3
4
7
2
on State of Urban Birds

3
[11% n=18]
1
[30% n=10]
1
[33% n=6]
0
[0% n=4]
2
[0% n=9]
0
[0% n=2]
No Report
No Response
Belgium, Gibraltar, Kenya, Malawi, The Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and Uganda were the only
partners reporting a state of urban birds publication. No such reports were compiled by BirdLife partners
in the Pacific, Americas, or Middle East.
The lack of urban bird monitoring in most countries is perhaps the biggest gap in knowledge needed to
adequately address bird conservation in urban areas. Ironically, while most people (and potential
monitoring volunteers) live, bird monitoring is often the weakest, with only 1/3 of countries reporting a
monitoring scheme for urban birds. In addition to mere baseline occurrence data, little is known of
population dynamics of urban birds. Monitoring schemes for birds in urban areas provide an opportunity
to greatly expand our understanding of urban bird ecology, as well as provide opportunities to enlist the
public in research and conservation activities.
Page 33
C OVERS OF THE D UTCH S TATE OF THE URBAN BIRDS 2009 AND 2013,
AS PUBLISHED BY V OGELBESCHERMING N EDERLAND
Page 34
11. AWARENESS
BirdLife partners employ a wide variety of practices aimed at promoting awareness of urban birds and
urban bird conservation issues. Among the most common of these practices are the printing of popular
brochures on urban birds, technical fact sheets on urban birds, and conducting bird fairs or birding
festivals in cities.
POPULAR BROCHURES
19 country partners (39%) publish brochures on urban birds (see Table 11.1).
Map 11.1 BirdLife Partners with Popular Brochures on Urban Birds
Produces Popular Brochures

on Urban Birds
6
12%
19
39%
24
49%
Brochures
Table 11.1 BirdLife Partners with Popular Brochures on Urban

Birds
Continent
Yes
No
Percent
Europe
7
9
2
[39% n=18]
Africa
1
8
1
[10% n=10]
Asia
4
1
1
[67% n=6]
Pacific
2
2
0
[50% n=4]
America
5
2
2
[44% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
No Brochures
No Response
Page 35
TECHNICAL FACT SHEETS

18 country partners (37%) publish technical fact sheets on urban birds (see Table 11.2).
Map 11.2 BirdLife Partners with Technical Fact Sheets on Urban Birds
Produces Technical Fact

Sheets on Urban Birds
12%
37%
51%
Fact Sheets
Table 11.2 BirdLife Partners Technical Fact Sheets on Urban

Birds
Continent
Yes
No
Percent
Europe
8
8
2
[44% n=18]
Africa
3
6
1
[30% n=10]
Asia
2
3
1
[33% n=6]
Pacific
1
3
0
[25% n=4]
America
4
3
2
[44% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
No Fact Sheets
No Response
Page 36
BIRD FAIRS
15 country partners (31%) host bird fairs or birding festivals in urban areas to promote awareness
of urban birds (see Table 11.3). Fairs may target a general urban audience, or may focus on school
children. Panama holds a festival for school children each year, as does Botswana, which annually
celebrates World Migratory Bird Day with about 500 school children from Gaborone and
surrounding villages.
Map 11.3 BirdLife Partners Hosting Bird Fairs
Hosts a Bird Fair
10
15
20% 31%
24
49%
Bird Fair
Table 11.3 BirdLife Partners Hosting Bird Fairs

Continent
Yes
No
Percent
Europe
7
8
3
[39% n=18]
Africa
5
3
2
[50% n=10]
Asia
2
3
1
[33% n=6]
Pacific
0
4
0
[0% n=4]
America
1
5
3
[11% n=9]
Middle East 0
1
1
[0% n=2]
No Bird Fair
No Response
European countries hosted the most bird fairs (7), while Africa led with the highest percentage of partner
countries hosting fairs (50%). In the Americas, only Argentina hosts a fair. In the United States, Audubon
does not host a fair, but eight local Audubon chapters did report hosting a bird fair or birding festival.
ADDITIONAL OUTREACH AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS

BirdLife partners employ a wide range of additional outreach and awareness programs targeted at
urban birds. The Netherlands has published a book on urban bird conservation and hosts a biannual
conference on urban birds. Several partners including Uganda and Singapore provide public talks
Page 37
and presentations on urban birds. Kenya conducts an urban bird walk every Wednesday, bird
banding at the National Museum every Tuesday, as well as a monthly potluck in Nairobi. Australia
hosts a webcam trained on a White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest in a nature reserve along the Parramata
River in suburban Sydney Olympic Park.
Page 38
12. GARDEN BIRD COUNTS

13 BirdLife partners (27%, n=49) reported that they conduct some form of a garden bird count. Garden
bird counts were reported from all regions except the Middle East. There are additional garden bird
counts held around the world by partners that did not participate in the survey (eg. UK, France; Finland,
Germany, and many more).
Map 12.1 BirdLife Partners Conducting Garden Bird Counts
Garden Bird Survey

6
12%
13
27%
30
61%
Garden Survey
Table 12.1 Garden Bird Counts

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
7
9
Africa
1
8
Asia
1
4
Pacific
2
2
America
2
5
Middle East 0
2
2
1
1
0
2
0
Percent
[39% n=18]
[10% n=10]
[17% n=6]
[50% n=4]
[22% n=9]
[0% n=2]
No Garden Survey
No Response
The United States reported the earliest count, the Great Backyard Bird Count initiated in 1997. Belgium
and Nepal reported the next oldest counts, starting in 2000. Additional counts come online each year,
with three counts commencing in 2010 (Malawi, New Zealand, and Estonia).
Garden bird counts draw a lot of attention from local and national media as well as a wide range of
participants among the general public that become possible new members for BirdLife partners. The
United States reports over 40,000 participants in its Great Backyard Bird Count and Australia reports
over 11,000 participants in its Birds in Backyards program. The Netherlands reports perhaps the
greatest participation per capita, with 30,000 participants out of a total population of 16.5 million
people.
Page 39
Garden bird counts incorporate a wide range of count protocols involving effort, timing, and plot size.
Most counts are conducted annually, though Australias count takes place year-round, with participants
reporting the highest count of each species seen during each week. Timed counts may be range from five
minutes (Estonia) to one hour (Germany). In temperate climates, counts are generally conducted in the
non-breeding season (local winter) such as February in the United States and July in New Zealand. Many
counts are conducted over the course of a scheduled weekend, to take advantage of participant
availability outside of the work week. Census plot sizes for participants range from point counts, to
garden-wide counts, to larger count circles.
Page 40
13. BIRD FRIENDLY GARDENING

Gardens provide a network of potential bird habitat through many urban centers, and provide a site
where individuals can take direct action to help native birds. By encouraging city residents to take action
to help birds in their own yards and gardens, BirdLife partners teach people that their daily actions can
have a positive environmental influence, and can help them learn how their personal places are tied into
the larger environment. Providing habitat for birds in bird-friendly yards and gardens is one of the most
popular urban bird conservation activities worldwide, and 28 BirdLife partners (57%, n=49) reported
supporting bird friendly gardening programs.
Map 13.1 BirdLife Partners Supporting Bird Friendly Gardening
Support Bird Friendly

Gardening
7
14%
15
31%
27
55%
Support
Table 13.1 Providing Support for Bird Friendly Gardening

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
13
3
2
[67% n=18]
Africa
5
4
1
[50% n=10]
Asia
1
4
1
[17% n=6]
Pacific
2
2
0
[50% n=4]
America
5
1
3
[44% n=9]
Middle East 1
0
1
[50% n=2]
Do Not Support
No Response
Support for bird-friendly gardening was highest in Europe), but was consistently high in all regions
except Asia (see Table 14.1). Among the many activities and resources provided in support of bird
gardening, Vogelbescherming Nederland takes advantage of the Dutch public interest in garden birds
by offering to send interested residents a 16 page brochure and an interactive website with tips on how
to attract birds to their garden.
Page 41
In the United States, Audubon has promoted residential bird gardens and sanctuaries since the early
1900s, and created an Audubon At Home program in 2001 to provide additional resources and
guidance to urban, suburban, and exurban homeowners. Audubon At Home materials include posters with
guidance on how to create bird-friendly residential yards, apartment balconies, and schoolyards, as well
as fact sheets and online resources with guidance on how to provide food, shelter, and nesting
opportunities for iconic birds that need the most help in each part of the urban to rural continuum across
all regions of the United States. In addition to the national efforts, ten local Audubon chapters and one
state Audubon office also reported supporting bird-friendly gardening (see Appendix B).
In Asia, only the Philippines reported supporting bird friendly gardening. Bird-friendly gardening may
be another avenue for Asian BirdLife partners to explore, and the possibilities for establishing birdfriendly gardens in Asian cultures would appear to be a welcome topic of research.
G ARDEN BIRDS R OBIN (PETROICA AUSTRALIS ), T UI (PROSTHEMADERA NOVAESEELANDIAE ) AND BELLBIRD

(ANTHORNIS MELANURA ), AS UNIQUE SELLING POINTS FOR REAL ESTATE IN N EW ZEALAND
Page 42
14. ADVICE ON CITY PLANNING

28 BirdLife country partners (57%, n-49) indicated that they provide advice on city planning, and this
function was provided in all regions except the Middle East.
Map 14.1 BirdLife Partners Providing Advice on City Planning
Table 14.1 Providing Advice on City Planning

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
12
4
2
[66% n=18]
Africa
5
4
1
[50% n=10]
Asia
3
2
1
[50% n=6]
Pacific
3
1
0
[75% n=4]
America
5
1
3
[55% n=9]
Middle East 0
2
0
[0% n=2]
While partners were not asked to provide details on their city planning work, partners are engaged in a
wide range of activities in this area. In Europe, the Netherlands Society for the Protection of Birds (VBN)
holds a City Bird Conference every two years to facilitate communication with city planners and others
engaged in creating urban habitats. In New Zealand, Forest & Branch has more than 50 branches
working on projects across the country, including city planning. The Wellington Branch specifically seeks to
influence urban planning and policy by providing comments on formal planning documents prepared by
Wellingtons regional and city councils, as well as initiating discussions with local officials as needed. In
the United States, the National Audubon Society focuses on national issues, and did not report providing
advice on city planning, but eight local Audubon chapters (47%, n=17) and one state Audubon office
indicated that they do provide this function. In San Diego, California the local Audubon chapter has
created a guidebook for local homeowner associations interested in creating community-scaled
conservation in planned communities.
Page 43
L ITTLE RINGED PLOVER (C HARADRIUS DUBIUS ) ON ITS NEST . CITY PLANNING VERSUS BIRD CONSERVATION
P HOTO : RSPB
Page 44
15. CONSERVATION OF URBAN BIRD SPECIES

Preventing the extinction and improving the conservation status of individual bird species are principal
aims of BirdLife. 15 BirdLife country partners (31%, n=49) reported working on the conservation of
individual urban bird species. Conservation programs targeting individual bird urban bird species were
most widespread in Europe, with eight countries reporting such efforts.
Map 15.1 BirdLife Partners Reporting Conservation Targeting Individual Urban Bird Species
Table 15.1 Conservation of Individual Urban Bird Species

Continent
Yes
No
Europe
8
6
4
[44% n=18]
Africa
2
7
1
[20% n=10]
Asia
2
3
1
[33% n=6]
Pacific
0
4
0
[0% n=4]
America
3
3
3
[33% n=9]
Middle East 0
1
1
[0% n=2]
Conservation efforts targeting individual urban bird species were most commonly reported In Europe,
and the most frequently targeted species were Common Swift (5 countries), Peregrine Falcon (3
countries), Northern House-Martin (2 countries) and Barn Owl (2 countries). Other species mentioned
include Lesser Kestrel in Israel and White Stork, an iconic bird species, in Bulgaria. In The Netherlands,
Vogelbescherming Nederland is working with House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, , Sand Martin, and garden
birds in general. Work in the Czech Republic is focused on Common Swift, with those efforts also
benefiting Eurasian Jackdaw as a welcome byproduct.
In Africa, Tunisia also reported efforts to aid Common Swift, as well as Pallid Swift, Northern Housemartin, and Barn Swallow. Uganda is working with Hooded Vulture, Marabou Stork, and Grey Crownedcrane.
Nepal and Singapore report work with urban species including nest box installation for House Sparrows
and Oriental Magpie-robin in Nepal, and efforts to support Purple Swamphen, Common Moorhen, Lesser
Whistling-duck, White-browed Crake, and Little Grebe in Singapore.
Page 45
In the United States, Audubon did not report any efforts to help individual urban bird species, though
four chapters reported conservation measures on specific urban birds. Two Audubon chapters are
supporting Purple Martin colonies, while San Diego Audubon is focusing its efforts on protecting five
threatened and endangered local subspecies and coastal bird populations (see Appendix B).
While many partners are working to protect local rarities, five bird species are the focus of efforts on
more than one continent (see Table 15.2). Three are the beneficiaries of efforts in Europe and Africa,
while Peregrine Falcon attracts efforts in Europe and America and House Sparrows are the subject of
attention across Eurasia.
Table 15.2
Urban Species with Conservation Measures on More Than One Continent
Africa
Asia
Middle
East
Europe
Pacific
Americas
House Sparrow
Nepal
NT NL
NT Lux
NL
Barn Swallow
Tunisia
NT NL
NT Lux
NL
Tunisia
NT NL
NT Lux
NT Chec
VU B
B NL
Tunisia
NT Lux
B
Chec
Isr
NL
Northern HouseMartin
Common Swift
Peregrine Falcon
Taiwan
NT NL
Pol
B
Lux
NL
NT
NY USA
USA
Red listed Country Other country with conservation effort
Page 46
16. BEST PRACTICES AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE

