IntroductionThe escalating mental health crisis among college students presents a global challenge that may be exacerbated by isolation from nature. Previous research, largely conducted in laboratory settings, indicates that exposure to nature and birdsong improves mental and physiological health. We built on this work with an outdoor experiment testing for independent and potentially additive effects on physiological stress associated with exposure to natural landscapes (i.e., forests) and soundscapes (i.e., birdsong).MethodsWe engaged 95 participants from North Carolina State University in a randomized, four-treatment, within-subjects design to evaluate the effects of adding different sounds (birdsong vs. traffic) to landscapes (forest vs. gray space) on measures of physiological stress: heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) (measured as RMSSD). We started each sample with 5 min of silent control, followed by 10 min of recorded birdsong or recorded traffic noise. Participants listened to each recording in both settings. We modeled HR and HRV using linear mixed models with a random intercept to account for participant effects and fixed effects for soundscape, landscape, their interaction, age, and gender. ResultsForest exposure had reduced HR relative to gray space (b = 0.65, p = 0.007). Birdsong exposure increased HRV relative to traffic noise (b = -1.38, p = 0.049). We did not detect a significant soundscape × landscape interaction for either outcome (all p > 0.16).DiscussionThese findings indicate that visual and auditory nature cues may support physiological recovery through partially independent pathways, with forest landscapes associated with reduced cardiovascular arousal and birdsong soundscapes associated with increased autonomic recovery. Results highlight the different ways that green infrastructure on college campuses can improve students’ mental health outcomes.
Some bird sounds are perceived as more pleasant and restorative than others. Determining the specific acoustic parameters that are associated with pleasant sound experiences for humans and how this might be related to birding specialization and how much listeners value birds has not been studied yet. Here, we asked German adult listeners in a lab study to rate the sound pleasantness of bird vocalizations of 123 European bird species. We further measured frequency, amplitude and bandwidth and related them to perceived sound pleasantness. Moreover, we investigated if sound pleasantness is related to the total number of elements and sound complexity of a sound. Bird sounds with higher low and peak frequencies, but lower amplitude and high frequency and a narrower bandwidth were perceived as more pleasant. Additionally, sounds with higher complexity were associated with higher pleasantness ratings. Lastly, participants who value birds more, rated sounds more pleasant. Birding specialization, however, was unrelated to perceived pleasantness, indicating that this measure is not dependent on knowledge or bird-related activities. Our findings highlight which species are associated with acoustic pleasantness in human perception which might be beneficial in evaluating, maintaining and improving the recreational value of natural spaces.
Interactions with birds may contribute meaningfully to mental health and well-being, particularly in everyday settings where access to other forms of nature is limited. Recent reviews suggest that birdwatching, birding, companion birds, and other human-bird interactions have measurable benefits for health and well-being. We conducted a systematic scoping review mapping how specific interaction patterns with birds have been studied in relation to human health and well-being. We aimed to identify and map how human-bird interaction patterns were associated with human health or well-being; highlight which pairings of interaction pattern-benefits are most and least studied; recommend needs for future research; and ultimately to expand and inform Ecological Medicine practices involving birds that support reciprocity, relationality, and connectedness. Across 196 studies published by November 2025, we found 10 or more studies each supporting the following conclusions. Listening to birdsong is linked to better cognitive functioning, mental health and well-being and physiological markers of health; birds in the media or in artwork, as well as companion or captive birds, are linked with better mental health and well-being; incidental contact with birds (i.e., living in nature-rich areas with birds) as well as birding or birdwatching are linked with better mental health and well-being as well as pro-environmental attitudes, behaviors, or nature connectedness. While half of these findings are derived from studies without a control/comparison group, the evidence is suggestive and supportive of human-bird interventions in nature-based therapy. However, we note that our search terms did not target adverse outcomes as a result of interacting with birds; therefore, these findings may reflect a biased perspective on this topic based on the included literature, warranting additional research into any potential adverse consequences of human-bird interactions as well.
