Occurrence of Birds in Relation to Plants in a Sub-Tropical City

Abstract

Habitat use by birds in suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland was studied during winter, at sites with relatively similar habitat features near to (0.25-0.5km) and far from (2-3km) a eucalypt forest. Variation in other factors was restricted. Distance from native forest was found to have little influence on abundance of birds in suburban habitats. House sparrows and willie wagtails were relatively more abundant at the far sites. Most of the more common forest-dwelling species were not common in either near or far suburbs. There was little similarity in relative abundance of bird species between the forest and either the near or far suburbs. A similarity in species diversity and positive correlations in species abundance between near and far sites indicate that most species are either forest or suburb 'specialists'. Native birds were more selective in their choice of plant category than introduced birds, and had a high probability of using certain native and exotic plant species, and a lower probability of using others. Although generally more abundant, introduced birds did not have a high probability of using any plant genus or type. Birds in the area studied are probably altering their patterns of habitat use in response to changes in food availability.