The Birds of Perth's Urban Parks : Factors Influencing Their Distribution and Community Attitudes Towards Them
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Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 1997 The birds of Perth's urban parks : Factors influencing their distribution and community attitudes towards them Jodi S. Mansell Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Nature and Society Relations Commons, and the Ornithology Commons Recommended Citation Mansell, J. S. (1997). The birds of Perth's urban parks : Factors influencing their distribution and community attitudes towards them. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/290 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/290 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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The Birds of Perth's Urban Parks; Factors Influencing Their Distribution and Community Attitudes Towards Them BY Jodi S. Mansell A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the A ward of an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management ...------ -- ! ::OITH COWAN UNIVERS!TY I LIBRARY Edith Cowan University J oondalup Campus Date of Submission: 29th August, 1997 ABSTRACT Birds add colour, movement and sound to the landscape while posing few nuisance problems. They are some of the most obvious wildlife components of urban areas and, as such, provide a precious link between humans and nature, in an otherwise altered environment. Knowledge of the general responses of bird populations to urbanisation and an understanding of their habitat requirements is necessary to ensure the continuation of bird.Iife in urban areas. Most of the literature on urban birds around the world has concentrated on birds in streets and remnant patches. Urban parks provide much potential habitat for birds, although there are few publications addressing this issue. The aims of this project were to determine the terrestrial avifauna of Perth's northern suburban parks, investigate physical factors that might influence the distribution of birds, and determine the attitudes of park users towards birds in suburban parks. Sixteen suburban recreational parks, ranging from 2.5 - 10 ha, were sampled for birds in the northern suburbs of the Perth metropolitan region. Twenty-six terrestrial bird species (including five introduced species) were recorded. This is only a small sample of the potential pool of species available and may be attributed to the isolation and relatively small size of all of Perth's northern suburban parks. The feeding and foraging guilds of the birds of Perth's parks were different to those documented in other urban studies around the world, which is a reflection of high proportion of native vegetation retained in Perth's suburbs. Tree canopy height was the most influential factor on the birds of urban parks. Native bird species richness and diversity increased with increasing tree height. There were slight influences on birds by park age, park size and the distance of the park to the nearest remnant. It was concluded that parks are just one component of the urban matrix, which also includes remnant bushland, streets and private gardens. Together, all components of the matrix determine the bird communities in urban areas. A number of bird species will be lost from an urban area, already poor in species richness, if managers do not adopt a holistic approach. Birds were also surveyed in streets adjacent to the park sites. The results revealed that urban birds use the individual components of the urban matrix differently. In the past, results from street counts have been used to generalise about the birds in urban areas. These generalisations, based on only one part of the urban environment, have led to incomplete representations of the urban avifauna. All facets of the urban matrix should be investigated in future studies which aim to determine the effects of urbanisation on birds. No park users mentioned watching birds as a reason to visit Perth's suburban parks. The Galah, Kookaburra and Rainbow Lorikeet were identified by Perth's park users as the most desirable urban bird species; the Raven and Magpie were considered the least desirable species. Bird song/call was identified as the most desirable bird characteristic and aggression the least desirable bird characteristic. Ninety-seven percent of park users thought that birds should be encouraged to inhabit suburban areas. The results suggest that while birds are not considered an important reason for visiting parks, most birds are liked by park users and there is a general consensus that birds should be encouraged in suburban areas. Methods to encourage birds into suburban areas include establishing habitat corridors between isolated parks and remnant bushlands, ensuring a diverse, native vegetation of differing strata levels, controlling cats and dogs, reducing lawn cover, retaining some large, old trees with suitable nesting holes and, narrowing the gap between the public's interest and their knowledge regarding birds. ii THESIS DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not incorporate withont acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; and that to the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Clarice Evelyn Mansell (13/6/08 -21/4/96), who taught me to appreciate the fragile environment around us. I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Harry Recher, for his wisdom and guidance; Eddie van Etten for his assistance in determining appropriate vegetation sampling methods; Mark Lund for his help with the community survey; Clive Nealon, Mike Bamford and Peter Stewart for the opportunity to use their field data; Natalie Lyons and Sarah Collins for their much appreciated field assistance; Edith Cowan University for ils support; and all members from the Centre for Ecosystem Management for giving me the opportunity and encouragement to concentrate on my studies. Special thanks go to Lynn Barton for her never-ending support; my mother (Maria Mansell) for providing me with hot meals; my father (Greg Mansell) for doing the dishes; my brother (David Mansell) for constantly handling my computer pmblems; and other family and friends for putting up with me for the past few years. Last, and certainly not least, I would like to thank Kirby Oakes for his encouragement, help in the field and unconditional love. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Abstract i Declaration iii Acknowledgments iv List of Tables viii List of Figures ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Urban Bird Research I 1.2 Research Approach 4 CHAPTER2 SITE SELECTION AND DESCRIPTION 5 2.1 Perth's Physical Environment 5 2.2 Selection of Park Sample Sites 6 2.3 Park Site Characteristics 8 2.3.1 Methods 8 2.3.2 Site descriptions 10 CHAPTER3 CENSUSING BIRDS IN AUSTRALIAN URBAN PARKS- TESTING METHODOLOGY 37 3.1 Introduction 37 3.2 Methods 38 3.2.1 Site selection 38 3.2.2 Site descriptions 38 3.2.3 Bird sampling in park sites 39 3.2.4 Analysis 40 3.3 Results 41 3.3.1 Genera/features 41 3.3.2 Comparing relative abundance 42 3.3.3 The cumulative frequency 43 3.4 Discussion 44 v CHAPTER4 THE AVIFAUNA OF PERTH'S NORTHERN SUBURBAN PARKS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THEIR DISTRffiUTION 47 4.1 Introduction 47 4.2 Methods 49 4.2.1 Bird sampling in park sites 49 4.2.2 Analysis 50 4.3 Results 51 4.3.1 Ecologicalfeatures 51 4.3.2 Factors affecting the distribution of birds 56 4.4 Discussion 63 4.4.1 Ecological features of Perth's northern suburban park avifauna 63 4.4.2 Factors affecting the distribution of birds in urban Perth 66 CHAPTERS THE AVIFAUNA OF PERTH'S NORTHERN SUBURBAN STREETS 70 5.1 Introduction 70 5.2 Methods 70 5.2.1 Selection of street transects 70 5.2.2 Bird sampling in street transects 71 5.2.3 Vegetation sampling in street transects 71 5.2.4 Analysis 72 5.3 Results 73 5.3.1 Vegetation cover in the streets 73 5.3.2 Vegetation differences between streets and parks 73 5.3.3 Street avifauna 75 5.3.4 Avifauna/ differences between streets and parks 75 5.4 Discussion 80 vi CHAPTER6 ARE BIRDS IN SUBURBAN PARKS IMPORTANT TO PARK USERS? 82 6.1 Introduction 82 6.2 Methods 83 6.2.1 Questionnaire construction 83 6.2.2 Questionnaire administration 84 6.2.3 Analysis 85 6.3 Results 86 6.3.1 Respondent