Humans are capable of dramatically altering a bird's landscape. Cities are a familiar and extreme example of this change. Intriguingly, some animals can adapt to these changing environments by flexibly changing their behavior. The Big City Birds Citizen Science project focuses on five bird species in Australia that have done so successfully: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian Brush-turkey, Australian White Ibis, Little Corella, and Long-billed Corella.
The five focal species have all been observed adapting to human-modified areas and are increasing their population in urban areas. Occasionally they are considered a nuisance, yet they are all Australian native birds that are doing their best to survive in human-altered landscapes. The data collected will help scientists understand these species’ behavior, movement, reproduction, distribution, and habitat use in suburban areas. The collected data helps to understand the behavioral traits that have allowed some species to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of city living.