Article | Human disturbance causes French bearded vultures to leave nests

A 2006 article in Biological Conservation by Beatriz Arroyo and Martine Razin showed that the frequency and distance of human activities such as helicopters, hiking, and hunting influence nesting behaviors in French Pyrannes bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus). These activities cause birds to leave the nest which can prove fatal for the developing embryo or young chic during critical periods of incubation or brooding. Given that the these threatened birds already have lower fledgling success than their cousins in the Alps, understanding the role of disturbance is important since competition with other raptors, weather, and food availability are also challenges facing the species.

Arroyo, B. and M. Razin. 2006. Effect of human activities in bearded vulture behavior and breeding success in the French Pyranees. Biological Conservation, 128, 276-284. Find pdf here.

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Bibliography | Birds

Image credit: Bonsens-Tono
Arroyo, B. and M. Razin. 2006. Effect of human activities in bearded vulture behavior and breeding success in the French Pyranees. Biological Conservation, 128, 276-284. Find pdf here.

Donaldson, M. R., K. M. Henein, M. W. Runtz. 2007. Assessing the effect of developed habitat on waterbird behaviour in an urban riparian system in Ottawa, Canada. Urban Ecosystems 10, 139-151.

Fuller, R. A., P. H. Warren, K. J. Gaston. 2007. Daytime noise predicts nocturnal singing in urban robins. Biology Letters 3, 368-370.

Mockford, E. J. and R. C. Marshall. 2009. Effects of urban noise on song and response behaviour in great tits. Proceedings fo the Royal Society Biological Sciences 276, 2979-2985.

Wood, W. E. & S. M. Yezerinac. 2006. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) song varies with urban noise. The Auk, 123, 650-659.

Bibliography - Hiking

Image credit: maxlkt
How does human activity like hiking impact wildlife and natural areas? Learn more below.

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Arroyo, B. and M. Razin. 2006. Effect of human activities in bearded vulture behavior and breeding success in the French Pyranees. Biological Conservation, 128, 276-284. Find pdf here.