IntroductionSeasonality and anthropogenic disturbance are key drivers of avian community structure in tropical savannah ecosystems, yet their effects on taxonomic and functional diversity across protected and unprotected landscapes remain insufficiently understood, especially in Nigeria. We examined how seasonal variation and human disturbance shape bird assemblages at different site protection statuses in the Nigerian Guinea savannah.MethodsWe conducted point count surveys across four stratified habitats (forest, woodland, grassland, and riverside) at four sites in the Guinea savannah of Nigeria, covering dry and wet seasons, and protected and unprotected sites. Patterns in taxonomic richness, diversity, functional richness, and functional diversity were analyzed alongside quantified indices of anthropogenic disturbance.ResultsDuring the wet season, taxonomic richness and diversity were higher, whereas functional metrics, especially functional richness, were lower. Unprotected sites supported higher taxonomic richness and diversity, particularly in the dry season. In contrast, protected sites, despite lower species richness, retained broader functional trait representation. An increase in anthropogenic disturbance resulted in declines in both taxonomic and functional richness across all sites, with particularly steep losses in functional richness within protected areas.DiscussionWe provide evidence of a complex influence of seasonality, protection status, and anthropogenic disturbance on avian communities in the Nigerian Guinea savannah, revealing notable divergences between taxonomic and functional diversity metrics. Higher wet-season taxonomic diversity and richness, with contrasting functional richness and diversity, reflect increased resource availability and favourable breeding conditions and a decoupling between species richness and functional roles, respectively. Observable higher taxonomic metrics and yet a high functional redundancy at the unprotected sites may indicate dominance by disturbance-tolerant generalist species with overlapping ecological roles. Furthermore, the observable steeper decline in functional richness within protected sites highlights that these sites are more affected by disturbance than the more human-modified unprotected sites. Our findings demonstrate that reliance on taxonomic metrics alone may obscure functional erosion within bird communities and emphasize the need for landscape management and monitoring focused on functional and taxonomic dimensions of biodiversity coupled with the influence of seasonal dynamics and disturbance to ensure long−term ecosystem resilience.
The African Bird Atlas Project (ABAP) represents one of the largest citizen-science biodiversity monitoring initiatives, generating large-scale bird occurrence and survey datasets across the African continent. However, utilizing this pentad-scale map data for high-level analysis or publication often requires complex workflows involving manual data downloads, cleaning, and GIS processing. To resolve this technical barrier, the AfriAtlas, an open-source R package is designed to streamline the retrieval and visualization of ABAP data. The package interfaces directly with the BirdMap API to fetch spatial occurrence and survey effort data. AfriAtlas leverages the sf, rnaturalearth, ggplot2 packages to handle dynamic administrative boundaries and render standardized, publication-ready maps. Key features include automated effort-adjusted choropleth maps, species distribution plots incorporating a Widespreadness Index developed within AfriAtlas to quantify the spatial extent and distribution patterns of species, and fault-tolerance mechanisms for batch processing. By automating these workflows, AfriAtlas promotes reproducibility and lowers the entry barrier for ornithological and conservation research in Africa.
This autoethnographic reflection explores how shifting from a paradigm of human exceptionalism toward an environmental paradigm allows for a deeper understanding of human health and relational intelligence. By observing the Clark’s Nutcracker and the American Dipper, I identify behaviors, such as the Nutcracker’s caching seeds for a future self and the Dipper’s aquatic adaptations, as models for navigating life’s challenges. The Nutcracker illustrates the importance of planning and fostering connections in relationships to ensure long-term stability, while the Dipper exemplifies strategic resilience and regulation even in turbulent environments. These observations suggest that well-being is not a static state but a continuous process of subtle, adaptive adjustments to ecological and social systems. Ultimately, this autoethnography reframes health as a graceful, steady calibration that emphasizes the necessity of listening to and participating in the natural world to achieve a state of physical, mental, and social well-being.
The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), the largest and rarest crane species in Africa, is globally classified as Vulnerable and persists in small, fragmented populations, including one in Ethiopia. Despite its conservation significance, little was known about its breeding ecology in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to address these urgent knowledge gaps by providing the first comprehensive investigation into the breeding ecology of the species including nest-site selection, clutch size, egg morphometry, and breeding success in the Afroalpine ecosystem of Bale Mountains National Park. Fieldwork was conducted over three consecutive breeding seasons (2015–2017), involving intensive ground surveys to locate and characterize nests, and detailed measurements and habitat features documented following established protocols. A total of nine nests were recorded, with six located on isolated islands in the Sanetti Plateau and three in wetlands at Sodota. Nests were constructed at elevations between 3,502 and 4,034 m, primarily with dominant grasses such as Koeleria capensis and Luzula abyssinica. Clutch initiation occurred between August and October, with clutch sizes ranging from one to two eggs (mean 1.78 ± 0.15). Egg length averaged 93.11 mm, width 65.07 mm, and weight 250.69 g. Hatching success was relatively low, with only six of the 10 eggs successfully hatching, with nest failures largely attributed to abandonment and predation by Thick-billed Ravens (Corvus crassirostris). However, fledging success was remarkably high, with all hatched chicks six surviving to independence, aided by strong parental defense and camouflage strategies. The study highlights the Wattled Crane’s reliance on undisturbed wetlands with islands, abundant food, and minimal human disturbance has contributed to its remarkable fledging success. Therefore, strengthening collaboration with existing conservation programs, habitat restoration (including artificial islands), and continuous ecological monitoring are recommended to ensure the long-term survival of this threatened species in the Afroalpine habitat of the park.
