Fitz Seminar: 'The birds and the bees in the trees: the role of urban trees in supporting biodiversity'

Abstract: As the area of land under urban development continues to grow, providing opportunities for nature conservation in towns and cities is of increasing importance. While bird populations in urban areas undergo well described and predictable transformations, the factors underlying these changes remain poorly understood. Two aspects of my PhD research project will be presented. 1. Urban trees are a significant, yet unstudied part of the urban landscape. Their potential use as stepping-stones by birds will be examined. 2. Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) are one of the most common urban birds in New Zealand, and provide a useful study organism for what constitutes a successful urban survivor. Aspects of their foraging ecology in urban trees will be described, challenging the notion that the secret to success lies in the concept of 'generalist' species.