Inviting new observers to the project
Thanks everybody that has already joined and engaged in this project which is today just one day old.
Background: I noticed there are similar projects about "active nests" or "nature in infraestructures", etc, but none put the focus specifically on bird nests in the urban environment. Being a nature lover, passionate about birds, and swift enthusiast, I have sadly witnessed how a good number of nests are lost mainly due to building renovations.
This project will try to contribute to the conservation of urban birds by recording their nesting site locations and I really hope people find it useful as a conservation tool.
Any questions, suggestions, things that could be improved, please, don't hesitate to reach me or the managers/curators of the project. Also, if you want to engage more actively in the project don't hesitate to ask to become a curator/manager.
Hoping to see soon all your observations of urban nests in your place.
Have a nice day!!
Comments
Top iNat observers and identifiers of every continent:
@a-tristis, @abcdefgewing, @abhilare, @adalbertogonzalez, @adamgraham, @adamwelz, @adamwelz, @adkonings, @admss, @adremix, @adtll, @aegithalos, @afriederich, @afsarnayakkan, @afsarnayakkan, @afzalhossainkhan, @aganse, @agboola, @agboola, @aguilita, @agujaceratops, @aidanrf, @ajay50, @akmal_idham, @alanhorstmann, @alanhorstmann, @alanhorstmann, @alanhorstmann, @alberto1, @alex_sp, @allenlyu, @ambady_sasi, @ameetmandavia, @amila_sumanapala, @amin_ghaffari, @anat6, @andaman, @andrea_quattrociocchi, @andreacala, @andrew_allen, @andrew-taylor, @andrewbazdyrev, @andrewcore, @andrewpavlov, @angelanoske, @anibotani, @anita363, @annalanigan, @anne168, @antero, @antonygrossy, @antrozousamelia, @anudibranchmom, @anudibranchmom, @aparrot1, @aparrot1, @apthegreat, @archiebrennan, @arrowheadspiketail58, @audrey_turner, @awayk3n, @axelgosseries, @b3ugaz, @baldcoot, @baldcoot, @barneytee, @baronsamedi, @bartwursten, @basu_dev_neupane, @bayareawalker, @bb_593, @bbdown, @bcvi, @bdr_photography, @beaniana08, @bebopmystere, @bellbird20, @benjamynweil, @bertharris, @bgaudubon, @billhubick, @billpranty, @birdexplorers, @birdwhisperer, @birdwhisperer, @bk-capchickadee12, @bobc, @bofrie, @bootown-beginners, @botswanabugs, @brandongould, @breadlynel, @brennafarrell, @brennafarrell, @brennafarrell, @brennafarrell, @brennafarrell, @brennafarrell, @bugsnbirdsnplants, @bushbandit, @bushboy, @bushboy, @bwiser57, @bwjone432155, @calebhelsel, @camblair, @camerlino, @camille247, @canbrou, @carasylvia, @carlbodenstaff, @carolr, @casperrex, @caterpillar511, @cati, @cefox, @cesdamess, @charles_stirton, @charris032, @chewitt1, @chiefredearth, @chinaberryhuang, @chorthippus, @chotoey, @chris_munson, @chris_patterson, @chrisevans, @christiaan_viljoen, @christiners, @cinclosoma, @ck_chan, @ck_chan, @cnddb_brian, @cnovaes, @cobaltducks, @codrin_bucur, @colin25, @colin25, @connlindajo, @connlindajo, @coreytcallaghan, @cpt_cj, @crazybirdman, @crazycootlady, @crellow, @criptas, @criptas, @cypselurus, @dallonw, @dan_bishop, @danamihaimileazachi, @danielebaroni, @danielthelion, @das43, @data_nerd, @datlik, @davemmdave, @david99, @davidemartin, @davidemartin, @davidsando, @davydovbotany, @dbmcc09, @deanmc, @debashischowdhury, @debashischowdhury, @deboas, @deborod, @deborod, @deerjacksonhu, @delbachert, @desidup, @dewald2, @dgrimmphd, @dianastuder, @dianneclarke, @diego_caballero, @dimoner, @dinofelis, @dinofelis, @dj_maple, @dj_maple, @docprt, @don_k, @don261, @douglasriverside, @dougmacsafaris, @dougstotz, @dougstotz, @dougstotz, @drjayf, @drmichaelbraun, @dromaius_antirrhopus, @dryfveer, @e0323179racheltan21, @e0323946camellia21, @e0407568wuiseng21, @e0415469clement21, @e0425249mayjean21, @e0588295_celestin_23, @e0773881judithko23, @e0775149shinee23, @earthknight, @ececc, @edwardrooks, @elaphrornis, @elavarasan_mm, @elkvorr, @engelhard, @enricotosto96, @eppu_, @eric_centenero-alcala, @eric_wilmot, @euqirneto, @fauna_maya, @fauna_maya, @feathered, @fernsibley, @fieldwork427, @fionahellmann, @franciscodocampo, @fredmachado, @fsterrett49, @fubberpish, @fziskaboh, @fziskaboh, @g33k5p34k, @galpinmd, @gareth_bain, @garethyearsley, @garth_harwood, @gatorhawk, @gavin_n, @geoffnichols, @george_seagull, @george_seagull, @gergelyg, @gerhards, @gigilaidler, @gigilaidler, @gin_glam88, @giorginatsvlishvili, @gisela_ct, @goflowers, @goosiaczek, @gpasch, @gposs, @grahamclarkson, @greenesnake, @greg369, @gregslak, @gs5, @guillaumeamirault, @guyincognito, @gyrrlfalcon, @hamsambly, @hamsambly, @happyasacupcake, @hatwise, @hawkparty, @hejil, @hejil, @hendre17, @henrydelange, @herbert74, @hermanberteler, @hermanberteler, @herminaov, @hhodgson, @hongwy, @hongwy, @hoveroverus, @howardfriedman1, @hschillo, @hugoclln, @i_c_riddell, @iambebop, @ian_fortuin, @ian_white, @ianrijsdijk, @icelandgull, @icelandgull, @iisips, @ilkkat, @jacob_dirsuwei, @jacob12_, @jadonald, @jaheymans, @jake_smith755, @jakedavidmaclennan, @jakob, @jakob, @jamesjarrett00, @jamesjarrett00, @janetgrevillea, @jarvo, @jason_graham, @jasontyler, @jeanstephenson, @jeanthomasbujard, @jeffmci9, @jeh_biologa, @jeltje2, @jeremybarker, @jeremygilmore, @jerome157, @jessesaofia, @jesuslove, @jheiser, @jimsinclair, @jldm, @jmag1, @jmkosanovich, @joelradue, @joerich, @johanheyns, @johnhowes, @johnhowes, @johnwitton, @johuisamen, @josh_vandermeulen, @joswan12, @jotrack, @jspruill, @jsulzmann, @jtmartin54, @jubeh, @judebirder, @juhakinnunen, @justinhawthorne, @justinnicolau, @justinponder2505, @kakariki14, @kakariki14, @kalamurphyking, @kara_mette, @karakaxa, @karakaxa, @karakaxa, @karenweaving62, @karimhaddad, @kathy-115, @katie-g, @kaupunkilinnut, @kaupunkilinnut, @kcthetc1, @ken_j_allison, @ken_mateik, @kenmcinnes, @kevinatbrakputs
@kevinhintsa, @kevinjolliffe, @kimwin, @kittipan, @kiyi, @kmtt, @kokhuitan, @kokhuitan, @kquirs, @kristaoswald, @kroolik, @kupferglucke, @kylayuza, @kyle_campbell1, @kyle_eaton_photography, @kyle_klotz, @kzoebel, @ladydawn, @larsmannzen, @larsmannzen, @lazarchevici_andrei, @ldacosta, @lee488, @lefebvremax, @lefebvremax, @lennartm, @leslie_s, @leucoardea, @liamthornebirderboy, @liamthornebirderboy, @linagoldman941, @lindalakeside, @lindsay_mandy, @linkie, @lioneska, @lizholland, @ljikang13, @lolavioleta, @louisoneill, @louisoneill