Effective conservation of declining songbird species in the Great Plains of North America requires robust population trend estimates across spatial scales. We compared population trend estimates across spatial scales using data from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and a targeted monitoring program for seven focal species associated with arid shrub-steppe and grassland habitats in central Montana, USA. Trend estimates from the two monitoring programs showed partial agreement, but consistency depended on how uncertainty and trend direction were interpreted, revealing both areas of concordance and key discrepancies. Thick-billed longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) was the only species to exhibit clearly divergent trends, potentially indicating localized population declines despite broader regional stability. Discrepancies likely reflect a combination of scale-dependent processes and differences in sampling design and inference, highlighting the importance of integrating multiple monitoring approaches. Our findings demonstrate that targeted monitoring can reveal local population declines and refugia, while large-scale monitoring like BBS provides essential regional context. Together, these two monitoring programs support more informed conservation and adaptive management in the Great Plains ecosystems.
In recent decades, climate change has exerted detrimental effects on forest ecosystems and the biodiversity they harbor, in part via the combined effects of rising temperatures and changing disturbance regimes. Old-forest species may be acutely sensitive to these changes, especially in ecosystems such as the Sierra Nevada, USA, where historical losses of old-forest habitat are now coupled with a rise in atypically large, severe fires. However, the combined effects of temperature and severe fire are relatively understudied at landscape scales. We used a four-year, landscape-scale passive acoustic monitoring program to study the Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis), a temperature- and fire-sensitive bird species that is closely associated with old-forest habitat. Using a dynamic occupancy model, we characterized the population dynamics in response to elevation, latitude, relative temperature, and high-severity fire. The Hermit Warbler population declined 8.3% during our study, shifting away from the warmer, lower-elevation, and southern sites and toward sites at higher latitudes. It displayed a strong extinction response to severe fire over a 1-10-year post-fire period and failed to colonize such areas over the same time span. Our results suggest that limiting the occurrence of large, severe fires will be necessary to preserve this old-forest indicator but not sufficient: rising temperatures will also lead to population declines even in the absence of habitat loss due to fire. As climate change accelerates, understanding species’ responses to shifting environmental conditions will be crucial for guiding adaptive management and ensuring the persistence of biodiversity in fire-prone landscapes.
IntroductionSocial living offers both benefits and costs, particularly when infectious disease alters the balance between competition, energy reserves, and survival. In flocking passerines, individuals differ in dominance rank and access to resources, which may shape body condition and overwinter survival in a context-dependent manner. We studied wintering greenfinches (Chloris chloris) to examine how social rank, flock size, and trichomonosis outbreaks interact to influence body reserves and survival until spring.MethodsOver multiple winters, including years with and without a trichomonosis epidemic, we measured body mass, wing length–based body mass index (BMI), dominance rank, and overwinter survival of individually marked birds across flocks spanning a wide range of sizes.ResultsAnalyses revealed that BMI varied more strongly with dominance and epidemic context than total body mass, indicating that size-adjusted body condition is a more sensitive indicator of short-term energetic strategies under disease pressure. Body reserves varied with dominance rank in a flock-size–dependent manner: in medium-sized and very large flocks, higher-ranking individuals tended to maintain higher BMI than subordinates, whereas no clear rank-related differences in BMI were detected in small flocks. These rank-dependent patterns were further modified during epidemic winters in a flock-size–specific way, with altered dominance–BMI relationships particularly evident in medium-sized flocks.DiscussionOverwinter survival increased with BMI during the epidemic, indicating that greater body reserves enhanced the likelihood of surviving to spring under disease pressure, whereas BMI showed a weak negative association with survival outside of epidemic conditions. Together, these results demonstrate that disease-driven environmental conditions modify the relationships between social structure, energetic strategies, and survival. Our findings highlight how infection risk can reshape adaptive trade-offs between dominance, body reserves, and fitness outcomes in social birds.
