Neighbors Urbana, Champaign have 'remarkably different bird communities': Study

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Research done at the University of Illinois has found wide differences in bird diversity between Urbana and Champaign — neighboring cities with different histories that were found to have impacted bird populations.

The researchers independently visited 39 public parks and 41 private yards multiple times in summer and winter recording the bird species observed.

Henry Pollock led the effort as a postdoctoral research associate. He said the cities had “remarkably different bird communities.”

“Urbana is a tree city; it’s very leafy and green,” he said. “Champaign is slightly more industrialized, and the other difference is the management approaches to dealing with their parks. Urbana has an explicit management mission  that is to restore natural areas, and those are the areas that we found some of the most diversity — and some of the rarest species.”

In winter, researchers found backyards that supported distinct bird communities had more sheltered spaces and bird feeders.

Pollock said individuals can have an important impact on the bird community, especially in winter.

The full study can be found here .

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