One of the purposes of this study was to collect data on current urban bird conservation practices in
order to begin compiling a summary of best practices as well as gaps in knowledge among BirdLife
Partners. This survey highlights many innovative and effective urban bird programs around the globe, as
well as significant differences among BirdLife entities in attention to urban birds and habitats.
In many cases, existant BirdLife member or partner programs can serve as model programs. In other
cases, best practices are extrapolated from results of current ecological, sociological, and other studies.
Gaps in knowledge include variations in how these topics are approached in different countries, as well
as differences between our current understanding of issues related to urban bird conservation and
current levels of engagement with these issues within various BirdLife organizations.
In this concluding section, current and potential best practices are outlined for each of the survey topics,
as well as significant gaps in knowledge revealed by the survey questions. This is followed by final
remarks on the future and prospects for urban bird conservation.
DEFINITIONS OF URBAN
Most BirdLife countries do not have a well-defined criteria for identifying urban habitats. Fortunately,
work in this area is progressing, and definitions from urban and landscape ecology studies may provide
productive frameworks for identifying and working in these areas.
Best Practices
Define urban areas based on ecological

factors, rather than measures of human
population (cf. Marzluff et al. 2001)
Identify range of urban and urbanizing
habitats along a rural-to-urban gradient.
Gaps in Knowledge
Need to better define and quantify extent of urban

habitats in most countries.
URBAN BIRDS
BirdLife partners and affiliates vary widely in their approach to defining urban birds. More attention to
which birds are using cities may reveal additional conservation needs and opportunities in urban areas
Best Practices
Identify those birds which primarily occupy

cities, have significant populations within
urban habitats, or which may be found at
least occasionally in cities.
Categorize bird species responses to various
urban habitatseg. urban exploiters, urban
adapters, urban avoiders.
Gaps in Knowledge
Need better definitions of urban birdsbirds which

primarily occupy cities vs. all birds that may be
found at least occasionally in cities.
Page 47
RED LIST BIRD SPECIES

Many IUCN or locally red-listed criteria species are found in cities, or may be harmed by increasing
urbanization. A more thorough review of urban red-listed birds may reveal additional conservation
needs and opportunities in urban areas.
Best Practices
Identify IUCN and locally red-listed species

that are found primarily in cities, or which are
found at least occasionally in cities.
Gaps in Knowledge
How many IUCN red-listed birds are found primarily

in cities?
How many IUCN red-listed species are found at
least occasionally in cities?
How many locally red-listed pecies are found
primarily or at least occasionally in cities?
What role do urban areas play in harboring or
creating threats for red-listed birds?
How many red-listed birds are thriving in
expatriated urban populations outside their natural
range?
NON-NATIVE BIRD SPECIES

Birdlife partners and affiliates report many non-native bird species in their cities. Many of these birds
receive scant notice, and do not figure predominantly in urban bird conservation planning or educational
efforts.
Best Practices
Identify and track non-native bird species in

urban environments.
Gaps in Knowledge
How many non-native bird species are established in

each urban area?
What criteria are being used to determine if a nonnative bird population is established?
What cultural factors lead to the continued release
or interest in non-native birds?
What impacts do non-native birds have on local
native bird populations in cities?
PEST OR NUISANCE SPECIES

BirdLife partners and affiliates report a variety of responses to birds identified as pest or nuisance
species. Closer examination of the cultural, economic, and other social environment may reveal additional
conservation needs and opportunities, as well as opportunities for bird-related education in cities.
Best Practices
Identify species considered to be nuisance

species as well as the cultural, economic, and
other social factors that influence how those
species are viewed and responded to within
local cultures.
Gaps in Knowledge
What cultural factors contribute to a bird being

considered a pest or nuisance?
What efforts are being taken to control nuisance
bird species in different regions and cultures?
What challenges do nuisance species pose to bird
conservation efforts?
How can the bird pest control industry contribute to
management of urban bird populations in each
country?
Page 48
ICON BIRDS
Prominent and attractive urban bird species can capture the imagination of city dwellers and serve as
flagship species for urban conservation efforts, as well as provide a gateway for urbanites to become
more involved in bird conservation and other environmental activities.
Best Practices
Identify charismatic urban bird species that

can serve as a flagship species for bird
conservation and habitat efforts in cities.
Promote the conservation of these iconic bird
species in ecologically and culturally
appropriate urban settings.
Gaps in Knowledge
How can charismatic flagship bird species be used

to promote habitat creation and restoration efforts
in cities?
URBAN IBAS & RESERVES

BirdLife partners and affiliates report many Important Bird Areas within or adjacent to urban areas,
though there is a wide array of approaches to identifying IBAs as urban. The establishment of IBAs in or
adjacent to urban areas creates opportunities for urban dwellers to more easily become involved in IBA
management and support, and can serve as a gateway to involvement with more distant or regional
landscape and habitat conservation efforts.
Best Practices
Establish criteria for identification of IBAs as

urban IBAs.
Establish affinity of friends groups to conduct
bird monitoring and conservation efforts in
urban IBAs.
Link work in urban IBAs to efforts in more
distant rural IBAs.
Use urban IBAs to attract a wider urban
audience to bird conservation.
Urban IBA efforts revealed In this report:
Africa
Gaps in Knowledge
How to determine if an IBA is an urban IBA

location within matrix of urban habitats or proximity
to urban habitats?
How many urban IBAs are already established?
How can urban IBAs serve as flagship efforts
leading to urban renewal, as well as additional bird
conservation efforts in rural areas?
AAO, BirdLife Botswana, BirdLife South Africa,

Nature Kenya, Nature Uganda, Nigerian
Conservation Foundation, WECM
Americas
Asia
Asociacin Guyra Paraguay, Aves Argentinas,

Aves Uruguay, Bird Studies Canada, National
Audubon Society, Sociedad Audubon Panama
Haribon
Europe
Czech Society for Ornithology, Doga Dernegi,

DOPPS, Estionian Ornithological Society, NME,
OTOP, SEO
Middle East
The Royal Society for Conservation of Nature

(Jordan)
Pacific
Birds Australia, Forest & Bird, Palau

Conservation society
Page 49
MIGRATION POSTS
Few BirdLife partners or affiliates report conducting migration studies from bird observatories or other
migration monitoring posts in cities, though these efforts can create additional opportunities to engage
city dwellers in bird monitoring and conservation, and to educate urbanites about bird migration and
other aspects of bird ecology and conservation.
Best Practices
BirdLife organizations with urban migration posts
as identified in this report:
Africa
AAO, Nigerian Conservation Foundation,

WECM
Gaps in Knowledge
How do migratory birds use different urban landscapes

for navigation or as stopover sites?
What impact do urban landscapes and hazards have
on migratory birds?
Americas
Asia
Asociacin Guyra Paraguay, Bird Studies

Canada, Sociedad Audubon Panama
Nature Society (Singapore)
Europe
Doga Dernegi, Gibraltar Ornithological

& Natural History Society, OTOP, SPNI
T OOLS ON MIGRATION MONITORING STATION : BINOCULARS , COUNTER , COUNT FORM , CLOCK, FIELD GUIDE
P HOTO : J IP LOUWE KOOIJMANS
Page 50
URBAN BIRD MONITORING [BREEDING & WINTER]

BirdLife organizations report a wide variety of urban bird monitoring in both breeding and nonbreeding seasons. In order to sustain bird populations in urban and urbanizing landscapes, increased
monitoring will be needed. Bird monitoring provides an opportunity to collect needed data, as well as
engage urban dwellers in meaningful conservation activities.
Best Practices
Determine what types of information are

needed to best monitor and sustain urban bird
populations.
Within appropriate social and funding
parameters, create monitoring schemes to
collect needed data.
Use data to adapt management of urban
habitats for birds as needed.
Engage the public in collecting data and
celebrating the results of monitoring.
BirdLife organizations with urban bird
monitoring programs as indicated in this report:
Gaps in Knowledge
What types of monitoring are needed to best

support urban bird conservation efforts?
How can the public be most effectively engaged in
assisting with bird monitoring efforts?
Are there additional ways to better fund or conduct
bird monitoring?
How can bird monitoring better engage the public in
urban bird conservation awareness and activities?
How can the results of monitoring be used to inform
the public about bird conservation and to celebrate
positive results of management?
Africa
Nature Uganda, WECM
Americas
Asia
Asociacin Guyra Paraguay, Bird Studies

Canada
Bird Conservation Nepal, Chinese Wild Bird

Federation (Taiwan), Nature Society
(Singapore)
Europe
Czech society for Ornithology, Doga Dernegi,

Estonian Onrithological Society, LNVL,
Natuurpunt, NME, SPNI, Vogelbescherming
Nederland
Pacific
Palau Conservation Society
Page 51
AWARENESS
BirdLife organizations report a wide array of awareness activities in urban areas, including bird fairs,
printed brochures and technical reports, and other online or broadcast media efforts. BirdLife partners
and affiliates can take advantage of social media and other emerging technologies, as well as
traditional media, to promote awareness and conservation of birds in urban areas.
Bird fairs in urban areas can promote

conservation of urban birds, and
engage urban dwellers in the
appreciation and conservation of local
birds.
Popular brochures and technical fact
sheets can educate citizens and provide
assistance to local officials and city
planners.
How can bird fairs best promote local bird

conservation and engage city dwellers in
conservation efforts?
What types of popular brochures or
technical fact sheets best engage and
inform urban residents and local officials?
What other media outlets (television,
internet, etc.) can be utilized to promote
bird conservation and awareness in urban
areas?
GARDEN BIRDS COUNTS

A growing number of BirdLife organizations are conducting garden bird counts or similar citizen-science
urban bird surveys. In addition to the efforts reported in this survey, there are additional examples
(especially in western Europe--such as RSPB, LPO & NABU) of garden bird counts from BirdLife partners
that did not respond to the survey. Current counts reflect a wide variety of methodologies and protocol,
which can be adapted to local cultures and conditions.
GREAT TIT (PARUS MAJOR ) A TYPICAL GARDEN BIRD IN LARGE PARTS OF E UROPE AND ASIA
Page 52
Best Practices
Conduct an annual (or ongoing) count of birds

in gardens and other urban spaces.
Use counts as a way to engage additional
audiences in bird awareness and conservation.
Use count results to inform conservation
planning and additional outreach activities in
cities and beyond.
Gaps in Knowledge
How can citizen science efforts best engage urban

dwellers in collecting bird data from their yards and
gardens?
What are the operational and data limitations of
these efforts?
How can garden bird count results be used to inform
conservation planning in cities and beyond?
BirdLife organizations with garden bird counts as

indicated in this report:
Africa
WECM
Americas
Asia
Bird Studies Canada, National Audubon

Society
Europe
DOPPS, Estonian Ornithological Society, LNVL,

Natuurpunt, OTOP, Vogelbescherming
Nederland
Middle East
Nature Iraq
Pacific
Birds Australia, Forest & Bird
Page 53
BIRD FRIENDLY GARDENING

Many BirdLife organizations support bird-friendly gardening practices. Partners and affiliates may
consider providing recommendations for private bird habitat creation in a full range of available urban
habitats (see Audubon At Home poster series and Neighborhood Bird Conservation handbook).
Best Practices
Create programs and resources to support

target bird species and conservation goals in
each type of urban landscape or land use
type across the urban gradient.
BirdLife organizations supporting bird-friendly gardening

as indicated in this report:
AAO, BirdLife South Africa, Nature Kenya,

Nature Uganda, WECM
Americas
Asia
Africa
Gaps in Knowledge
Aves Argentinas, Aves Uruguay, Bird Studies

Canada, Falkland Conservation, National
Audubon Society
How can bird-friendly gardening efforts be tailored

to the full range of urban habitats across the
gradient of urban landscapes?
How can bird-friendly gardening efforts be tied to
iconic local bird species?
How can urban bird habitats be created that will
serve as population sources, rather than merely as
sinks for local bird populations?
How much bird-friendly gardening will be needed
to sustain populations of various bird species in
urban landscapes?
How can bird-friendly gardening be used to create
habitat buffers and corridors across the urban
landscape mosaic?
Haribon
Europe
Azerbaijan Ornithological Society, BirdLife

Cyprus, Czech society for Ornithology, Doga
Dernegi, DOPPS, Gibraltar Ornithological &
Natural History Society, LNVL, Natuurpunt,
NME, SEO, SPNI, SVS, Vogelbescherming
Nederland
Middle East
Nature Iraq
Pacific
Birds Australia, Forest & Bird
Page 54
ADVICE ON CITY PLANNING

Many BirdLife partners and affiliates support local urban planning efforts with advice on how to make
cities better for birds and their habitats. This advice can be most useful when tied to larger bird
conservation goals and strategies, and targeted to appropriate urban landscapes and land uses.
Best Practices
Base city planning advice on a comprehensive

strategic plan for sustainable urban habitats
and bird populations.
Create guidelines for each type of urban
landscape or land use category in cities.
BirdLife partners and affiliates providing advice on city

planning in this report:
Africa
Gaps in Knowledge
How much city planning advice is being provided

only as solicited vs. offered as part of a larger
regional or comprehensive strategic plan for urban
bird habitats and populations?
How can each type of urban landscape provide
maximal bird habitat value within its prescribed
human land use?
How can BirdLife organizations best engage local
officials, planners, developers, and land users to
promote best practices?
AAO, ABO, BirdLife South Africa, Nature

Uganda, Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Americas
Asia
Asociacin Guyra Paraguay, Aves Argentinas,

Aves Uruguay, Bird Studies Canada, Falkland
Conservation
Wild Bird Society of Japan, Haribon, Nature

Society (Singapore)
Europe
BirdLife Cyprus, Doga Dernegi, DOPPS,

Estonian Ornithological Society, Gibraltar
Ornithological & Natural History Society,
LNVL, Natuurpunt, NME, OTOP, SEO, SPNI,
Vogelbescherming Nederland
Pacific
Birds Australia, Forest & Bird, Palau