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) populations in eastern and western North America differ in morphological traits and genetic characteristics, yet their vocal divergence has not been quantified. We analyzed flight-call structure in Eastern and Western birds using measurements of frequency and call duration. Multivariate analyses revealed strong acoustic differentiation between subspecies, driven primarily by differences in maximum frequency, minimum frequency, and frequency span. Duration was not significantly different. Variation among subspecies in flight call characteristics was much greater than variation within individuals or within subspecies. Discriminant function analyses correctly identified calls in 93% of samples that were originally identified by the recordist or by assignment based on known geographic ranges. The five misclassified birds were all recorded in the West, had been assigned subspecies status based on range, were detected only outside the typical breeding season and were statistically Easterns. After re-assignment, the chance of misclassifying a bird to the incorrect subspecies was near zero. Only one bird in our sample, recorded in the putative zone of overlap in the Pacific Northwest, was marginally intermediate in its frequency characteristics. The reliable identification of flight calls is useful because Eastern and Western Purple Finches are highly distinctive genetically and may warrant full species status. In addition, the growing popularity of public archives for bird sound recordings increases the possibilities to track movements of infraspecifically diverse taxa like Purple Finches that are highly vocal but whose plumage variation is subtle. Finally, the existence of structurally divergent calls suggests the possibility of broader ecological and evolutionary differentiation.
Preferences for animal species and their popularity vary significantly between species, even within a taxonomic group such as birds. Understanding which characteristics influence human preferences for certain bird species can help to promote targeted conservation measures and define so-called ‘flagship species’ for conservation programs. However, the extent to which such species-specific characteristics also affect human psychological well-being remains largely unclear. The positive impact of interacting with birds on the human psyche is currently being researched. However, a grey goose could potentially have a different impact on the human experience of nature and, thus, also on psychological well-being in local recreation areas than, for example, a blue tit or a nightingale. Which species-specific characteristics play a role in this is still largely unclear. We therefore compiled data on species-specific characteristics for 118 bird species that were mapped in 40 different areas in southwest Germany. One factor was summarized from four species traits in a principal component analysis, building the human restoration value. An index was calculated for each location (HRV = human restoration value of bird species). In a second step, these indices were then correlated with the mental well-being and place attachment of 1,184 people in the 40 project areas. The results show a positive correlation between the HRV and satisfaction. Compiling species-specific characteristics relevant to human well-being into one factor, such as the HRV presented here, might enable future projects to investigate the recreational value of nature areas based on bird abundance.
To prioritise interventions amid the biodiversity crisis, this study applied a vulnerability framework to Nigerian avifauna by analysing 12 years of crowdsourced iNaturalist data (2013–2025). We defined vulnerability as a function of species’ sensitivity (extinction risk and specialization) and adaptive capacity (dietary breadth and movement). Analysing 8,751 research-grade records across 631 species, we tested how ecological traits predict IUCN status and reporting rates. Results showed a significant inverse association between adaptability and extinction risk. We identified a specialist penalty and monitoring gap: highly sensitive species contributed only 5% of the dataset, while generalists with high adaptive capacity dominated observations. Despite this bias, the data documented six new country records, including the African Rail (Rallus caerulescens) and Ross's Turaco (Musophaga rossae), as well as several range extensions. We conclude that while citizen science is a vital tool for monitoring common species and rapid discovery, targeted expert-led surveys remain essential for specialists. This study demonstrates that unstructured iNaturalist data can effectively inform the design of integrated biodiversity monitoring frameworks in West Africa.
The Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) is a species of North American Fringillid finch with at least five populations defined by differences in their flight calls. Groups with different flight calls generally occupy different geographic ranges during the breeding season and are referred to as call types. In Oregon and California, USA, call types 1 and 2 overlap in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, but the geographical extent of this overlap remains unclear. We used citizen science data, our own ad hoc surveys, and a network of autonomous recording units (ARUs) across a longitudinal range from northern California into Oregon to quantify the distributions of these call type populations. We found a clear north-south transition, with type 1 birds occurring primarily in the northern sections of our study area while type 2 birds were predominantly detected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Both types overlapped during the breeding season in southern Oregon. Both types also wandered widely after the breeding season and often co-occurred throughout the study area, especially in the Sierra Nevada. Type 2 was always rare north of southern Oregon. Additionally, our ARU data indicate greater occurrence of both call types where Evening Grosbeaks were most often recorded overall, especially after the breeding season. Our results align with Grinnell’s (1917) hypothesis of the presence of a contact zone between two populations of Evening Grosbeaks in Oregon and California and clarify the current extent of this geographic overlap.
