Birds Prefer Allfuent Human Neighborhoods

That seems to be the implications of a study conducted in high, middle, and lower income communities of Phoenix, Arizona. Upscale areas consistently harbored the greatest number of bird species, while middle and lower-income areas were progressively less diverse. The factors that attract birds to affluent neighborhoods remain unknown, but the researchers suggest that “zoning decisions, the type of existing landscaping, proximity to factories, local cat populations, the presence of bird feeders—even things such as the number of dog dishes or other sources of water and food in the communities” could be contributing influences.” Scroll to the end of the above document for links to other recent bird stories from National Geographic News.