, @louisoneill, @louloubeney, @lrathbone, @lsueza, @lsueza, @lsueza, @luckyatabo, @ludwig_muller, @luissilva4, @luizfernandomatos, @luke-the-explorer, @luke-the-explorer, @lukedowney, @luluchouette, @luluchouette, @lwnrngr, @m_d, @m_s_shaik, @ma_fink, @magdastlucia, @magdastlucia, @mako252, @mamiles, @manxmannin, @marcelfinlay, @maremimar, @mariedelport, @marietarrant, @marietarrant, @markusgmeiner, @markuslilje, @martin487, @martin53, @matthew_wills, @matthewkwan, @matthewlh, @matthias55, @maxverheij, @mayerb, @mb_zoharby, @mblizabresler, @mbwildlife, @mc1991, @mc1991, @mccreedy, @meta4, @mfeaver, @mhalsted, @mhalsted, @michaelcincotta, @michalsloviak, @michalsloviak, @mick1303, @migru, @migru, @mikat78, @mike_hooper, @milliebasden, @mirella_cosimato, @mishanook, @mlanguy, @mmaciver, @mmmiller, @mobbini, @mohammadm, @morisha, @mossman13, @motmot, @mrs_bear, @murraychristian, @nancylightfoot, @nandannsreejith-snowshark182-india, @nantistrydom, @napoleon1799, @nastya_klimova, @natashataylor, @natforlife, @naturalis_physicus, @naturalist57169, @nebli, @nebli, @nebli, @nelson_wisnik, @nestorh, @netnapha, @neuronalon, @nflicker101, @nflicker101, @nick_schaller, @nickwilde6978, @nikibifrost, @niko_h, @niran_anurakpongsathorn, @nleik, @nomadash, @nonbinary-naturalist, @nwatinyoka, @nycnatureobserver, @nyoni-pete, @nyoni-pete, @nyoni-pete, @oakleafe, @oakleafe, @obitobi, @oliverkomar, @oliverrw, @omppari, @onidiras, @osvaldo_luiz, @othmanebe, @pachogut, @pachogut, @pachogut, @pacificwhitesideddolphin, @pamday4, @parrotkeen, @patricialorenz, @patrickwhite57, @paulschrijvershof, @pavelkomkov, @pcbose, @pedroramalho, @pelagicgraf, @pelagicgraf, @pepcanto, @pes_c515, @peter839, @philipwoodscc, @philou155, @phyllisholst, @pieceofmind, @pierrickferret, @pihlaviita, @pihlaviita, @pihlaviita, @pinawapt, @pjeganathan, @pkdix, @plains-wanderer, @pmali, @pnwids, @pointrond, @premgarg, @profe_mire, @pseudoshuigeeee, @psweet, @puffin21, @purm, @qgrobler, @quiltedquetzal, @quiltedquetzal, @quiltedquetzal, @quinnbirds, @quinnbirds, @quinnbirds, @rahulwakare, @rahulwakare, @rajibmaulick, @ram_k, @ramzk, @ratite, @raymie, @reddad, @reiner, @rejoicegassah, @reubenbrr, @rguy321, @ricardofdelima, @rich_fuller, @richard108, @richardandwin, @richardgill, @rion_c, @rishika_wild, @rivendel, @rjq, @rkl, @rmacfie, @rmyoshihara, @rob-westerduijn, @robmoorhead, @roby, @rodrigo_lazaro, @romain244, @ron4133, @roomthily, @roozetkaa, @rosalie-rick, @roxylaz, @roysh, @rsecolin, @rudygelis, @rushin-bushin, @russell_, @russell_palmer, @ryanandrews, @ryanandrews, @ryantaronga, @saber_animal, @sally3142, @sallyslak, @sambiology, @sammyisafuzzydog, @samrudhnandagopal, @samuel_lee, @sandraf, @sarahcobbaus, @savethevaquita, @scar2004, @scar2004, @scibadger, @scmayo, @scobes, @scottdwright, @sedgesrock, @seraphinpoudrier, @sergotravelian, @sglider, @shaivashdi, @shauns, @shiouming, @shivaprakash, @shoeshampoo, @sierra_177, @simontonge, @simontonge, @sinaves, @sinaves, @sitszasadam, @smathichong, @smuller, @sofiazed1, @soo_eu_zen, @sphenodon, @stephen54, @steve_mcwilliam, @steve_mcwilliam, @stevehunter, @steven_bach, @subirshakya, @sudhanva, @sudomir, @surabhi_srivastava_gaur, @surfinbird, @susan_marley, @sydnianajones, @sylviafelicityannhaworth, @taek-guen-im, @tamaszeke, @tangshuttfriend, @tapaculo99, @tapaculo99, @tarikb, @tarmand, @tatiana_efremova, @tbc_watanabe, @tbc_watanabe, @tbc_watanabe, @tbrezy, @tcooley, @tcooley, @teichmolch70, @tessabrunette, @that_bug_guy, @the_bush_fundi, @thebeachcomber, @theoutdoorman102, @thephoxinus, @timerobot, @timmcclurg, @tizianoluka, @tlaloc27, @tlaloc27, @tlaloc27, @tls-60, @tmase, @tnewman, @tomjamonneau, @tonyrebelo, @tonyrebelo, @torgos23, @torhek, @tothemax, @tothemax, @tpfindia, @trevorsheffield, @trevorsheffield, @trichocereus, @twan3253, @twan3253, @twillrichardson, @twofoxes, @tyh34, @tz_nh, @umavaijnath, @ungerlord, @unknownalloy, @utain, @valeriehh, @varmax, @venusclickz, @verdantwinds, @viktorkovacevic7213, @villerih, @vinwin, @vireyajacquard, @vivekbgirija, @watsaisaeng, @weevilyday, @wendy5, @whateverwatcher, @williamwisephoto, @wingate, @wingspanner, @winterling, @wlhwildlife, @yan_adamson, @yelena_antipova, @yelena_antipova, @yelloweyedjunco, @yellowrattle, @yetikat, @zayn_alnajm, @zighost, @zighost, @zighost, @zitserm
Joined!
A few families of Barn Swallows nest in a local mall and they have returned this year. I'll make sure to use this project to document these families. Last year, the swallows successfully raised their broods!
Thank you so much @that_bug_guy for your message. I'm glad you joined. Nature just off our house is a jewel to be cared for.
Since I live in an area with such a mix of habitat, I would need more information on what you consider 'urban' and what you are looking for. I'm in a metropolitan area that includes multiple counties and cities. There's a range of development in the area with many communities being developed enough they could be considered urban even though they are technically 'suburban'. And since we have 3 major rivers, 1 major creek, 22 lakes in one city alone, we have a (blessedly) plentiful number of parks, preserves, and wildlife refuges. So would a nest in a neighborhood be of interest but one in a 300 acre nature center (nestled in developed city) not as much of an interest?
Are you considering anything within a city limits urban? Or are you more interested in the habitat and/or its proximity to concentrated human dwellings and developments of the area in which the nest is observed?
I think even though I live in a completely urban neighborhood, almost all photos of nests I take are in the nearby natural areas. Determining what you're looking for will help me determine how much I might be able to contribute.
I love nests, by the way, and I wish there was more information on how to identify the nests of different birds. I have down Baltimore Oriole and Bald Eagle and I'm fairly sure when I find an American Robin nest. Beyond that... it's a bit iffy!
Same questions as @mmmiller and couldn't find an answer skimming through the Project page: how is "urban" being defined? Where I live, what the biologists consider "urban" and the Wildland Urban Interface is categorized as "rural," "open," or other categories by other entities/criteria.
Thanks!
