Urban Cemeteries as Bird Refuges

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Abstract
Nests of birds breeding in 10 Chicago [Illinois, USA] cemeteries were located in the spring of 1974. In addition, strip censuses in urban sample areas associated with cemeteries were used to estimate species numbers and abundance of birds in the city surrounding 9 of the cemeteries, as well as in portions of the cemetery neighborhood equal in area to the cemetery. Percent vegetation cover did not differ between cemeteries and neighboring areas in any height interval except at ground level. The number of bird species in cemeteries and neighboring areas increased with area; the rate of species addition was greater in cemeteries than in heighboring areas. Cemeteries larger than 25 ha supported more bird species than the surrounding city because of large-scale heterogeneity provided, in part, by ponds, ruderal vegetation and undeveloped land. Complete development of the cemeteries would probably result in loss of about 2 bird spp. Increased human disturbance would probably cause loss of 3 additional spp. On the other hand, in cemeteries where suitable nesting sites were apparently limited, native species were found nesting in the adjacent city and foraging in the cemeteries. This suggests that urban bird refuges would attract more species than knowledge of their area alone would predict.