Urban Bird Populations in Vancouver - A Spatial Analysis

This research project that investigates how bird populations have adapted to urban environments in Vancouver offers a promising foundation for immediate steps to act on while allowing further studies to be built upon. With our findings, I would recommend that bolstering and protecting existing parks and greenways remain a high priority for city planners. Likewise, there are many techniques that conservationists can use to make glass buildings more visible for birds. Reducing indoor vegetation and applying visual designs on the glass windows can help to lower confusion with birds on their flight path. For predator bird species, I would suggest that the municipal planners work with local businesses and apartment owners to set up habitat reserves on top of skyscrapers to help mimic these birds’ natural habitat. In further follow-up studies, I believe that models are built and tailored to key specific species like the Steller’s Jay and Bald Eagle. Having a more fine-tuned model for specific species would better reflect their individual ecological needs which would lead to more accurate and conclusive findings. Furthermore, I would suggest studies that focus on a broader study range. While this project offers a promising start, there is evidence that conducting this study across the entire Metro Vancouver area can provide us with a better understanding of the spatial relationships that exists. Lastly, I recommend that models be constructed based on future projections of local conditions, so that we can predict future patterns for bird populations. It is crucial that we begin to think about how these birds are distributed on different temporal scales as they respond to a warming climate and increasing human activities.