Nazca boobies (Sula granti), a colonial pelagic seabird, face a tradeoff before egg production between foraging at sea and mating effort on land. All individuals must both forage and secure a partner for the coming breeding season. However, the sex ratio is male-biased, so males must attend the colony to attract females (the limiting sex) and counter females’ conspicuous sexual promiscuity. We hypothesized that this exacerbates the sea-land tradeoff for males, rewarding colony attendance at the expense of foraging opportunities. We tested the prediction that males attend the colony more than females do early in breeding. Four years of nocturnal attendance data supported the prediction: males did consistently attend the colony more than females before and during egg-laying, reducing the males’ time at sea accordingly for weeks. This difference nearly disappeared after the clutch was complete and pair bonds firmly established. The exception to this pattern was notable: on the night before clutches were initiated the attendance probability of males in these breeding pairs was anomalously low (0.18), most males being at sea. Before and after this night these breeding males had attendance probabilities of 0.69 and 0.71, respectively. This night in each breeding pair’s timeline separates the fertilization windows of the first egg and a possible second (and final) egg, presenting a brief break in paternity risk for the males, and most go to sea. These results are consistent with a sexually selected response by males to improve success in pairing and paternity, and suggest a tradeoff with foraging.
Human perceptions of urban wildlife can shape conservation priorities and public support for biodiversity initiatives, however research on human-bird relationships remains spatially biased towards the Global North. Here we assessed the perceptions of 36 urban bird species across four South African urban contexts using a mixed-methods approach. Survey respondents (n = 1,977) rated species likeability on a 5-point Likert scale and provided open-ended explanations for their ratings. Quantitatively, South African urban birds were generally well-liked, with notable variation among species: the Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus, mean ± SE = 4.91 ± 0.02) and Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea, 4.91 ± 0.02) scored highest, and the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis, 2.50 ± 0.03) scored lowest. To analyse the approximately 71,000 open-ended responses, we employed ChatGPT, a generative AI large language model, to identify eight themes underlying species appeal. The highest-rated species were primarily valued for aesthetic appeal and emotional connections, while the lowest-rated species were associated with aggressive behaviours and negative ecological impacts. Factor analysis revealed three perceptual clusters, demonstrating that some species evoke multidimensional responses whilst others are viewed through a single dominant lens. Notably, aesthetic patterns did not universally predict appeal and many highly rated raptor species were valued for emotional connections rather than physical traits. Additionally, negative perceptions did not apply uniformly to all non-native or problematic species, with some receiving moderately positive responses despite ecological concerns. These findings highlight the complexity of human-bird relationships in urban contexts and demonstrate that large language models can enable qualitative analysis at large scales. By offering an African perspective, this study contributes to a more inclusive understanding of how urban residents perceive and value birds.
This report documents four observations of a novel foraging behavior in fire-crested alethes (Alethe castanea) in the Budongo Forest Reserve of Western Uganda, where the birds were observed following humans and bushbuck, likely to flush out insect prey, diverging from their typical ant-following strategy. These observations expand our understanding of commensal relationships in tropical forest ecosystems and highlight the adaptability of bird foraging strategies.
Citizen science has emerged as a cost-effective complement to structured biodiversity surveys, yet its reliability for small-scale avian monitoring in Africa remains underexplored. This study compared avifaunal species richness, detection accuracy, and the influence of species traits on detectability between full-protocol African BirdMap data (citizen science) and structured surveys conducted within the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area, Ghana. Structured surveys recorded 208 species, while citizen science reported 215, with 176 species (71.3%) shared. A total of 32 and 39 species were unique to the structured survey and citizen science data, respectively. Structured surveys showed higher data accuracy and a narrower confidence interval (99.5%, CI: 0.97–0.99) than citizen science (96.4%, CI: 0.93–0.98). Generalized linear modeling also showed that species detectability was influenced primarily by traits rather than survey method. High vocalization and moderate plumage conspicuousness increased detection likelihood, whereas rarely vocal species were significantly underdetected. Once traits were accounted for, method type was not a significant predictor of detectability (p = 0.85). These findings indicate that well-standardized citizen science protocols can yield avian richness and detectability estimates comparable to structured surveys, though expert-led verification remains vital to minimize misidentification and maintain data quality. The results support integrating citizen science into local avifaunal monitoring, particularly in resource-limited contexts.