Conservation Society
Page 55
CONSERVATION OF URBAN BIRDS AT THE SPECIES LEVEL

Most BirdLife efforts are focused on natural habitats away from dense human settlement, many BirdLife
organizations do have programs targeting the conservation of specific urban birds. There appears to be
a large opportunity to further develop and expand these types of programs to better manage urban
areas or birds, as well as to better engage the growing urban population in meaningful engagement
and conservation of the environment.
Best Practices
Identify birds that need targeted efforts in

urban areasincluding iconic bird species,
red-listed species, and other vulnerable
common bird species.
Identify landscapes that these birds depend
on, and strategies for creating or maintaining
habtats in these landscapes.
Identify actorssuch as local officials,
developers, land owners, etc.that impact or
control these landscapes and habitats.
Develop appropriate strategies for engaging
these actors in targeted habitat creation or
management efforts.
Engage the wider public in targeted
conservation and awareness efforts for these
species.
Gaps in Knowledge
What species need targeted bird conservation

efforts in cities?
How can iconic bird species, red-listed species, and
other vulnerable common birds be best sustained in
cities?
What landscapes and habitats do these bird species
require and how can they be managed to best
support these birds?
What actors control these lands and their
management, and how can they be best engaged in
managing these lands to support birds?
How can the wider urban public support these
efforts, and what strategies can best engage them
in supporing these birds and bird conservation
programs?
BirdLife organizations with targeted urban bird species

efforts identified in this report:
Africa
AAO, Nature Uganda
Americas
Asia
Aves Argentinas, Sociedad Audubon Panam,

Bird Studies Canada
Europe
BSPB, Czech Society for Ornithology, DOPPS,

LNVL, Natuurpunt, SEO, SPNI,
Vogelbescherming Nederland
As identified in this survey, there are a great many current and potential strategies and opportunities for
bird conservation in urban areas. By engaging urban bird populations and city dwellers, BirdLife
organizations can make their efforts more visible and relevent to the majority of the people in their
program areas. This can increase membership and involvement in conservation programs, as well as
improve the prospects for birds in the urban areas they share with us. As the world becomes increasingly
urbanized in the future, urban habitats and expanding urban development will need to be managed for
birds. Rather than see birds as species and populations to be preserved away from human settlement,
birds will increasingly survive only as we manage to protect and preserve their prospects across a wide
range of urbanizing landscapes and habitats.
While increasing urbanization and other intensive landscape uses may appear threatening to bird
populations, they in reality point towards the future of bird conservationthe need to manage and
Page 56
sustain birds in landscapes shared with people. To the degree that we improve our ability to sustain birds
in urban areas, we improve our ability to sustain them in all environments that we both depend on. As we
begin to see the opportunities and challenges of urbanization in the larger conservation landscape, we
can begin to chart a brighter future for both our cities and birds alike.
URBAN BIRD CONSERVATION : THINK OUT OF THE BOX

P HOTO : R OB F ERGUS
Page 57
APPENDICES
Page 58
A. COUNTRY PROFILES AND SURVEY RESPONSES

Argentina
Continent: South America
Population: 40,000,000
Population Density: 14 people/ km2
Urban Population (%): 70%
BirdLife Partner: Aves Argentinas
Contact Person: Andrs Bosso, International Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds:
Number of species with city or urban areas as prime habitat
Species: House Sparrow, Common Starling, Rock Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Grey-breasted Martin, Monk
Parakeet
Number of species breeding in/on houses (houses as prime
nesting site)
Species: Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow

Number of urban species that are Red Listed
Not calculated yet
Species:
Number of exotic (non-native) invasive species
Species: Rock Pigeon, Common Starling, House Sparrow

Number of acknowledged pest species
Species: Rock Pigeon, Shiny Cowbird

Iconic urban bird
Number of urban IBAs
11
Reserva Ecolgica Costanera Sur (Buenos
Aires City) Martn Garca (Buenos Aires
province) Ramallo (Buenos Aires province)
Vuelta de Obligado (Buenos Aires province)
Otamendi (Buenos Aires province) National
Reserve Punta Lara (Buenos Aires province),
Laguna Salada Grande (Buenos Aires
province) Baha Blanca, Baha Falsa, Baha
Verde (Buenos Aires province) Mar
Chiquita (Crdoba) Laguna Nimez (Santa
Cruz province)
Number of official city reserves
50+
40 belongs to provinces or municipalities
and 10 are private, we are producing the
information.
Names:
Monitoring census for urban breeding birds
None
Monitoring Census for urban wintering birds
none
Produces a report on the state of urban birds
No
Page 59
Additional comments on monitoring and urban birds:

Publishes popular brochures on urban birds for the general
public
Yes
Publishes technical factsheets on urban birds
Yes
Streams webcams at particular nests, sites, etc.
No
Additional comments on awareness and urban birds:

Our Ornithological Meetings work as a bird fair. Moreover, Aves Argentinas promoted and sponsored two
BirdFairs last year. We publish fact sheet about Urban Reserves that include Urban Birds. And we published and
sponsored checklist of Urban Sites.
Conducts a garden bird count
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Support bird friendly gardening?
Yes
Additional comments on garden bird relates issues:

We have a volunteer group that is called Native Trees, that produces factsheets about this issue. Moreover, we
have a section in our magazine focused in Native Plantas and their use. And we have an 80 m2 backyard in
our headquarter fully planned with native plants that is a show for all our visitors. We dictate several courses
about native plants in Aves Argentinas.
Are you undertaking any specific conservation measures on
urban birds?
Yes
Urban species addressed: We are working on sites, not focused on species

Provides advice on city planning
Yes
Additional activities or programs on urban birds:

We run an school for naturalists that most of its practical activities are undertaken in urban places.
Additional Comments:
More information at http://www.avesargentinas.org.ar/12/04-reservas_naturales.php#
Page 60
Australia
Continent: Pacific
Population Density: 2.8 people/km2 (varies from 0.15 in the northern territory to 137.5 in ACT)
Urban Population (%): 68.4% in major cities, 29.2% in regional centres
BirdLife Partner: BirdLife Australia
Contact Person: Holly Parsons, Birds in Backyards Program Manager
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Holly Parsons, Birds in Backyards Program Manager
> 50
Species: taken as species that are as common or more common in urban and regional habitats than in their
natural habitats
nesting site)
Species: Common Myna, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Laughing Dove,
Welcome Swallow, Peregrine Falcon
Species:
14
Species: Common Myna, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Blackbird, European Greenfinch,
European Goldfinch, Scaly-breasted Munia, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Spotted Dove, Laughing Dove, Rock
Pigeon, Mallard, House Crow (not established), Rose-ringed Parakeet (aviary escapees - not established)
6+
Species: Common Starling, Common Myna, Eurasian Blackbird, A number of native birds can also be
classified as pests in some regions especially parrots such as the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Rainbow
Lorikeet, Long-billed Corella etc.
Iconic urban bird
We have quite a few that can be picked

depending on the area (as there are few
species that occur Australia wide):
e.g. Superb Fairywren and Splendid
Fairywren, Powerful Owl, Tawny
Frogmouth,
Spotted Pardalotes, Striated Pardalotes
Unknown
Depends on urban classification
Too many to count
Names:
Migration Monitoring Stations
Names:
None
None
No
Page 61

public
Yes
Yes
Yes

BirdLife Australia has EagleCAM - a camera on a White-bellied Sea-eagle nest located in remnant habitat in
Sydney. We also regularly attend bird and environmental themed events and conduct workhops and talks for a
range of groups.
Year first started 2005
Frequency
Yes
On-going, always
open
Support bird friendly gardening?
Number of
Participants
15,000
Yes

We have our Birds in Backyards website with garden related information and videos - also hold workshops for
local councils and other groups and we are currently developing a national expansion for Birds in Backyards on
the ground groups.
Are you undertaking any specific conservation measures on
urban birds?
Yes
Urban species addressed: Conducting a Powerful Owl project in Greater Sydney which involves volunteers
monitoring Powerful Owl territories during breeding season and coordinating conservation measures across
land managers.
Yes

Guidelines for Enhancing Urban Bird Habtiats, workshops, event attendence, work with various local councils,
BirdLife Australia's Answering the Call School Program
Page 62
Azerbaijan
Continent: Europe
Population Density: ~110 people/ km2
Urban Population (%): ~60%
BirdLife Partner: Azerbaijan Ornithological Society
Contact Person: Elchin Sultanov, Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Elchin Sultanov, Director
11
Species: Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Laughing Dove, Eurasian Collared-dove, Common Swift, Eurasian
Blackbird, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Rose-ringed Parakeet
nesting site)
Species: Northern House-martin, Barn Swallow, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Rock Pigeon, Common Swift
Species: Lesser Kestrel (no longer listed)

Species: Eurasian Collared-dove, Laughing Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet

Species: Carrion Crow

Iconic urban bird
None listed
None listed
Names: Baku Boulevard National Park

Names:
None
None
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 63
Supports bird friendly gardening
Yes

Specific conservation measures on urban birds
None
Urban species addressed:

No

Page 64
Belgium
Continent: Europe
Population Density: 462 people/km2
Urban Population (%):
BirdLife Partner: Natuurpunt (Dutch speaking part of Belgium, branch of BirdLife Belgium)
& Natagora (French speaking part of Belgium, branch of BirdLife Belgium)
Contact Person: Gerald Driessens (Natuurpunt), Jean-Yves Paquet (Natagora)
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Gerald Driessens (Natuurpunt), Jean-Yves Paquet (Natagora)
Species: Black Redstart, House Sparrow, Common Swift, Northern House-martin, Rose-ringed Parakeet,
Eurasian Collared-dove, Rock Pigeon, Peregrine Falcon
nesting site)
Species: Barn Owl, Barn Swallow, Black Redstart, House Sparrow, Common Swift, Northern House-martin,
Rock Pigeon, Peregrine Falcon
Species: Northern House-martin

Species: Rock Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet (other species not primarily in urban areas Egyptian Goose,
etc.)
Species: Rock Pigeon

Iconic urban bird
Common Swift

Quite a few, number unknown
Names:
Names:
Yes
Yes
Yes

public
Yes
Yes
No

Yes
Page 65
Frequency
Annual
Number of
Participants
Around 15.000 for

Natagora+Natuurp
unt (increasing)
Yes

Yes
Urban species addressed: Common Swift, Northern House-martin, Peregrine Falcon

Yes

Page 66
Botswana
Continent: Africa
Population Density: people/ km2
BirdLife Partner: BirdLife Botswana
Contact Person: Keddy Mooketsa, Project Officer
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Kabelo Senyatso
~100
Species:
nesting site)
Species: Barn Owl, Southern Masked-weaver, House Sparrow

Species:
Species: Common Myna

Species:
Iconic urban bird
1
Phakalane Sewage Ponds
Names: Gaborone Game Reserve Maun Educational Game Reserve

Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

BirdLife Botswana celebrates World Migratory Bird Day annually with about 500 school children from
Gaborone and surrounding villages
No
Page 67
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
No

No

No

Page 68
Bulgaria
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Bulgarian Society for the Protection of birds / BirdLife Bulgaria
Contact Person: Iordan Hristov, Monitoring Officer
Species: Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin,
Common Swift, House Sparrow, White Stork
nesting site)
Species: House Sparrow, Northern House-martin, Barn Swallow

Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
White Stork

Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

BSPB takes part in fairs organised by other organisations or holds events organised by itself.
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 69
Yes

Within a project recently started we initiated a campaign to involve more people in bird feeding. The activities
included setting up bird feeders in a city park by the parliament, outdoor classes 'how to make your own bird
feeder', materials in printed and electronic media.
Yes
Urban species addressed: White Stork

No
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: Yes

We envisage development of birdwatching routes and awareness campaigns.
We recently started a project that is focused on the wilderness of urban environment. Within that project there
were a few awareness campaigns. In the near future in the project is envisaged development of birdwatching
routes in the capital's parks and more awareness campaigns.
Page 70
Burundi
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: Association Burundaise pour la protection des Oiseaux-ABO
Contact Person: Dieudonne Bizimana
No studies
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Unknown
Species:
Species: House Sparrow

Unknown
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No
Page 71

None

Yes

Urban birds conservation is a good programme that, with support of experienced people, our organisation is
interested in .
Page 72
Canada
Continent: Americas
Population Density: 3.41 people/ km2
Urban Population (%): > 80 (2006 Census)
BirdLife Partner: Bird Studies Canada
Contact Person: Kerrie Wilcox, Coordinator, Project FeederWatch and Great Backyard Bird Count
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Kerrie Wilcox
Species: Chimney Swifts

nesting site)
Species:
Species: Chimney Swift

Rock Pigeon, Common Starling, House

Sparrow
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Chimney Swift
<40; Examples: Boundary Bay, BC; Lac

Deschnes, ON; Niagara River Corridor,
ON
Unknown
Names:
Names: McGill Bird Observatory, Ste. Anne-de-Belevue, QC
Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station, Toronto, ON
Inglewood Bird Banding Station, Calgary, AB
Breeding Bird Atlas projects cover all

environments, including urban, but are not
designed specifically for urban areas.
Christmas Bird Count monitors urban birds,

but not exclusively
No

public
A brochure will be produced as part of

the Toronto Urban Birds project
A factsheet will be produced as part of

the Toronto Urban Birds Project
Page 73
No
Additional comments on awareness and urban birds: Project FeederWatch, Ebird and Great Backyard Bird
Count monitor urban birds but not exclusively.
Frequency
Project FeederWatch is a survey of winter

backyard feeder birds
Weekly, Nov thru
Apr
Number of
Participants
2600 in Canada
The Project FeederWatch kit includes a

handbook with advice on gardening for
birds and bird feeding.

