Which birds are Brazilians seeing on urban and non-urban feeders? An analysis based on a collective online birding

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Alexandrino, Eduardo Roberto ; Camboim, Thais Abreu ; Chaves, Flavia Guimaraes ; Bovo, Alex Augusto Abreu ; da Silva, Marco Aurelio Galvao ; da Silva, Daniela Alves Maia ; Moss, Margi ; Souza, Tatiana Pongiluppi ; de Oliveira Santos, Clarissa ; de Mattos Brito, Caio Bezerra ; Alcantara, Maristela Camolesi ; Barbosa, Karlla V. C. ; Pina, Patrick Inacio ; Paolino, Roberta Montanheiro ; Bessi, Taynara Cristine ; de Campos, Leticia Keiko Nunes ; Souza, Jorge Luiz Pereira ; Costa, Thiago Vernaschi V. ; Muller, Gilberto Sander ; Cardoso, Ironildo Cafeseiro ; Marinelli, Aline Alegria ; dos Santos, Douglas Luiz ; da Silva, Gabriele Andreia ; da Silveira Figueiredo Prates, Cristine ; Peralta, Sandra Ugrin Magalhaes ; Godoy, Willian Roberto ; Gallao, Douglas Trombini ; de Oliveira, Vilma ; Sessegolo, Pedro Furian ; de Lima, Jefferson Luiz Goncalves ; Gabriel, Astor Jose ; da Silva Bento, Anerleia Barbosa ; Migliano, Natalia Bamberg ; da Silva, Rayanne Lorrane Cruz ; de Farias, Fernando Bittencourt ; Leis, Frederico Crema ; Bernardes, Josiane Aparecida ; Donizete, Fabio Luiz ; Dias, Elenice ; Ermenegildo, Hiago ; Fabiano, Giovanna Carolina ; Nogueira, Wagner ; de Melo, Alyson Vieira ; Murano, Joana Tatoni Pereira Coelho ; Quental, Joao ; de Sant'anna Filho, Nelson ; Yanes, Fabricio ; Gomes, Gustavo Crizel ; Quadros, Fabiana Seixas ; Assing, Valnerio ; Guimaraes, Cosme ; Verissimo, Luciana Franco ; Truzzi, Luis Gonzaga ; Matsumura, Ney ; Breves, Luciano Amaral ; Fernandes, Leide Fernanda Almeida ; de Souza Carvalho, Vanilce Ferreira ; Longo, Luccas Guilherme Rodrigues ; Valentini, Vitor Bernardes ; Celeste, Cintia Costa ; Avelar, Ana Caroline Vitor ; Anchieta, Patricia Amancio ; Nascimento, Wanieulli Pascoal Lopes ; Cywinski, Daniel M. ; Gaertner, Aisse ; Novelli, Mariane B. S. ; de Menezes Goncalves, Rafael ; Navarro, Ana Beatriz ; da Rosa Rovere, Mauricio ; Camargo, Jefferson ; Furtado, Taina Teixeira ; de Souza dos Santos, Marilene ; Fanucchi, Marilia ; Carvalho, Guto

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ORNITHOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 30, n. 2, p. 14-pg., 2022-05-18.

Abstract

Many studies have shown the positive and negative impacts of feeding wild birds using feeders; however, none of them considered case studies in Brazil. In 2020, social isolation measures imposed by COVID-19 boosted Brazilians' interest in bird feeders, encouraging a group of birders to create an event (called JaneLives) to broadcast simultaneous live images of feeders across the country. Using the structure of JaneLives and relying on volunteers, we investigated which species visit Brazilian bird feeders, and discussed the effectiveness of our opportune citizen science initiative implemented during this event. Forty-eight feeders (19 urban and 29 non-urban) included in six biomes were sampled during nine JaneLives sessions (May-November 2020). The audience watched 133 species, 104 of which were visiting feeders. Non-urban feeders (n = 94) had higher richness than urban feeders (n = 68), but there were shared and unique species in both strata. Thraupidae, Turdidae, small, and medium birds (< 90 g) were the most common at the feeders. Owners of 23 feeders did data sampling at least once, while the other 25 feeders were sampled by 25 online birders (94.8% of their bird records were reliable). The narration that accompanied each JaneLives session enabled the audience to learn about Brazilian birds and increased environmental awareness. Audience numbers declined over the events, but the number of online birders was not affected. Ecolodges and parks that broadcasted their feeders received new clients afterwards. The events generated social interaction and pragmatic discussions about the usage of feeders, indicating that our citizen science initiative has potential for future research. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/07619-0 - Past, present and future of habitat use and diet of birds in the face of anthropogenic impacts in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Navarro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate