Rubbish saves birds, a major study finds
Rubbish saves birds. I know that sounds pretty improbable, but a new study suggests there just might be something in it. Let me explain.
A six year study at Ohio State University has found that – while more nestlings predictably perished in rural areas when the number of predators went up – the same was not true in cities and towns. The study, which followed the fate of 2,942 nests in the centre of the state, showed there was no relationship between their survival (or lack of it) and an increase in predators from hawks to cats. So, whereas a rise from one to 20 predators in rural areas reduced the number of surviving fledglings, they – if anything – did slightly better in urban ones.
Prof Amanda Rodewald, who led the study – which has been published in the online edition of the journal, Ecological Applications - concludes: 'We think that the reason for the lack of connection between predator and prey within urban landscapes is due to the amount of food provided by humans in urban areas. We believe that the predators are taking advantage of other sources of food in cities, such as trash cans and bird feeders."' In short, rubbish saves birds. QED.
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