Yes

Yes to the cities of Toronto and Vancouver,

as part of the Toronto and Vancouver
Urban Birds Project
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: Bird Studies Canada has plans to start a Nighthawk
Migration Monitoring Program in Toronto as well as Urban Owl Monitoring.
A pilot Urban Atlas has been initiated in Vancouver, building on the current, province-wide atlas. The pilot
project will drill down to a much finer scale than its provincial counterpart. It will examine micro scale
patterns of bird distribution and abundance as they relate to landscape features and neighbourhoods;
assess relationships among birds and human health and well-being; characterize the value of urban parks
and biodiversity; and tie into local scale planning.
Additional Comments: Bird Studies Canada has a Chimney Swift monitoring program and a Chimney Swift
school program.
A Shorebird Festival is being planned in Nova Scotia, with the goal of building community awareness and
economic benefits of bird-related tourism.
Page 74
Cook Islands
Continent: Pacific
Population: 15,000
BirdLife Partner: Te Ipukarea Society
Contact Person: Jacqueline Evans, Programme Manager
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Jacqueline Evans, Programme Manager
Species:
Pacific Reef Heron, Red Junglefowl (feral), Pacific Golden Plover, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Wandering
Tattler, White Tern, Cook Islands Fruit Dove, Common Myna
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Bristle Thighed Curlew (Vulnerable), Cook Islands Fruit Dove (Vulnerable), Pacific Reef Heron (Least
Concern),
Red Junglefowl (Least Concern), Pacific Golden Plover (Least Concern)


Iconic urban bird
Common Myna

Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No
Page 75

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No

No

No

Page 76
Cyprus
Continent: Europe
Population: 800,000
BirdLife Partner: BirdLife Cyprus
Contact Person: Clairie Papazoglou, Executive Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Lilia Kapsali, Development Officer
15
Species: Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Rock Pigeon, Common Wood-pigeon, Eurasian
Collared-dove, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Olivaceous Warbler,
Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch
These are species which include urban areas among their prime habitat, although most of them also inhabit
other habitat types as prime habitat.
nesting site)
Species: Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Rock Pigeon, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern
House-martin, House Sparrow
Species:
Species:
2 listed legally as non-protected pest

species, but pest status is questionable in
the case of House Sparrow.
Species: Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow

Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow and Common Swift (if we

are allowed two!)
0 (but lots of IBAs contain small villages)
Names:
0 in urban areas
Names:
Page 77
No
No
No

Publishes popular brochures on urban birds for the general public No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes, but not actively

No

Not specifically on city planning, but yes on

land-use planning which includes urban
planning.

Page 78
Czech Republic
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Czech Society for Ornithology
Contact Person: Zdenek Vermouzek, Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Lukas Viktora, conservation manager
19
Species:
Rook, Lesser Whitethroat, European Gold finch, Eurasian Collared-dove, Common Redstart , European
Serin, White Stork, Little Owl, Northern House-martin, European Greenfinch, Common Kestrel, Rock Pigeon,
House Sparrow, Eurasian Linnet, White Wagtail, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Jackdaw
nesting site)
10
Species:
Black Redstart, White Stork, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Northern House-martin, Common Kestrel, Rock Pigeon,
Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Jackdaw
Species:
Rook, White Stork, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Northern House-martin, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Eurasian
Jackdaw
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Common Swift, Barn Owl, Common

Kesrel, Rock Pigeons

Names:
There are big parks, enclaves of forests in the area of municipality etc. No City Reserves as a parts of towns
with buildings protected for nature conservancy purposes.
Names:
Yes
No
No

public
No
Page 79
Yes
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

Gardening - only occasional recommendations in our magazine and on the website. No systematic approach.
Yes
Urban species addressed: Common Swift (and Eurasian Jackdaw and Northern House-martin benefit as a
byproduct)
No
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: None

Currently we have no capacity to develop any programme on urban birds, however we plan to start a wide bird
feeder project in the horizon of two or three years.
Page 80
Ecuador
Continent: Americas
BirdLife Partner: Aves y Conservacion
Contact Person: Adrian Soria, Director del Programa de Conservacin Llanganates
45
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
public
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Page 81

Page 82
El Salvador
Continent:
BirdLife Partner: SalvaNATURA
Contact Person: Alvaro Moiss, Executive Director
250+
Species:
nesting site)
Species: House Wren, Rufous-naped Wren, Chimney Swift, Barn Owl, Clay-coloured Thrush, White-winged
Dove
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
public
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Page 83

Page 84
Estonia
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Estonian Ornithological Society
Contact Person: Jaanus Elts, Project Manager (JE)
Meelis Uustal (UM)
16 (UM)
Species:
Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Common Swift, Northern House-martin, White Wagtail,
Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit (?), Eurasian Jackdaw
(?), Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow
nesting site)
9-12 (UM)
Species:
Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Common Swift, Northern House-martin, White-wagtail,
Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Jacksaw, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow
Species:

Species: Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Jackdaw, Hooded Crow (all are nuisance rather than pests)
Iconic urban bird
Characteristic urban birds are House

Sparrow and Rock Pigeon, but they are not
exactly flagship species.
There are a few IBAs bordering some towns,

but these IBAs are natural areas and do not
have any urban characteristics

Names:
Names:
No
Yes
No

public
No
Page 85
No
No

Frequency
Yes
Annual (last week of Number of
January)
Participants
1,000
No

No

Yes

Surveys have been conducted in Tallinn residential and green areas to find out the densities and composition of
bird species. Urban bird (and biodiversity) conservation checklist for Estonian cityplanners and developers will
be developed in 2012 (UM).
Advice on the urban bird conservation checklist and other urban bird matters would be much appreciated (UM).
Page 86
Falklands/Malvinas
Continent: Americas
Population: 3,500
BirdLife Partner: Falklands Conservation
Contact Person: Craig Dockrill, Chief Executive Officer

nesting site)

Species:

Species:
Debatable: Farmers identify birds of prey (Turkey Vulture, Southern Caracara) as pests, and control permits
are attainable.
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 87
Yes

No

Yes

Urban areas are so limited that a program on urban birds seems unnecessary. Many species of bird are seen
daily within the town of Stanley, ranging from House Sparrow (common) to Upland Goose to Red-backed
Hawk (occasional) to King Penguin (uncommon).
Page 88
Gibraltar
Continent: Europe
Population: 28,000
Population Density: 4,000 people/ km2
BirdLife Partner: Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society
Contact Person: Keith Bensusan, Strait of Gibraltar Bird Observatory
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Keith Bensusan
4
More species occur, but not prime habitat.
Species: House Sparrow, Pallid Swift, Common Swift, Eurasian Collared-dove

nesting site)
Species: House Sparrow, Pallid Swift, Common Swift, Spotless Starling

Species:
Species:
Species: Yellow-legged Gull

Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow
Names:
0 urban
Names:
No
Yes
Yes, as part of annual Gibraltar Bird

Report

public
Yes
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 89
Yes

Yes

Encouraging provision of nest sites for swifts in new buildings
Yes
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: No

Page 90
Greece
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Hellenic Ornithological Society
Contact Person: Elina Sarantou, Media and Communications Officer
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
public
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Page 91

Page 92
Hungary
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (MME)
Contact Person: Kroly Nagy, Head of Monitoring Centre
Species:
White Stork, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Barn Owl, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern
House-martin, House Sparrow
nesting site)
Species: Rock Pigeon, Barn Owl, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, House Sparrow
Species: Barn Owl

Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
White Stork (villages), Barn Swallow

(villages), Northern House-martin (villages,
cities, town)
1
reg Lake of Tata

Names:
Names:
Yes
Yes
No

public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Page 93

Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Yes

Yes

White Stork Online Database: www.golya.mme.hu
Swallows Online Database: www.fecskefigyelo.mme.hu
Page 94
Indonesia
Continent: Asia
Population:
BirdLife Partner: Burung Indonesia
Contact Person: Fahrul Amama, Communication and Media Relations
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
public
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants

Page 95

Page 96
Iraq
Continent: Middle East
Population Density: unknown
Urban Population (%): perhaps 50%
BirdLife Partner:
Contact Person: Mudhafar Salim & Richard Porter
Species:
Eusrasian Collared-dove, House Sparrow, Laughing Dove, Rock Pigeon, Common Starling (in winter), White
Wagtail (in winter), Barn Swallow, Barn Owl, Himalayan Bulbul
Nine species in different cities. Of course this number differs from city to other, and from season to season.
nesting site)
Species:
Eusrasian Collared-dove, House Sparrow, Laughing Dove, Rock Pigeon, Barn Swallow, Barn Owl,
Himalayan Bulbul
Species:
Laughing Dove
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow

Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No
Page 97

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

Support the idea, but dont conduct any activity in this field.
None

No

Page 98
Israel
Continent: Europe
Urban Population (%): 60-70%
BirdLife Partner: SPNI
Contact Person: Amir Balaban, Urban Wildlife Cordinator and Co-Director of the Jerusalem Bird
Observatory
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Amir Balaban
60
Species:
Black-crowned Night-heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Mallard, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel,
Eurasian Hobby, Chukar, Eurasian Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pigeon,
European Turtle-dove, Laughing Dove, Eurasian Collared-dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Longeared Owl, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Common Scops-owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, White-throated
Kingfisher, Syrian Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Northern House-martin, Rock Martin,
White-spectacled Bulbul, Eurasian Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Graceful Prinia, Spotted Flycatcher,
Great Tit, Palestine Sunbird, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Crow, Tristrams
Starling, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, European Serin, Rose-ringed Parakeet,
Monk Parakeet, Common Myna, Vinous-breasted Starling
nesting site)
Species:
House sparrow, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, Rock Pigeon, Laughing Dove,
Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel
Species: Lesser Kestrel, Black-eared Wheatear

Species: Rose-ringed Parakeet, Monk Parakeet Indian, Common Myna, Vinous-breasted Starling, House
Crow
Species: Cattle Egret, House Sparrow

Iconic urban bird
Lesser Kestrel, White-spectacled Bulbul,

Palestine Sunbird
About 20
About 20
Names:
Eilat international bird center, Ashdod

Lachish stream, Jerusalem Bird
Observatory
Names:
Page 99
Yes
Yes
No

public
Yes
Yes
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

Yes
Urban species addressed: Lesser Kestrel, Common Swift

Yes

We are currently working on a national urban biodiversity survey
Page 100
Japan
Continent: Asia
Urban Population (%): 65.2%
BirdLife Partner: Wild Bird Society of Japan
Contact Person: Seiji Hayama, Manager of Conservation Division
Species: Little Swift, Barn Swallow, Jungle Crow

nesting site)
Species: Little Swift, Barn Swallow

Species:


Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

We have a publication for an educational program that involves urban bird watching.
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 101
No

None

Yes
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: None

Page 102
Jordan
Continent: Middle East
BirdLife Partner: The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
Contact Person: Tariq Qaneer, Bird Researcher- Research & Survey Section
19
Species:
Laughing Dove, White-throated Kingfisher, Syrian Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow,
Northern House-martin, White-spectacled Bulbul, Eurasian Blackbird , Graceful Prinia, Great Tit , Palestine
Sunbird, Eurasian Jay, Hooded Crow, House Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, Common Kestrel,
Rock Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet
nesting site)
Species:
House sparrow, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, Rock Pigeon, Laughing Dove, Common
Kestrel
Species:
Species:
Rose-ringed Parakeet, House Crow, Laughing Dove
Species: House Crow

Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow, Palestine Sunbird, Whitespectacled Bulbul
Names:
No
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
Page 103
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency

No

No

Page 104
Kenya
Continent: Africa
Population:
BirdLife Partner: Nature Kenya
Contact Person: Mercy Ndalila, Programmes Assistant
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Fred Barasa
Species: House Crow, House Sparrow

nesting site)

Species:
Species: House Crow, House Sparrow

Species: Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea), Speckled Mousebirds

Iconic urban bird
House Crow
3
Dandora ponds, Nairobi National Park,
Lake Naivasha

Names:
No
Names:
No
No
Yes

public
Yes
Yes
No

We conduct Wednesday morning birdwalks and 3rd Sunday of the month Potluck; We do bird ringing at
National Museums of Kenya every Tuesdays; We have produced fact sheets on Lake Naivasha.
No
Page 105
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Yes

The Bird Committee of Nature Kenya has been discussing how to initiate such a program in Kenya,
recognising that other parners such as the RSPB has used the approach to attract the public to be members.
No

No

Page 106
Liberia
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: ociety for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL)
Contact Person: Michael F. Garbo, IBA Officer/National Project Coordinator
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Michael F. Garbo
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
Page 107
Publishes popular brochures on urban birds for the general public

Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants

Page 108
Luxembourg
Continent: Europe
Population: 511,840
BirdLife Partner: BirdLife Luxembourg
Contact Person: Birgit Gdert-Jacoby
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Patric Lorg or Mikis Bastian, COL
Species: Barn Owl, Rook, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Black Redstart, House
Sparrow, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin
nesting site)
Species: Rock Pigeon, Black Redstart, House Sparrow, Common Swift, Northern House-martin, Barn Swallow
Species: Barn Owl, House Sparrow, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
Yes
Yes

Additional comments on monitoring and urban birds: Long-term study on the birds of Luxembourg-city Park
public
Yes
Yes
No

Frequency
Yes
Annual (January)
Number of
Participants
400-600
Page 109
Yes
Additional comments on garden bird relates issues: We consult and produce some factsheets to birdfriendly gardening practice, promote hedge planting in gardens etc.
Yes

Nest boxes, monitoring Falco peregrinus in urban areas, nest boxes for Barn Owl
Yes
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: spring alive

Page 110
Macedonia
Continent: Europe
Urban Population (%): >60%
BirdLife Partner: Macedonian Ecological Society
Contact Person: Metodija Velevski, Executive Director
Species:
Common Swift, Rook, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-dove, Black-billed Magpie,
nesting site)
Species: Northern House-martin

Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Page 111
No

None

No

Page 112
Malawi
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi
Contact Person: Tiwonge I Mzumara, Conservation Officer
Species: House Sparrow, Common Bulbul, Blue-breasted Cordonbleu, White-browed Robin-chat, Pied Crow
nesting site)

