Enjoy Your Summer Microhabitat! on Thursday, August 05, 2010

There’s actually been some good news recently about wild birds and “microhabitats”. Research studies published within the last 12 months show the benefit to birds of backyard habitats and small wooded areas.

Stockholm University researched “ habitat fragments”, concluding that sets of “small and seemingly insignificant habitat patches that are within reach for mobile species may provide an acceptable alternative to larger and contiguous habitats.  Wild birds may be able to make use of a network of neighboring patches for their subsistence.”  It makes us think about the backyard habitats we create – yours, mine and our neighbors’ .

An Ohio State School of Environment and Natural Resources study concluded that “even tiny patches of woods in urban areas could provide adequate food and protection for some species of migrating birds.”  “The good news is that the birds in our study seemed to be finding enough food in even the smaller urban habitats to refuel and continue their journey,” said Stephen Matthews, co-author of the study.

Purdue University’s forestry department recently found that “ migrating birds are just as likely to stop in small woodlots in the middle of an agricultural field for the night as long as there is adequate protection and food. … Conservation efforts should extend to smaller forested lands to help stabilize declining migratory bird populations.

Thank you, researchers, for (1) taking our backyard habitats seriously and (2) helping get the word out on their value to wild birds.  Many of us have seen firsthand the positive impact that backyard feeding and bathing stations, and a few nest boxes, have on the birds that frequent our little patches of habitat … our “microhabitats”. 

Links: 

“Purdue University finds birds not picky about their rest stops”

Ohio State University concludes “even tiny patches of woods in urban areas could provide adequate food and protection for some species of migrating birds.”
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/urbanforest.htm

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