I know of a pair of Burhinus grallarius(Bush Stone Curlews) that return to the same industrial business every year to have their young and raise them in Brisbane. Blackshouldered Lapwings(Vanellus miles novaehollandiae) nest on lawns in suburbia and return every year. My biggest concern is that mature trees with hollows have no legal protection in QLD even though they are essential for the survival of many species in urban areas
This is the fourth year that I have followed a Red-shouldered Hawk pair through their nesting season. This takes place in Buffalo Bayou Park, a small but robust urban ecosystem in Houston, Texas. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss some of my observations and questions with others who are interested in this type of habitat.
@adremix you might want to add more options to the dropdown menu for question #4 "Urban bird nesting in natural habitat." For example, do you consider a manmade nestbox to be natural? Secondary cavity nesters don't create the cavities they nest in so all their nesting locations are artificial to some degree.
Hi @adremix, I'm also wondering about the questions that were posed above by Ungerlord, Mmmiller, and Twillrichardson.
I have a post from a rural area of a bird nest on a barn door (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70189981). Would that count?
I also have posts on structures in suburban areas, but I'm unsure whether that'd fall into your definition of "urban."
I noticed some of the observations in the project include nests not made on human structures but within urban areas (such as https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156733918). Is that what you want, or are such posts misunderstanding the prompt?
I have a suburban bird nest made in a backyard tree, but I don't want to add it if it doesn't fit the prompt: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80341126
Thank you for the tag btw.
Looks like the definition of urban is the main concern raised so far. I've nothing helpful to add, but will happily join the project once that's resolved to most people's satisfaction. I'm pretty clueless about recognising what species has made a particular nest, and I have been mildly surprised at how few suggestions are triggered when I do post an urban nest image minus any occupants.
Where is the join up link please? Thanks from @karenweaving62
Hi @karenweaving62, here's the project. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/urban-bird-nests
Thanks! I love this idea, I just got very excited about a pair of Oriental Magpie-Robins choosing to nest in our city garden.
Hi thank you for the invitation and I am happy to be a part of this project. Please send the link to the project. Thank you.
Joseph
Hello everyone! I think I've already joined but I'll check, I hope you make nice observations and see beautiful cute little chicks. With that, have a good day to all :)
thanks for the invite!
Are you also after observations of birds in urban parks/wetlands etc?
Thanks everybody for your kind messages and for your feedback. This is definately a good start for the project!! :)
The most urgent issue now is to better define the scope of the project and I loved reading about your questions and personal examples. I realized I share the same doubts as most of you, but I'm sorry I don't have a straight forward reply. I would like to make it completely open to the community so we can all reach a consensus and the project might be useful to a greater number of people and purposes but not risking the 'clarity' of the project. I hope we can make it!
Here is a summary of the raised questions or issue-related comments:
@mmmiller: a mosaic of habitats and a gradient of urbanization.
@twillrichardson: how urban is being defined, wildland urban interface
@baronsamedi: birds nesting on the ground near industrial facilities; hollow trees.
@ungerlord: suggest reviewing the observation fields to clarify about urban/natural and nest boxes.
@kyle_eaton_photography, an urban bird such as Hirundo rustica living in the wild, and human structures in suburban areas.
@davemmdave: urban definition and nest IDs.
@martin487: urban parks and wetlands.
Although my first idea was to consider only nests on buildings (as a conservation tool), I think the scope of the project can extent to:
1) Bird nests located on human infraestructures, eg: building, electric poles, under bridges...
2) Bird nests not located on human infraestructures but within an urban enviroment. Eg: blackbirds nesting in bushes or a woodpecker living in a park.
3) Nests of species that can live in an urban environment but the nest is found in the wild. Eg: this gives an idea of their acenstral habitat preference and how it differs from the nesting sites they choose in the city.
4) Bird nests in a gradient of urbanization, from rural or semi-natural to urban. The way we define this gradient might not be easy, since it depends on the development level of each country or regions. We can add this point for a later discussion.
With the above four points I have tried to covered all questions raised so far. Let me know if there is still room for doubts or how you would change the definition of the project.