1?
Species: Lanner Falcon

Species:
Species: Red-billed Quelea

Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow
Names: Michiru Conservation area (Blantyre City) Lilongwe nature sanctuary (lilongwe City) Mzuzu nature
sactuary (Mzuzu City)
Names:
Yes
Yes
Yes

public
No
Yes
No

Frequency
Yes
Annual
Number of
Participants
30
Page 113
Yes

None

No

Page 114
Nepal
Continent: Asia
BirdLife Partner: Bird Conservation Nepal
Contact Person: Ishana Thapa, Senior Conservation Officer
17
Species:
Rose-ringed Parakeet, Little Swift, Barn Owl, Spotted Owlet, Rock Pigeon, Black Kite, Cattle Egret, House
Crow, Oriental Magpie-robin, Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna , Jungle Myna, Barn Swallow, Redrumped Swallow, Common Tailorbird, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow
nesting site)
11
Species:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, Barn Owl, Little Swift, Rock
Pigeon, Oriental Magpie-robin, Common Myna, House Crow, Spotted Owlet
Species:
Species:
Species: , Rock Pigeon, House Crow,

Iconic urban bird

Names:
Names:
Yes
No

public
Yes
No
No
Page 115

Frequency
Yes
Annual
Number of
Participants
200
No

Yes
Urban species addressed: Nest box installation for House Sparrows and Oriental Magpie-robin
No

Bird Watching, street exhibition, poster and booklet publication, urban bird song CD, radio and talk
programme, school visits
Page 116
The Netherlands
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Vogelbescherming Nederland / Birdlife Netherlands
Contact Person: Jip Louwe Kooijmans, Programme Coordinator Urban Enviroments
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Jip Louwe Kooijmans
Species:
Peregrine Falcon, Common Swift, Crested Lark, Eurasian Collared-dove, Eurasian Blackbird, Eurasian
Jackdaw, Magpie, House Sparrow
nesting site)
Species:
Common Swift, Northern House-martin, Barn Swallow, Black Redstart, House Sparrow, Peregrine Falcon,
Common Starling, Barn Owl
Species: Peregrine Falcon, Crested Lark, Northern House-martin, House Sparrow, European Serin
Species:
Rock Pigeon, Rose-ringed parakeet, Muscovy Duck, Mandarin Duck, Greylag Goose (feral), House Crow,
Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose
Species:
Locally Rock Pigeon & roof nesting gulls are considered a nuisance
Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow, Common Swift

Names:
No
Names:
Yes
Yes
Yes

public
Yes
Yes
Yes
Page 117

Published book on urban bird conservation, Conduct bianual conference on urban birds, webcams:
www.beleefdelente.nl Birdfair: not anual.
Frequency
Yes
Annual
Number of
Participants
30.000 50.000
Yes

Conduct official garden bird program containing: website, volunteers, publications and more. Lso cooperate
with other NGOs on urban birds
Yes
Urban species addressed: House sparrow, common swift, Norhern House-martin, Barn Swallow, Peregrine
Falcon, Barn Owl, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Sand Martin and garden birds in general.
Yes

Checklist for bird-friendly building & cityplanning. Urban bird prize: contest for municipalities. Local expert
meetings
Network of volunteers giving advice and surveys, support of local species conservation working groups
Page 118
New Zealand
Continent: Pacific
BirdLife Partner: Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of NZ
Contact Person: Mark Bellingham, North Island Conservation Manager
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Mark Bellingham
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Welcome Swallow, House Sparrow, Common Starling, Common Myna
Species:
16
Species:
House Sparrow, Common Starling, Common Myna, Australian Magpie, European Greenfinch,
Yellowhammer, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Chaffinch, Common Redpoll, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush,
Hedge Accentor, Eastern Rosella, Spotted Dove (local), African Collared-dove (local), Mallard
Species:
Australian Magpie and Common Myna are recognized by some Regional Councils as pest species
Iconic urban bird
Not a definite yes, but indigenous species

like Tui, Grey Fantail or Grey Gerygone
could be 'used' as an iconic urban bird
species.

Several
There are some that could be listed here,
especially Karori Wildlife Reserve in
Wellington e.g. Karori (Zealandia) in
Wellington
Names:
Names:
No
No
No
Additional comments on monitoring and urban birds: New urban wildlife programme starting in Auckland,
Page 119
where the public provide bird species sightings to a website, so F&B can track the progress of urban forest
restoration and animal pest control. This is our new Gardens for Wildlife programme.
public
Yes
In preparation
No

Frequency
Yes
Annual (July)
Number of
Participants
1000+
Yes

None

Yes

We write about bird friendly practices in our magazine. In our advocacy role we discuss bird-friendly options
with planners and developers.
Page 120
Nigeria
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Contact Person: Ruth Akagu, Coordinate all matters related to species and IBA activities within the
technical programme department
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Oluwabunmi Jegede
>20
Species:
Common Bulbul, Laughing Dove, Cattle Egret, Variable Sunbird, Village Weaver, Northern House-martin,
Pied Crow, Western Grey Plantain-eater, Speckled Pigeon, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Bronze
Munia, Woodland Kingfisher, Black Kite, African Jacana, Common Kestrel, Hooded Vulture, Red-cheeked
Cordonbleu, Red-billed Firefinch, Piacpiac
nesting site)
Species:
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Speckled Pigeon, Laughing Dove
Species: Hooded Vulture

Unknown
Species:
Species: Red-Headed Quelea, Village Weavers

Iconic urban bird
Common Bulbul, Laughing Dove, Speckled

Pigeon, Pied Crow, Piacpiac
2
Amurum Woodland (NG020) the
International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA) (NG011)
Names: Lekki Conservation Center

Names:
No
No
No

public
No
Page 121
No
No

The Lekki Bird Club (LBC) under the auspices of Nigerian Conservation Foundation goes on monthly bird walk
pulling together data on urban birds as most sites visited are in the city. This is mostly reported in an e-bulletin
circulated mostly to members.
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No

None

Yes

Page 122
Palau
Continent: Pacific
Population: 20,000
BirdLife Partner: Palau Conservation Society
Contact Person: Anuradha Gupta, Conservation and Protected Area Program Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Anuradha Gupta
Species:
Micronesian Myzomela (regionally-restricted, also in forest), House Sparrow(introduced), Chestnut-breasted
Mannikin (introduced), Palau Scops-owl (endemic, also in forest), Palau Swiftlet (endemic, also in forest,
Micronesian Starling (regionally-restricted, also in forest), Collared Kingfisher (also in forest)
nesting site)

Species:
Species: House Sparrow, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

Species:
Iconic urban bird
1
Peleliu - encompasses entire island
including village

Names:
Names:
Yes
No
No

public
No
No
No
Page 123
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No

None

Yes

If we run a field trip or morning birdwatching activity, it is usually at the urban location of Ngermalk because
people can easily drive to it. But it provides views of all birds.
Not really relevant to Palau
Page 124
Panama
Continent: Americas
BirdLife Partner: Sociedad Audubon de Panam
Contact Person: Rosabel Miro, Executive Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Rosabel Miro
300 in Panama City
Species:
nesting site)
Species: Swifts, swallows, and pigeons

Species:
Species: House Sparrow, Saffron Finch

Species:
Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle,

Tropical Mockingbird, Rock Pigeon
2
Bay of Panama, Metropolitan Nature Park
Names: Ancon Hill, the Metropolitan Nature Park, the Bay of Panama Wildlife Refuge
Names:
No
No
No

public
Yes
No
No

Hold a World Bird Festival for school kids every year
No
Year first started
Number of
Frequency
Page 125
Participants
No

Yes

We have just put together a Conservation Plan for the Bay of Panama wetlands, mostly to protect migratory
shorebirds.
No

Page 126
Paraguay
Continent: Americas
BirdLife Partner: Asociacin Guyra Paraguay
Contact Person: Cristina Morales, Species Coordinator
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Silvia Centrn
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Glittering-bellied Emerald, Picui Grounddove, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Rufous

Hornero, Gilded Hummingbird, Whitetipped Dove, Monk Parakeet, Great
Kiskadee, Rufous-collared Sparrow,
Sacaya Tanager

Names:
Names:
Yes
Yes
No

public
Yes
Yes
No
Page 127
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency

Yes

Estamos apoyando el Plan de Manejo que es una Reserva vecina a la ciudad [We support the Plan de Manejo
which is a reserve near the city].
Page 128
Philippines
Continent: Asia
BirdLife Partner: Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources
Contact Person: Don Geoff Tabaranza, Research Specialist
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Nikki del Castillo
4+
Species:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, White-spectacled Bulbul (possibly the 2nd most abundant bird species in urban
areas in the Philippines), Asian Glossy Starling, Rock Pigeon (domesticated varieties / races).
Many more species have adapted to living in green spaces in urban areas but are not using urban areas as
prime habitat.
nesting site)
4+
Species:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Rock Pigeon (Columba livia - domesticated varieties / races raised by humans in
cages & bird houses in many urban areas), Glossy Swiftlet (nests are also found in eaves of houses &
buildings), Pacific Swallow (nests are also found in eaves of houses & buildings)
4+
Species:
Chinese Crested Tern (migrant, recorded in Manila Bay 1905), Chinese Egret (migrant, frequently recorded
in coastal areas near built-up areas such as Manila Bay), Java Sparrow (introduced, has established small
populations built-up areas and surrounding agricultural areas such as Metro Manila), Philippine Duck
(endemic; a population of at least 80 individuals have taken up residence in the coastal lagoons of the Las
Pinas Paranaque Critical Habitat & Ecotourism Area in Manila Bay).
6-7
Species:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Java Sparrow, Crested Myna, Chinese Francolin, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Rock
Pigeon, Zebra Dove
3+
Species:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (in very large numbers can devastate rice fields during harvest period with munia
species), Asian Glossy Starling (roosts in large flocks and can easily foul buildings and other human
structures), Rock Pigeon (large flocks can easily foul buildings and other human structures).
Iconic urban bird

Probably found on every human inhabited
island of any size in the Philippines
(Kennedy et al 2000). Locally called
Maya or Mayang-bahay, the most
widely recognized and probably the most
widely distributed bird species in urban
areas in the Philippines. Often mislabelled
as the former National Bird of the
Philippines, which is also locally called
Maya - the Tricoloured Munia or Chestnut
Page 129
Munia.
29
In or adjacent to cities:
PH006 Camp O'Donnel PH007 Candaba
Swamp PH008 Bataan Natural Park and
Subic Bay Forest Reserve PH009
Mariveles Mountains PH010 Manila Bay
PH011 Mts Palay-palay Mataas na
Gulod National Park PH19 Angat
Watershed PH022 Mt Makiling Forest
Reserve PH023 UP Land Grants (Pakil and
Real) PH024 Mt Banahaw San Cristobal
National Park PH026 Pagbilao and
Tayabas Bay PH031 Mt Isarog National
Park PH038 Puerto Galera PH050 El Nido
Managed Resource Reserve Protected
Area PH052 St. Paul's Subterranean River
National Park PH053 Victoria and
Anapalan Ranges PH060 North-west
Panay (Pandan Peninsula) PH062 Mt.
Silay and Mt. Mandalagan PH063 Mt.
Canlaon National Park PH068 Tabunan
PH070 Mactan, Kalawisan and Cansaga
Bays PH082 Siargao Island Protected
Landscape and Seascape PH084 Mt
Diwata Range PH086 Bislig PH097 Lake
Lanao PH101 Mt. Apo Natural Park
PH107 Mt. Malindang National Park
PH109 Mt. Sugar Loaf PH112 Pasonanca
Natural Park
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
Yes
No
No

HF has a field guide for frequently observed birds in urban areas. Haribon participates in Bird Fairs organized
by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
No
Year first started
Number of
Frequency
Page 130
Participants
Yes

Haribon promotes Bio-Intensive Gardening (BIG) which is suitable for gardening in areas with limited spaces.
None

Yes

NUVALI Evoliving - Ayala Land's Urban Cornerstone in the South Biodiversity Survey Recommendations
for Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary Establishment, Bird Eco-tour Guide Training,
United Coconut Planters' Bank Coconut Industry Investment Fund Foundation Biodiversity Survey at
UCPB Reforestation Site in Antipolo City, Recommendations for improved reforestation site
management improvement of nursery structures advocated use of native tree species for
reforestation
Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa Biodiversity Survey at Boracay Island (densely populated tourism
destination) Development of Wildlife Management Program Establishment of Wildlife Sanctuary and
Nature & Bird watching trails Tree Species Tagging and Inventory Bird Monitoring Survey
Introduction to Bird Watching & Birdwatching Course, Bird Watching Orientation, Bird Watching Trips
include Green Spaces within Urban Centers (particularly Metro Manila)
Municipal Bird Eco-tourism Program in Municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, Bird Eco-tourism
Planning Workshop , Bird Eco-tour Guide Training Program , Identification of Bird Watching Sites
Buhay Punlaan: A Haribon Nursery of Native Tree Species (Caliraya Lake, Laguna) - a nursery to raise
native tree species to support rainforestation activities and the ROAD to 2020 - also serves as a
rainforestation training center and biodiversity conservation education center
ROAD to 2020 Campaign - a campaign to restore 1 million hectares of Philippine forests using native
tree species by the year 2020 - Million Hectare Walk (2007, 2008 and 2009) an awareness and
fund-raising event for ROAD2020 - Advocating use of native tree species in all reforestation activities
Haribon provides assistance to many Local Government Units and private land developers in Land Use Planning.
Page 131
W HITE STORK (C ICONIA CICONIA ) PHOTO : J OUKE A LTENBURG
Page 132
Poland
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Oglnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptakw (OTOP)
Contact Person: Antoni Marczewski, Communication Officer
Species: Common Swift, Northern House-martin, Eurasian Jackdaw, House Sparrow

nesting site)
~12
Species: Eurasian Collared-dove, Rock Pigeon, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Jackdaw,
Northern House-martin, House Sparrow, Starling, Common Kestrel, Black Redstart, Peregrine Falcon
Species: Peregrine Falcon

Species: Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose (Canada Goose breeds in one city Gdask, Egyptian Goose
breeds outside cities)
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Common Swift
At least 3 That are the fragments of

bigger IBAs, esp. in Warsaw - the river
Valley within the city is also treated as
IBA. There are no IBAs that are situated
totally within urban areas. They are
situated fragmentarly within Warsaw,
Koobrzeg and Toru.
There are lots of city reserves in Poland. In

the capital city - Warsaw we have 12 of
them: Each big city in Poland has at least
several city reserves.
Names: In Warsaw: - Bagno Jacka - Jeziorko Czerniakowskie - Kawczyn - Las Bielaski - Las im. Jana III
Sobieskiego - Las Kabacki - Las Natoliski - Lawice Kiepiskie - Olszynka Grochowska - Morysin - Skarpa
Ursynowska - Wyspy Zawadowskie.
Names: Stacja Badania Wdrwek Ptakw (Bird Migration Research Station) (works as a part of Gdansk
University). Migrating birds are monitored mainly outside cities. The Station has two ringing camps on Polish
seacoast. There is also one NGO (Drapolicz) counting migrating birds from one point of Wilana Split
(also seacoast, close to border with Kaliningrad).
No specific programme (some grids from

Common Breeding Birds Scheme are
Page 133
localized within urban areas)

Yes
No

public
There are plans to do it (for different

target groups, grant from government is
expected)
A leaflet about Common Swift and its

protection has been prepared by one of
local groups of OTOP with the city council
Not own (a video from German nest of

Common Swifts was promoted through the
website of Spring Alive project). Other
webcams from Common Swift nests were
prepared and managed by other Polish
NGOs in Szczecin and Warsaw. There
was also a webcam from Kestrel nests
from Pruszkw, close to Warsaw (other
NGO responsible).

There is a very big and serious problem with renovation of building on urban areas, where nests and habitats of
birds (especially Common Swifts, Eurasian Jackdaws and House Sparrows) are destroyed. Many NGOs are
involved in promoting knowledge about this group of birds, about legal activities which can be done against
people who destroy habitats. Many materials (educational, technical, scientific) is accessible in PDF form online.
OTOP is being prepared for a new educational project about birds in towns and cities. The project has been
approved to be granted by National Fund for Environment Protection and Water Industry.
Frequency
Yes
Annual
Number of
Participants
~2700
No

The count is rather a mass event and has no scientific methodology, so data received is rather impossible to be
used to show trends of changes among birds. The count is organized each year in the last weekend of January.
Yes
Urban species addressed: mainly nestboxes for Common Swifts and Eurasian Jackdaws.
Yes

OTOP and other NGOs take part in procedures when some habitats of urban birds are destroyed or when there
are public consultations about green areas in towns and cities. Generally its really hard to protect birds on
urban areas, where many people are against them. The situation and public attitude changes slowly.
Perhaps OTOP will lead local conservation project for Eurasian Jackdaws in Bydgoszcz (western Poland) where
nestboxes are planned to be placed in parks. We know that Eurasian Jackdaws, in contrary to Swifts, easier
and faster inhabit nestboxes both on buildings and trees. Nestboxes on trees can be easier to placed and will
generate less amount of conflicts between birds and people.
Page 134
Rwanda
Continent: Africa
Population:
BirdLife Partner: ACNR(Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda)
Contact Person: Serge Nsengimana, Executive Director
Unknown
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names:
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No
Page 135

None

No

Page 136
Singapore
Continent: Asia
Population:
BirdLife Partner: Nature Society (Singapore)
Contact Person: Lim Kim Keang
Species:
nesting site)
Species:
Species:
Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
Names: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Sungie Buloh Wetland Reserve, Labrador Nature Reserve
Names:
Yes
Yes
Yes

public
Yes
Yes
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
No
Page 137

Yes
Urban species addressed: Purple Swamphen, Common Moorhen, Lesser Whistling-duck, White-browed
Crake and Little Grebe
Yes

Yearly Parrot counts. Monitoring of movement of resident forest species. Field studies of Grey-headed Fisheagles and Changeble Hawk-eagles.
The Bird Group of the Nature Society ( Singapore) is the most active NGO studying, monitoring and protecting
bird life in Singapore
Page 138
Slovenia
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: DOPPS - Birdlife Slovenia
Contact Person: Jurij Hanel, Volunteer
Species: Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Jackdaw

nesting site)
Species: Rock Pigeon, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, Black Redstart
Species: Common Kestrel, Yellow-legged Gull, Eurasian Jackdaw

Species:
Species:
Iconic urban bird
1
Skocjanski zatok

Names:
No
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
Yes
Yes

With our stands we are frequently participating in several fairs which are mostly held in urban areas around the
country.
Frequency
Yes
Annual, end of
Number of
200-500
Page 139
January
Participants
Yes

Yes
Urban species addressed: Common Kestrel

Yes

Common garden bird species (mounting of nestboxes, establishment of birdwatching trails in city
parks)
Common Kestrels (mounting of nestboxes, webcam)
Eurasian Jackdaws (mounting of nestboxes)
Mute Swan (protecting urban nests of this species in Maribor)
"Ornithophone" (special phone number for questions concerning birds)
Page 140
South Africa
Continent: Africa
Urban Population (%): ~51%
BirdLife Partner: BirdLife South Africa
Contact Person: Ernst Retief, IBA Programme Data Manager and Regional Conservation Manager
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Ernst Retief
30
Species:
nesting site)
30
Species:
Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, Cape Bulbul, House Crow, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Redeyed Dove, Rock Pigeon, Common Fiscal, Fiscal Flycatcher, Grey Go-away-bird, Eurasian Hoopoe, Hadada
Ibis, Blacksmith Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing, Rock Martin, Red-faced Mousebird, Speckled Mousebird,
Common Myna, Speckled Pigeon, Cape Robin-chat, Cape Sparrow, House Sparrow, Red-shouldered
Glossy-starling, Red-winged Starling, White-breasted Sunbird, African Palm-swift, Karoo Thrush, Common
Starling, Rose-ringed Parakeet
Species:
Species: House Sparrow, Common Myna, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Starling, House Crow, Rock
Pigeon, Mallard
Species:
Iconic urban bird
~11 IBAs that also include built up areas
Many
Names:
I do not have this number - but most cities in South Africa have reserves, parks or a green belt of some sort Too
many to mention - must be 100s
None
Names:
No
No
No
Additional comments on monitoring and urban birds: BirdLife South Africa and the Animal Demography Unit
at the University of Cape Town have started a project called MyBirdPatch where people can submit data
for their gardens (see mybirdpatch.adu.org.za)
Page 141

public
No
No
No

We are trying to create a garden bird membership category.
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes
Additional comments on garden bird relates issues: Published in the BirdLife South Africa magazine Africa
Birds and Birding
None

Yes

Through our club structures and magazine articles we do promote gardening for birds etc.
Page 142
Spain
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: SEO/BirdLife
Contact Person: Virginia Escandell, Breeding Bird Survey Coordinator
Species:
nesting site)
Species: Group A: Big cities: House Sparrow, Common Swift, Rock Pigeon, Northern House-martin, Monk
Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet
Group B: Small cities: White stork, Barn Swallow, Lesser Kestrel, Spotless Starling, Tree Sparrow, Eurasian
Collared-dove
Species: Lesser Kestrel

Species: Monk Parakeet, Rose-ringed Parakeet (they are in gardens inside urban areas)
Species:
Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow
~5

Names:
Names:
Yes, Vitoria
No
No

public
Yes
Yes
Yes

We ran a census of Delichon urbicum in the city of Madrid in 2007
No
Page 143
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Yes

Yes

Strategy for biodiversity conservation in the city of Santander
Yes

Bird Festival in Madrid in 2008 and 2009 Banding birds in two gardens in Madrid
During the international day of birds a lot of activities take place in cities and other urban areas
Page 144
Switzerland
Continent: Europe
But this is very different between the Alps and the lowlands (more than 380 people/ km2)
Urban Population (75%):
BirdLife Partner: SVS/BirdLife Switzerland
Contact Person: Werner Mller, Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Christa Glauser
10
Species: Eurasian Collared-dove, Barn Owl, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern Housemartin, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Eurasian Blackbird, House Sparrow
nesting site)
Species: Barn Owl, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Northern House-martin, White Wagtail,
Black Redstart, House Sparrow
Species:
Species:

Iconic urban bird
Common Swift
Names: There are many types of reserves in the country and no overview exists,.
Names:
There are some inventories of birds in

cities (e.g. for Zurich). Monitoring schemes
include urban areas but are not especially
designed for them.

public
Page 145
In earlier years
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Y, with advice, not financially

Urban species addressed: Barn Owl, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Northern House-martin
Additional activities or programs on urban birds: Biodiversity in urban areas is an important part of the
Swiss Biodiversity Strategy. This will be concretised in the Biodiversity Action Plan (SVS/BirdLife Switzerland
is influencing this process)
Page 146
Taiwan
Continent: Asia
BirdLife Partner: Chinese Wild Bird Federation
Contact Person: Dabby Ding, Research Conservation
51
Species:
Little Grebe, Yellow Bittern, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron,
Malaysian Night-heron, Black Kite, Crested Serpent-eagle, Crested Goshawk, Besra, Black Eagle, Peregrine
Falcon, White-breasted Waterhen, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Common Moorhen, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed
Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Barred Buttonquail, Greater Painted-snipe, Little Tern,
Ashy Wood-pigeon, Oriental Turtle-dove, Red Collared-dove, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, White-bellied
Green-pigeon, Lesser Coucal, Mountain Scops-owl, Collared Scops-owl, Collared Owlet, Brown Wood-owl,
Brown Hawk-owl, Savanna Nightjar, Fork-tailed Swift, Little Swift, Common Kingfisher, Taiwan Barbet,
Grey-capped Woodpecker, Grey-faced Woodpecker, Grey-chinned Minivet, Oriental Skylark, Plain
Martin, Pacific Swallow, Collared Finchbill, Light-vented Bulbul, Asian Black Bulbul, White Wagtail
nesting site)
13
Species:
Java Sparrow, Society Finch, Zebra Finch, Gouldian Finch, Long-tailed Finch, Chestnut Munia, White-headed
Munia, White-throated Munia, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Common Waxbill, Red Avadavat, Zebra
Waxbill, Black-rumped Waxbill
Species: Peregrine Falcon, Black-naped Oriole, Black Eagle

11
Species:
White-vented Myna, Jungle Myna, Vinous-breasted Starling, Asian Glossy Starling, Black-collared Starling,
White-throated Munia, African Sacred Ibis, Indian Peafowl, Common Pheasant, Blue Magpie, Whiterumped Shama, Zebra Dove, Village Weaver, Pin-tailed Wydah, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Azure-winged
Magpie, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Common Waxbill, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Common Myna
Species: White-vented Myna, Common Myna, Black-collared Starling, White-throated Munia

Iconic urban bird
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Japanese Whiteeye, Light-vented Bulbul
15
TW001, TW002, TW003, TW004,
TW011, TW013, TW025, TW026,
TW027, TW028, TW029, TW030,
TW031, TW035 TW037
Names: TW002, TW003, TW004, TW013, TW029
Page 147

Names:
Yes
Yes
Yes

public
Yes
Yes
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency

None

No

Page 148
Tunisia
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: Association "Les Amis des Oiseaux" (AAO)
Contact Person: Claudia Feltrup-Azafzaf, Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Hichem Azafzaf
12
Species:
White Stork, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Northern House-martin, Common Bulbul, European Robin, Eurasian
Blackbird, Blue Tit, Common Starling (roosts in winter), Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, House Bunting
nesting site)
Species:
White Stork, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Northern House-martin, Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, House
Bunting
Species:
Species:
Species: Common Starling, Spanish Sparrow

Iconic urban bird
Spanish Sparrow and Pallid Swift (in the

North) House Bunting (in the South)
4
TN009 Lake Tunis, TN010 Sebkhet
Sedjoumi, TN014 Lagune de Korba,
TN027 Salines de Thyna
Names:
There are no city reserves in Tunisia, only urban parks
Names:
No
No
No

public
No
Page 149
Yes
No

AAO ran an annual programme on garden birds with environment clubs in 2008 and 2009.
No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

Yes
Urban species addressed: Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Northern House-martin, Barn Swallow
Yes

Bird walks in urban IBAs and Parc du Belvdre in Tunis
Page 150
Turkey
Continent: Europe
BirdLife Partner: Doga Dernegi
Contact Person: Sreyya sfendiyaroglu, Conservation Manager
14
Species:
Common Swift, Carrion Crow, Black-billed Magpie, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Rose-ringed Parakeet, House
Sparrow, Common Starling, Alexandrine Parakeet, Eurasian Collared-dove, Laughing Dove, Eurasian
Jackdaw, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Myna, Rock Pigeon
nesting site)
12
Species:
Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Rose-ringed Parakeet, House Sparrow, Common Starling, Eurasian
Collared-dove, Laughing Dove, Eurasian Jackdaw, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Myna, Rock Pigeon
Species:
Species:
Rose-ringed Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Common Myna
Species:
Rose-ringed Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Common Myna
Iconic urban bird
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
8
Antalya plains, Bosphorus, Bykcekmece
Lake, Kkcekmece, Lake Prenses Islands,
Mogan Lake, Sapanca Lake , Uluabat
Lake

Names:
Names:
Yes
No
No

No
Page 151
public
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

None

Yes

Page 152
Uganda
Continent: Africa
BirdLife Partner: Nature Uganda
Contact Person: Achilles Byaruhanga, Executive Director
Contact Person for Urban Birds: Dianah Nalwanga-Wabwire, Research & Monitoring Coordinator
300
Species:
nesting site)
30
Species:
Species:
Grey Crowned-crane, Hooded Vulture, Grey Parrot, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler
Species: House Sparrow, Fischers Lovebird

