Linking place-based citizen science with large-scale conservation research: A case study of bird-building collisions and the role of professional scientists

Loss, Scott R.; Loss, Sara S.; Will, Tom; Marra, Peter P.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.02.023

Cited by 53 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In North America, citizen scientists have proven to be strong allies in estimating the number of bird-window collisions (Machtans and Thogmartin 2014, Loss et al 2015, Kummer et al 2016a. We therefore recommend undertaking similar efforts in Latin America and that nationwide data on bird-window collisions be gathered in Brazil to develop effective public policies in urban management.…”

Section: Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between bird-of-prey decals and bird-window collisions on a Brazilian university campus

Brisque¹,

Campos-Silva²,

Piratelli³

2017

Zoologia

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ABSTRACT. Bird-window collisions are a dramatic cause of bird mortality globally. In Latin America, statistics are generally very scarce and/or inaccessible so the frequency of such incidents is still poorly understood. Nevertheless, civilians have applied preventive methods (e.g. adhesive bird-of-prey decals) sparsely but, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated their effectiveness in Brazil. Here, we estimated the mortality rate of bird-window collisions and tested the effectiveness of bird-of-prey decals at preventing such accidents. We undertook daily searches for bird carcasses, presumably resulting from window collisions, near all buildings on a university campus over seven months. Adhesive bird-of-prey decals were then applied to the two buildings with the highest mortality rates and surveys continued for over 12 more months. The mortality rates before and after the application of decals and between seasons were then compared using Friedman test. We recorded 36 collisions, 29 around the two buildings with the highest collision rates 19 prior and 10 after our intervention with associated collision rates of 0.08 and 0.04 collisions/day. Although mortality was reduced by almost half, this difference was not statistically significant. The Blue-black grassquit, Volatinia jacarina (Linnaeus, 1766), and Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (Temminck, 1810) suffered the highest number of collisions, followed by the Rufous-collared sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis (P. L. Statius Müller, 1776). Our bird-of-prey decals and efforts were insufficient to prevent or dramatically reduce the number of bird-window collisions. Therefore, we recommend that different interventions be used and additional longterm studies undertaken on their efficacy.

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Section: Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between bird-of-prey decals and bird-window collisions on a Brazilian university campus

Brisque¹,

Campos-Silva²,

Piratelli³

2017

Zoologia

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“…The field of citizen science, a form of public participation in scientific research, has grown in recent years as tools have become more available for dispersing information about projects and gathering data from the public (Bonney et al 2014, Crain et al 2014, Loss et al 2015, Wiggins and Crowston 2015. The largest and some of the most successful citizen-science programs, including eBird, the Christmas Bird Count, Project Feeder Watch, and the Breeding Bird Survey, are in the field of ornithology (Tulloch et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, citizen-science projects have started collecting data on bird-window collisions. The majority of these bird-window collision projects have focused on tall buildings in the downtown core of large cities (Loss et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing the results of recall surveys and standardized searches in understanding bird-window collisions at houses

Kummer¹,

Bayne²,

Machtans³

2016

ACE

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ABSTRACT. Every year a large number of birds die when they collide with windows. The actual number is difficult to ascertain. Previous attempts to estimate bird-window collision rates in Canada relied heavily on a prior citizen-science study that used memorybased surveys. Such an approach to data collection has many potential biases. We built upon this study and its recommendations for future research by creating a citizen-science program that actively searched for collision evidence at houses and apartments for an extended period with the objective to see how standardized approaches to data collection compared with memory recall. Absolute collision estimates as well as relative differences were compared between residence types in the two studies, and we found considerable differences in absolute values for collisions but similar rankings of collision rates between residence types. Collision recall rates in our study (56.5%) were very similar those in the prior 2012 study, where 50.5% of participants remembered a bird colliding with a window at some time in the past. Fatality estimates, however, were 1.4 times higher in the 2012 study than in our study based on standardized searches. Rural houses with a bird feeder consistently had the highest number of collisions. This suggests that memory recall surveys may be a useful tool for understanding the relative importance of different risk factors causing bird-window collisions. Comparaison des résultats de relevés fondés sur le souvenir et de recherches standardisées dans la compréhension des collisions d'oiseaux avec les fenêtres de maisonsRÉSUMÉ. Chaque année, un grand nombre d'oiseaux meurent à la suite d'une collision avec une fenêtre. Or, ce nombre d'oiseaux morts est difficile à établir. Au Canada, les essais antérieurs destinés à estimer le taux de collisions d'oiseaux avec les fenêtres reposaient grandement sur une étude à participation citoyenne qui utilisait des relevés fondés sur le souvenir. Ce genre d'approche pour récolter des données comporte de nombreux biais potentiels. À partir de cette étude et de ses recommandations pour des recherches futures, nous avons créé un programme de science citoyenne fondé sur une recherche active d'indices de collisions avec les maisons et les appartements sur une longue période; notre objectif était de comparer l'approche de collecte de données standardisée par rapport à celle reposant sur le souvenir. Les estimations absolues de collisions et les différences relatives ont été comparées entre les divers types d'habitation dans les deux études et nous avons trouvé des différences considérables dans les valeurs absolues de collisions, mais des différences relatives similaires dans les taux de collisions entre les deux types d'habitation. Les taux de collisions fondés sur le souvenir des citoyens dans notre étude (56,5 %) étaient très semblables à ceux de l'étude de 2012, dans laquelle 50,5 % des participants se souvenaient de la collision d'un oiseau avec une fenêtre à un moment donné dans le passé. Toutefois, les estim...

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“…bird watching), plant populations, fisheries, invasive species detection, climatic anomalies and environmental pollutants (Whitelaw et al, 2003;Cohn, 2008;Conrad and Hilchey, 2011;Resnik et al, 2015;Loss et al, 2015). Furthermore, these projects promote awareness and provide communities with numerous benefits regarding the Increase of environmental democracy (Conrad and Hilchey, 2011).…”

Section: Citizen Contribution and Awarenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the Quiet Areas of a Small Urban Setting: The Case of Mytilene

2017

Global NEST Journal

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The aim of this study is to achieve a greater insight regarding quiet areas in agglomerations and contribute to their identification. The small urban setting of Mytilene located in the island of Lesvos (North Aegean, Greece), was the case study of this research. Based on citizen contribution, a number of "places" derived that are perceived as "quieter" than others, by the permanent residents of Mytilene. The "places" mentioned from this procedure were checked by means of acoustic measurements, concerning the noise levels that occurred within the 24h period. A novel method regarding the duration, repetition, check spot and the positioning of measurement was used, in order to calculate the day, evening and night period's noise levels (Lden). A performance matrix was then created in order to compare the results, in relation to acoustical, functional and visual criteria. Furthermore, by incorporating perceptual criteria we assisted the quiet area selection procedure. The provision of quietness, as a direct ecosystem service, is a major indicator of environmental quality. Nevertheless, the way that city inhabitants perceive their acoustic surroundings could determine the character of the landscape along with the quality of the soundscape and define the meaning of quietness that still remains vague.

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Linking place-based citizen science with large-scale conservation research: A case study of bird-building collisions and the role of professional scientists

Cited by 53 publications

References 31 publications

Relationship between bird-of-prey decals and bird-window collisions on a Brazilian university campus

Relationship between bird-of-prey decals and bird-window collisions on a Brazilian university campus

Comparing the results of recall surveys and standardized searches in understanding bird-window collisions at houses

Identifying the Quiet Areas of a Small Urban Setting: The Case of Mytilene

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