The only thing I'm not completely sure and I need some help on this, is about @ungerlord comment on nest boxes. Now, as the project is defined, the nest boxes are human infraestructures, thus artificial, but try to imitate a natural nest. I would only consider nests boxes if they are in the urban environment or from typically urban birds. Not so if the nest boxes are very far away from a city in a wild place. Please, we need to agree or discuss on this.
About hollow trees, more or less the same solution. If they are located in the wild, I would not add the nest, but I would if they are in an urban environment or in a urban gradient. About urban parks, yes, I think they should be included; about wetlands, if they are within or very near the urban influence, I guess they can also be included.
Trying to encapsulate the four points that define the scope of the project: all nests of avian species that are more or less related to human environments or infraestructures.
How this project can be useful:
1) Nesting site protection against building renovations, or other risks. (if the nests are not registered anywhere, no one would notice when they dissapears).
2) To know the number of species that can manage to breed in the city, and how it could evolve through time. Also, to differenciate, in case there are any, birds that can visit the city but not breed in it.
3) To learn about habitat preference of urban birds.
4) To learn about nest identification.
5) ... more?
I had no idea I as a top observer. Someone nearby has swift nests; I'll see if I can obs
Thanks @rushin-bushin for you messsage! I search for iNat users locally in different regions. So you should stand up somewhere, either as a observer or as a identifier :) Watching those swift nest would be great!
@othmanebe @hamsambly and all the 60 members so far, thanks for joining!!
hamsambly, it would be great to watch that Copsychus saularis pair nesting in your place!!
Thanks for the invite! I know of a few sites in Austin I'll work on getting added, and will keep this project in mind when observing nesting birds in urban settings.
Hello @steven_bach, you're very welcomed to the project! :)
Link to join:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/urban-bird-nests
Thanks for the reply and clarification.
Hi y'all! Great idea, I'm definitely be looking out more for those urban breeders. Thanks for the invite!
Is it basically a project that gather the nests' observations ?
Hello @tomjamonneau, thanks for your message. I chose a traditional project in which observations have to be added manually. This way I think observations can be filtered more acutely to leave out those nests that do not fall under this project's scope. Anyway, some semi-automated process can be used to find good possible matches, such as searching observation with the 'nest' tag, or browsing through other related projects such as 'active nests', 'global coexistence/wildlife on buildings', etc. I will update the project definition now so that everything hopefully gets clearer.
Any idea how I actually search my tags? I tag nesting but can't figure out how to find those obs now to add them.
Thank you @rushin-bushin for searching your observations to contribute to the project! :)
To bulk select and edit your observations to add them to the project, follow this: "edit observations" in your drop-down - "search" - "batch edit" - search - select the field in the drop-down menu to the right - try for example the term "nest" - then "add to project".
Perfect! Thanks so much
Quick question - how Urban is Urban? I tried checking on the project but no luck. For instance, England has a lot of parks in the middle of houses (not urban?) but also a lot of docksides on rivers (urban?)
@rushin-bushin Pretty good question and the most difficult challenge so far when defining the scope of the project. I recently updated the description in the home page. Basically, this project will accept a gradient of urbanization. Probably I will have to create new tags to better define that gradient. But for now, yes, you can add observations of nests that are found in green spaces as long as there is some kind of human influence such as roads, houses not far away, or people walking by quite frequently, noises of the urban world are also expected...
Thanks for the clarification :)
Thank you for the invitation! I am glad to join. Can observations be added retroactively (e.g. from a couple months ago)?
@adremix thanks, I will join ;-) I have few hirundine nests photos
Hello @fziskaboh and @tomjamonneau, welcome to the project! :)
@tomjamonneau I would love to see those nests!!
@fziskaboh, Absolutely, you can add your past observations, from any time.
And your question leads to another important topic: now talking to everybody in the project - a daunting task that I hope to manage in the coming weeks, is to organize the work with members/curators/managers to find thousands of previous and valuable observations on iNat that show urban nests. Any member can add and is encourage to add other users' observations that are not members yet.