Species:
Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow, Northern Grey-headed

Sparrow, Pied Crow, Rock Pigeon,
Speckled Pigeon, White Wagtail

Names:
Names:
Yes
No
Yes

public
No
No
No

Conduct nature walks, participate in big birding festivals and conduct public talks
No
Page 153
Year first started
Frequency
Number of
Participants
Yes

Yes
Urban species addressed: Hooded Vulture, Marabou Stork, Grey Crowned Crane
Yes

Ringing of some urban species, Common Birds Monitoring Programme in urban sites
Additional Comments: We do conduct annual Vulture counts in areas around the city including abatours and
rubbish bumps. This encompasses all scavenging birds around the city and has been done since 2009.
Page 154
United States of America

Continent: Americas
BirdLife Partner: National Audubon Society
Contact Person:
Species: Chimney Swift, Common Nighthawk

nesting site)
Species: House Finch

Species: Chimney Swift (NT)

Species: Rock Pigeon, Common Starling, House Sparrow

Species: Monk Parakeet

Iconic urban bird
Chimney Swift (Eastern US)
Unknown

Names:
We dont have these, but we do have urban nature centers in many US cities
Names:
No
No
No

We often use the term "urban birds" for species that persist in the face of urbanization because we have so few
that do better in urban areas than in rural. Even so, it is hard to define urban birds. Some cities do monitor
urban birds, but not every year. We include many urban areas in our Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard
Bird Count and local citizen science efforts.
public
Yes
Yes
No
Page 155

Frequency
Yes
Annual
Number of
Participants
Over 60,000
Yes

We have the Great Backyard Bird Count, Audubon at Home and Hummingbirds at Home programs.
No

No

Urban oases initiative works to identify and improve habitat used by migrating birds in urban areas.
We do some work with city planners, but much more with regional planners focused on IBAs rather than city
habitats.
Page 156
Uruguay
Continent: Americas
BirdLife Partner: Aves Uruguay
Contact Person: Agustin Carriquiry, Executive Director
72
Species:
White-tufted Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Whistling Heron, Snowy
Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Bare-faced Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Yellowbilled Pintail, Yellow-billed Teal, Silver Teal, Brazilian Teal, Harriss Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Southern
Caracara, Chimango Caracara, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Giant Wood-rail , Grey-necked
Wood-rail, Red-gartered Coot, White-winged Coot, Common Moorhen, Southern Lapwing, Greater
Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Kelp Gull, Brown-hooded Gull, Snowy-crowned Tern, Royal Tern, Picazuro
Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Eared Dove, Picui Ground-dove, Monk Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Tropical
Screech-owl , White-throated Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Gilded Hummingbird, Campo
Flicker, Green-barred Woodpecker, White-spotted Woodpecker, White Woodpecker, Rufous Hornero,
Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, White-crested Tyrannulet, Smallbilled Elaenia, Grey-breasted Martin, Brown-chested Martin, White-rumped Swallow, Blue-and-White
Swallow, House Wren, White-banded Mockingbird, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Creamy-bellied Thrush,
Rufous-bellied Thrush, House Sparrow, Tropical Parula, Saffron Finch, Rufous-collared Sparrow, European
Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Screaming Cowbird, Shiny Cowbird
nesting site)
27
Species:
American Kestrel, Southern Lapwing, Picazuro Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Eared Dove, Picui Ground-dove, Monk
Parakeet, Barn Owl, Tropical Screech-owl, White-throated Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald,
Gilded Hummingbird, Rufous Hornero, Great Kiskadee, White-crested Tyrannulet, Grey-breasted Martin,
Brown-chested Martin, White-rumped Swallow, Blue-and-White Swallow, House Wren, Creamy-bellied
Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, House Sparrow, Tropical Parula, Saffron Finch, Rufous-collared Sparrow,
European Greenfinch
Species:
Species: Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch

Species: Rock Pigeon, Eared Dove, Monk Parakeet, House Sparrow

Iconic urban bird
House Sparrow
1
Playa Penino y Humedales del Santa Luca
(UY012)
Names: Playa Penino
Page 157

Names:
No
No
No

public
No
No
No

No
Year first started
Number of
Participants
Frequency
Yes

We have frequent talks about garden birds at 2 bird clubs.
No

Yes

Page 158
B.
RESPONSES FROM INDEPENDENT AUDUBON CHAPTERS (USA)
In the United States, the National Audubon Society is organized into migratory flyways staffed by 26
state offices. In addition, there are nearly 500 local Audubon chapters affiliated with the national
organization. Four states are represented by independent Audubon organizations that are not
associated with the national society.
The online survey collected 41 responses from 38 chapters and one state Audubon office. Most
responses provided little more than a contact name, but more detailed responses were received from 17
chapters and one Audubon state office (see table).
Organization
Location
Audubon Montana
Montana
Audubon Society of the Capital Region
Upstate New York
Bucks County Audubon Society
Bucks County, Pennyslvania
Buffalo Audubon Society
Buffalo, New York
Cape Arago Audubon Society
Coos Bay, Oregon
Central New Mexico Audubon Society
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
Walton County, Florida
Discovery Coast Audubon Society
Long Beach, Washington
Forsyth Audubon
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Fort Collins Audubon Society
Fort Collins, Colorado
Maricopa Audubon Society
Phoenix, Arizona
Palomar Audubon Society
Northern San Diego County, California
Piedmont Audubon
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Redwood Region Audubon Society
Arcata, California
San Diego Audubon Society
San Diego, California
Snake River Audubon Society
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Yuma Audubon Society
Yuma, Arizona
SPECIES WITH CITY OR URBAN AREAS AS PRIME HABITAT

Audubon chapters reported up to 250 species (San Diego Audubon) in their local urban environments.
Most chapters that responded to this question provided a number of species regularly found or reported
within their local cities or towns. Audubon Society of the Capitol Region reported 61 species breeding in
the most urban local blocks of their recent state breeding bird atlas. Choctawatchee Audubon reported
37 common urban species, but 131 species recorded in the residential yard of their local bird count
coordinator. At least 142 species were reported from Idaho Falls, Idaho. In the mostly rural state of
Montana, the state Audubon office listed only eight species considered to be using cities as prime habitat.
Page 159
Species:
85 listed by name.
Canada Goose, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Wild Turkey, Double-crested
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Red-tailed
Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove,
Eurasian Collared-dove, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon,
Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Vauxs Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Costas
Hummingbird, Annas Hummingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird,
Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow,
Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Verdin, Blackcapped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown
Creeper, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush,
American Robin, Grey Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Common Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Blackthroated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird,
Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow,
Song Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird,
Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Number of species breeding in/on houses (houses as prime nesting site)
Responses ranged from two to six species.
Species:
13 species listed
Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, American
Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Carolina Wren, Common Starling,
House Finch, and House Sparrow.

Two chapters each listed one species, and one reported two species. There appears to have been a
wide range of interpretations to this question, based again on definitions of urban as well as local red
list classifications. While most chapters did not report any urban red list species, San Diego Audubon
indicated that the list was too long to include in the survey, and would depend on where the cut-off
should be on the continuum of how commonly a given species (particularly a migratory one) is
encountered in local prime habitat.
Species:
Peregrine Falcon, Chimney Swift, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Most chapters listed three or four species. The most commonly listed species were Eurasian Collareddove (4), Common Starling (7), and House Sparrow (10). Interestingly, the nearly ubiquitus Rock Pigeon
was only listed by three chapters, while the newly invasive Eurasian Collared-dove was given notice by
four chapters.
Species:
Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Red-crowned Parrot, Lilac-crowned Parrot, Redmasked Parakeet, Back-throated Magpie Jay, Common Starling, Northern Cardinal,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, House Sparrow,

Most frequently listed species were Rock Pigeon (4), Common Starling (8), and House Sparrow (6).
Species:
Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Common Starling, Brown-headed Cowbird, Greattailed Grackle, House Finch, House Sparrow.
Page 160
Iconic urban bird

11 chapters indicated listed iconic urban bird species. Species listed ranged from the Greater
Roadrunner found in and around Albuquerque, to Brown Pelicans found in coastal San Diego, and the
ubiquitous exotic Common Starling and House Sparrow.
Species:
Brown Pelican, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Greater Roadrunner, American Crow, Blue
Jay, Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, Common Starling, House Finch, House
Sparrow.

Seven Audubon chapters listed the presence of urban IBAs, with most listing one IBA and San Diego
Audubon listing a high of four urban IBAs.
Names:
Coos Estuary IBA (Oregon), Gilbert Riparian Institute IBA (Arizona), Owen Sowerwine
Natural Area (Montana), San Pasqual Valley-Lake Hodges (California), North San Diego
Lagoons (California), Mission Bay (California), San Diego Bay (California), Tijuana River
Reserve (California).

Most chapters (12) left this question blank. The rest gave a wide diversity of interpretations of this
questionranging from none, to unknown, and Central New Mexico Audubon including mention of 25
city parks that are declared open space, and Fort Collins Audubon reporting 20 parks with significant
wildlife habitat. San Diego Audubon only listed the Mission Trails Regional Park.
Migration Counting Posts
Migration monitoring stations were reported by only three Audubon chapters, Piedmont Audubon, Forsyth
Audubon, and Central New Mexico Audubon. In addition, Choctawhatchee Audubon reported
countywide spring and fall migration counts.
Two chapters reported urban breeding bird censusesCentral New Mexico Audubon and Forsyth
Audubon.
Six chapters reported wintering bird surveysCape Arago Audubon, Central New Mexico Audubon,
Forsyth Audubon, Fort Collins Audubon, Snake River Audubon, and Wisconsin Metro Audubon.
Fort Collins Audubon was the only chapter indicating that hey produce a report on the state of urban
birds.
Four chapters indicated that their wintering bird census was part of the annual Audubon Christmas Bird
Count. Central New Mexico Audubon reported weekly monitoring at the Rio Grande Nature Center
Park.
Publishes popular brochures on urban birds for the general public
Four chapters indicated they publish popular brochures on urban birds for the general publicFort
Collins Audubon, Maricopa Audubon, Piedmont Audubon, and San Diego Audubon.
Page 161

None reported by any of the responding chapters.
Bird Fairs
Eight chapters indicated that they hold some sort of bird fair or festivalFort Collins Audubon, Redwood
Regional Audubon, San Diego Audubon, Snake River Audubon, Wisconsin Metro Audubon, and Yuma
Audubon.
None reported by any of the responding chapters.
Forsyth Audubon was the only chapter to indicate that the conduct a garden bird cont.
Ten chapters and one state Audubon office reported supporting bird-friendly gardeningCape Arago
Audubon, Choctawatchee Audubon, Discover Coast Audubon, Fort Collins Audubon, Audubon Montana,
Palomar Audubon, Piedmont Audubon, Redwood Regional Audubon, San Diego Audubon, Snake River
Audubon, Wisconsin Metro Audubon.
Four chapters reported conservation measures on urban birds. Cape Arago and Wisconsin Regional
Audubons reported work on Purple Martin colonies. Central New Mexico Audubon reported working
with their state Audubon office on a new urban wildlife refuge, and San Diego Audubon reported work
on endangered and threatened subspecies and populations including California Least Terns, Western
Snowy Plover, Light-footed Clapper Rail, Belding's Savannah Sparrow, Coastal Cactus Wren.
Eight chapters and one state office indicated that they provide advice on city planningCentral New
Mexico Audubon, Choctawhatchee Audubon, Fort Collins Audubon, Maricopa Audubon, Audubon
Montana, Redwood Regional Audubon, San Diego Audubon, Snake River Audubon, Yuma Audubon.
San Diego Audubon reported working with the zoo to raise awareness and to develop collaborative
efforts to reduce bird collisions as part of a lights out program. Wisconsin Metro Audubon provides
informational booths to cities interested in becoming certified in a statewide Bird City Wisconsin effort.
Maricopa Audubon reported occasional field trips to urban locations and bird identification classes for
the public.
Page 162
C. LOCAL URBAN REDLIST SPECIES BY CONTINENT

PACIFIC
Australia
Cook islands
IUCN
Pacific Reef Heron
LC
Red Junglefowl
LC
Bush Thick-knee
NT
VU
LC
Wandering Tattler
LC
White Tern
LC
VU
Superb Parrot
VU
Regent Honeyeater
EN
Common Myna
LC
X
introduced
House Sparrow
LC
AFRICA
Hooded Vulture
Nigeria
Uganda
Malawi
IUCN
EN
X
Grey Crowned-crane
VU
National bird
Grey Parrot
NT
Papyrus Gonolek
NT
VU
Lanner Falcon
LC
Page 163
ASIA
Philippines
Taiwan
IUCN
Chinese Egret
EN
Philippine Duck
endemic
VU
Peregrine Falcon
LC
Black Eagle
LC
CR
Black-naped Oriole
Java Sparrow
LC
introduced
VU
EUROPE
Azerb
Belg
Czech
Hung
Israel
Common Swift
Lux
NL
Pol
Slov
Spain
NT
IUC
N
LC
Little Owl
EN
White Stork
NT
LC
Rook
VU
LC
Eurasian
Jackdaw
NT
Northern
House-martin
Lesser Kestrel
VU
VU
NT
NT
LC
X
NT
Common
Kestrel
Crested Lark
NT
LC
NT
LC
X
LC
Barn Owl
EN
NT
X
LC
CR
Yellow-legged
Gull
House Sparrow
LC
LC
LC
LC
NT
Peregrine
Falcon
Barn Swallow
LC
NT
LC
VU
LC
Status on local red list, X = on local red list, but no status mentioned
Page 164
D. ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF BIRD SPECIES MENTIONED

