Human disturbances and predation on artificial ground nests across an urban gradient

Abstract

In our study with artificial nests we observed that the absence of ground nesting bird species in the city centre and in residential districts was due to disturbance by humans and domestic animals (dogs and cats) rather than to predation. Furthermore, predation pressure was higher in the outskirts of the city due to the greater number of natural predators. Our results suggest that planning and creating undisturbed areas could increase the chances of ground nesting birds settling and breeding in human–dominated landscapes.

Keywords

• Disturbances
• Nest survival
• Plasticine eggs
• Quail eggs
• Urban development