As taxonomy and common names frequently vary around the globe, this report uses the English and
scientific bird names currently listed in the BirdLife International taxonomic checklist.
Common Name
Scientific Name
African Collared-dove
Streptopelia roseogrisea
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
African Palm-swift
Cypsiurus parvus
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Alexandrine Parakeet
Psittacula eupatria
Alpine Swift
Apus melba
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
American Robin
Annas Hummingbird
Turdus migratorius
Ashy Wood-pigeon
Columba pulchricollis
Asian Black Bulbul
Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Asian Glossy Starling
Aplonis panayensis
Asian Pied Starling
Sturnus contra
Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
Azure-winged Magpie
Cyanopica cyanus
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Barred Buttonquail
Turnix suscitator
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Belding's Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Besra
Accipiter virgatus
Black Eagle
Ictinaetus malayensis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
Black-billed Magpie
Pica pica
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Black-collared Barbet
Lybius torquatus
Black-collared Starling
Sturnus nigricollis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-eared Wheatear
Oenanthe hispanica
Black-naped Oriole
Oriolus chinensis
Calypte anna
Page 165
Common Name
Scientific Name
Black-rumped Waxbill
Estrilda troglodytes
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Black-throated Green Warbler
Dendroica virens
Black-throated Laughingthrush
Garrulax chinensis
Black-throated Magpie Jay
Calocitta colliei
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Blue Tit
Parus caeruleus
Blue-and-White Swallow
Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus angolensis
Brazilian Teal
Amazonetta brasiliensis
Numenius tahitiensis
Bronze Munia
Lonchura cucullata
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Brown Hawk-owl
Ninox scutulata
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown Wood-owl
Strix leptogrammica
Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Brown-hooded Gull
Larus maculipennis
Bush Thick-knee
Burhinus grallarius
California Least Tern
Sterna antillarum browni
Campo Flicker
Colaptes campestris
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Cape Bulbul
Pycnonotus capensis
Cape Robin-chat
Cossypha caffra
Cape Sparrow
Passer melanurus
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Tyrant
Machetornis rixosa
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
Mimus saturninus
Changeble Hawkeagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus
Chestnut Munia
Lonchura atricapilla
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnus malabaricus
Chimango Caracara
Milvago chimango
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Page 166
Common Name
Scientific Name
Sterna bernsteini
Chinese Egret
Egretta eulophotes
Chinese Francolin
Francolinus pintadeanus
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Chukar
Alectoris chukar
Clay-coloured Thrush
Turdus grayi
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Coastal Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis
Collared Finchbill
Spizixos semitorques
Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris
Collared Owlet
Glaucidium brodiei
Collared Scops-owl
Otus bakkamoena
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Common Fiscal
Lanius collaris
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
Common Redpoll
Carduelis flammea
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus pheonicurus
Common Scops-owl
Otus scops
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Common Swift
Apus apus
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
Common Waxbill
Estrilda astrild
Common Wood-pigeon
Columba palumbus
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Ptilinopus rarotongensis
Costas Hummingbird
Accipiter cooperii
Creamy-bellied Thrush
Turdus amaurochalinus
Crested Barbet
Trachyphonus vaillantii
Crested Goshawk
Accipiter trivirgatus
Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
Crested Myna
Acridotheres cristatellus
Crested Serpent-eagle
Spilornis cheela
Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus
Cyprus Wheater
Oenanthe cypriaca
Coopers Hawk
Calypte costae
Page 167
Common Name
Scientific Name
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Eared Dove
Zenaida auriculata
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Rosella
Platycercus eximius
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Eurasian Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Eurasian Hoopoe
Upupa epops
Eurasian Jackdaw
Corvus monedula
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian Linnet
Carduelis cannabina
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
Eurasian Thick-knee
Burhinus oedicnemus
Passer montanus
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
European Greenfinch
Carduelis chloris
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
European Serin
Serinus serinus
European Turtle-dove
Streptopelia turtur
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Fiscal Flycatcher
Sigelus silens
Fischer's Lovebird
Agapornis fischeri
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
Fork-tailed Swift
Apus pacificus
Galah
Cacatua roseicapilla
Giant Wood-rail
Aramides ypecaha
Gilded Hummingbird
Hylocharis chrysura
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Glossy Swiftlet
Collocalia esculenta
Gouldian Finch
Erythrura gouldiae
Graceful Prinea
Prinia gracilis
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Page 168
Common Name
Scientific Name
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
Great Grebe
Podiceps major
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
Great Tit
Parus major
Greater Painted-snipe
Rostratula benghalensis
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Green-barred Woodpecker
Colaptes melanochloros
Grey Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
Grey Crowned-crane
Balearica regulorum
Grey Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Gerygone
Gerygone igata
Grey Go-away-bird
Corythaixoides concolor
Grey Parrot
Psittacus erithacus
Grey-breasted Martin
Progne chalybea
Grey-capped Woodpecker
Dendrocopos canicapillus
Grey-chinned Minivet
Pericrocotus solaris
Grey-faced Woodpecker
Picus canus
Grey-headed Fish-eagle
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Grey-necked Wood-rail
Aramides cajaneus
Guira Cuckoo
Guira guira
Hadada Ibis
Bostrychia hagedash
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
Harris's Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
Hedge Accentor
Prunella modularis
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Himalayan Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucogenys
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornix
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
House Bunting
Emberiza striolata
House Crow
Corvus splendens
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
House Swift
Apus nipalensis
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Page 169
Common Name
Scientific Name
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Japanese White-eye
Zosterops japonicus
Java Sparrow
Padda oryzivora
Jungle Myna
Acridotheres fuscus
Karoo Thrush
Turdus smithi
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferous
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Laughing Dove
Streptopelia senegalensis
Lesser Coucal
Centropus bengalensis
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni
Lesser Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna javanica
Lesser Whitethroat
Sylvia curruca
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Light-footed Clapper Rail
Rallus longirostris levipes
Light-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus sinensis
Lilac-crowned Amazon
Amazona finschi
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Little Owl
Athene noctua
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Little Swift
Apus affinis
Little Tern
Sterna albifrons
Long-billed Corella
Cacatua tenuirostris
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus
Long-tailed Finch
Poephila acuticauda
Louisiana Waterthrush
Seiurus motacilla
Malaysian Night-heron
Gorsachius melanolophus,
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Micronesian Myzomela
Myzomela rubratra
Micronesian Starling
Aplonis opaca
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Mountain Scops-owl
Otus spilocephalus
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Page 170
Common Name
Scientific Name
Neotropic Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
New Zealand Robin
Petroica australis
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
Delichon urbicum
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Olivaceous Warbler
Hippolais pallida
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Estrilda melpoda
Copsychus saularis
Oriental Skylark
Alauda gulgula
Oriental Turtle-dove
Streptopelia orientalis
Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla
Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Reef Heron
Egretta sacra
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo tahitica
Palau Scops-owl
Otus podarginus
Palau Swiftlet
Collocalia pelewensis
Palestine Sunbird
Nectarinia osea
Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus
Papyrus Gonolek
Laniarius mufumbiri
Chloropeta gracilirostris
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Philippine Duck
Anas luzonica
Piapiac
Ptilostomus afer
Picazuro Pigeon
Patagioenas picazuro
Picui Ground-dove
Columbina picui
Pied Crow
Corvus albus
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Pine Warbler
Dendroica pinus
Pin-tailed Wydah
Vidua macroura
Plain Martin
Riparia paludicola
Powerful Owl
Ninox strenua
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus
Page 171
Common Name
Scientific Name
Red Avadavat
Amandava amandava
Red Collared-dove
Streptopelia tranquebarica
Red Junglefowl
Gallus gallus
Red-backed Hawk
Buteo polyosoma
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
Red-billed Quelea
Quelea quelea
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Red-crowned Amazon
Amazona viridigenalis
Red-eyed Dove
Streptopelia semitorquata
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
Red-faced Mousebird
Urocolius indicus
Red-gartered Coot
Fulica armillata
Red-masked Parakeet
Aratinga erythrogenys
Red-rumped Swallow
Hirundo daurica
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteao jamaicensis
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
Regent Honeyeater
Xanthomyza Phrygia
Ring-necked Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Roadside Hawk
Buteo magnirostris
Rock Martin
Hirundo fuligula
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Rook
Corvus frugilegus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Psittacula krameri
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
Ruddy-breasted Crake
Porzana fusca
Rufous Hornero
Furnarius rufus
Turdus rufiventris
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Rufous-naped Wren
Campylorhynchus rufinucha
Sacaya Tanager
Thraupis sayaca
Saffron Finch
Sicalis flaveola
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Sardinian Warbler
Sylvia melanocephala
Savanna Nightjar
Caprimulgus affinis
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata
Page 172
Common Name
Scientific Name
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Screaming Cowbird
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Silver Teal
Anas versicolor
Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Snowy-crowned Tern
Sterna trudeaui
Society Finch
Lonchura striata
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Southern Caracara
Caracara plancus
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Southern Masked-weaver
Ploceus velatus
Spanish Sparrow
Passer hispaniolensis
Speckled Mousebird
Colius striatus
Speckled Pigeon
Columba guinea
Splendid Fairywren
Malurus splendens
Spotless Starling
Sturnus unicolor
Spotted Dove
Stigmatopelia chinensis
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata
Spotted Owlet
Athene brama
Spotted Pardalote
Pardalotus punctatus
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitus macularius
Spur-winged Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Striated Pardalote
Pardalotus striatus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Superb Fairy-wren
Malurus cyaneus
Superb Parrot
Polytelis swainsonii
Syrian Woodpecker
Dendrocopos syriacus
Taiwan Barbet
Megalaima nuchalis
Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Tricoloured Munia
Lonchura malacca
Tristram's Starling
Onychognathus tristramii
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Tropical Parula
Parula pitiayumi
Tropical Screech-owl
Megascops choliba
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
Page 173
Common Name
Scientific Name
Tui
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Upland Goose
Chloephaga picta
Variable Sunbird
Vauxs Swift
Nectarinia venusta
Veery
Catharus fluscescens
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
Village Weaver
Ploceus cucullatus
Vinous-breasted Starling
Sturnus burmannicus
Wandering Tattler
Tringa incana
Warbling Vireo
Vireo gilvus
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Western Grey Plantain-eater
Crinifer piscator
Western Snowy Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus
Whistling Heron
Syrigma sibilatrix
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
White Tern
Gygis alba
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
White Woodpecker
Melanerpes candidus
White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus
White-bellied Green-pigeon
Treron sieboldii
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
White-breasted Sunbird
White-breasted Sunbird
White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
White-browed Crake
Porzana cinerea
White-browed Robin-chat
Cossypha heuglini
White-crested Tyrannulet
Serpophaga subcristata
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
White-headed Munia
Lonchura maja
White-rumped Shama
Copsychus malabaricus
White-rumped Swallow
Tachycineta leucorrhoa
Pycnonotus xanthopygos
White-spotted Woodpecker
Veniliornis spilogaster
White-throated Hummingbird
Leucochloris albicollis
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
White-throated Munia
Lonchura malabarica
White-throated Seedeater
Sporophila albogularis
White-tipped Dove
Leptotila verreauxi
White-tufted Grebe
Rollandia rolland
White-vented Myna
Acridotheres grandis
Chaetura vauxi
Page 174
Common Name
Scientific Name
White-winged Coot
Fulica leucoptera
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Willow Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensis
Yellow Bittern
Ixobrychus sinensis
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechial
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Yellow-billed Pintail
Anas georgica
Yellow-billed Teal
Anas flavirostris
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellis
Yellow-rumped Marshbird
Pseudoleistes guirahuro
Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo flavifrons
Zebra Dove
Geopelia striata
Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
Zebra Waxbill
Amandava subflava
Page 175

BirdLife International Global Survey On The Status of Urban Bird Conservation

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BirdLife International Global Survey On The Status of Urban Bird Conservation

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BirdLife International

global survey on the status

Fergus, R., Louwe Kooijmans, J., Kwak, R.

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

WHAT IS URBAN? ........................................................................................................... 11

URBAN BIRDS ................................................................................................................. 13

RED LIST .......................................................................................................................... 19

NUISANCE BIRD SPECIES ................................................................................................ 23

ICONIC URBAN BIRD SPECIES......................................................................................... 25

URBAN IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS AND HABITAT RESERVES ........................................ 27

URBAN MIGRATION MONITORING STATIONS .............................................................. 30

URBAN BIRD MONITORING ........................................................................................... 31

GARDEN BIRD COUNTS .................................................................................................. 39

BIRD FRIENDLY GARDENING.......................................................................................... 41

ADVICE ON CITY PLANNING.......................................................................................... 43

CONSERVATION OF URBAN BIRD SPECIES .................................................................... 45

BEST PRACTICES AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE ............................................................... 47

COUNTRY PROFILES AND SURVEY RESPONSES ............................................................ 59

RESPONSES FROM INDEPENDENT AUDUBON CHAPTERS (USA) ................................. 159

LOCAL URBAN REDLIST SPECIES BY CONTINENT......................................................... 163

ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF BIRD SPECIES MENTIONED .............................. 165

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

C OMMON STARLING (STURNUS VULGARIS ) P HOTO: J IP LOUWE K OOIJMANS

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL GROUP ON URBAN BIRDS

TOP 5 ACTION LIST

MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE:

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

H OUSE SPARROW (PASSER DOMESTICUS ) P HOTO: MARTIN H IERCK

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Table 1 .1 Respondents2011 BIG UB Survey

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Percent Urban Population

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Box 1.1 United Nations Definitions of Urban

Box 1.2 Ecological definitions of urban landscapes

Mostly covered with buildings

Single-family housing and yards

Scattered building in native matrix

Scattered building in agricultural matrix

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Expert Opinion vs.

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Table 3.2 Most Widespread Urban Birds

introduced by man, but partly

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation

Non breeding visitor

Non breeding visitor

Chinese Crested Tern

1 record, Non breeding

Cook Islands Fruit Dove

Only on two islands

Papyrus Yellow Warbler

BirdLife International global survey on the status of urban bird conservation