An example to find good candidate observations, using the below link to make the search:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?not_in_project=urban-bird-nests&place_id=any&taxon_ids=3&q=nest
which would search observations that are still not in the project, from the taxon birds, which has the word nest in the descripcion or in the tags. Right now it yields 102743 observations!! still pending to be checked if they can be considered "urban nests".
Maybe the best way would be to smash a big problem into smaller pieces. Different people could focus on their area, or in a particular period of time. So someone from North America would be in charge of observations in their region, like this:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?not_in_project=urban-bird-nests&place_id=97394&q=nest&subview=map&taxon_ids=3
Where place_id=97394 is the iNat code for North America.
If there are several people from North America that can help, it can be splitted by countries or by time. For example for Texas, which accounts for around 8000 obs.:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?not_in_project=urban-bird-nests&place_id=18&q=nest&subview=map&taxon_ids=3
For just the period in 2019 in North America: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?created_d1=2019-01-01&created_d2=2019-12-31¬_in_project=urban-bird-nests&place_id=97394&q=nest&taxon_ids=3
Instead of searching for the word nest, another good option could be seraching the life stage 'egg' using the iNat annotations, right now yields more than 14000 obs, which hopefully would lead to a good bunch of urban nests:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?not_in_project=urban-bird-nests&place_id=97394&taxon_ids=3&term_id=1&term_value_id=7
I will soon write a new post calling for your ideas to organize the job.
Thank you very much everyone!! We are now almost 100 members (99) and have almost 800 observations (797), in just two weeks since the start of the project!!
Have a nice day!!
Would you mind checking this: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/160820865
And telling me if you think such islands count as urban? I do, because having been there I have seen it's all buildings with spots of mulchy green but I wanted a second opinion before I mark these urban.
Thanks a million for getting involved in the search of urban nests!
The nest in that observation is an amazing view! In this case, I would use one of the field options that indicate some gradient of urbanization. I recently updated the fields for habitat. I hope some of them matches well in that case, otherwise let me know.
Hello! I have just added this observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152761722, along with some older observations from the same nest, but I am unsure about how to fill in the fields, "Active nest" and "Nest at risk", given the transitional situation I explained in the observation notes (last visit by the female, site in process of being abandoned, one chick already dead - so breeding already damaged in some sense, although the nest itself was, and still is, physically intact). When I took the photo, the blackbird had just removed the dead chick, so there was already some hint at what would happen later, but I did not know yet that she was actually going to leave the nest for good. I am asking this question here in case the answer is useful for other observers in a similar situation.
Hello @fziskaboh . Thanks for using the project fields! I notice I need to be more specific about how each field should be used. Initially one of the main objectives of the project was to gather nesting sites in the urban environment for conservation purposes, mainly to fight against the loss of hundres of nests of martins and swallows, swifts and house sparrows or starlings due to building renovations, which is quite sad when they are even in a public building such as a townhall or an old church or tower. So the "nest at risk" was tuned for human disturbance.
Now I have updated the options of this field to choose between human cause or natural cause such as natural predators or parasites.
Let me know if this clarifies things. New ideas or feedback is more than welcome!
Hello everyone!
Congratulations to all, we are already at 153 species, keep it up!
Thank you for the invite! I definitely have a lot of things I can add.
One more thing that might be good to be able to annotate: nest failure due to an inherent danger of a manmade nesting site. Examples would be the unfortunate Bewick's Wrens I once saw building a nest in a dryer vent, which would be destroyed the next time the dryer was turned on. Or the well-documented issues of birds attempting to nest in hollow pipes or fence posts and becoming trapped and dying.
Hi, I can't set to this project (like re affect) observations that I already made ? It seems not to work
Thank you @graysquirrel for that interesting suggestion! I added a few days ago new options for the risk field. I called the one you suggested: "bird naively chooses a wrong and risky urban location".
Hello @tomjamonneau. I think the issue could be you first need to join the project to be able to add observations to it. Please, click in the link below:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/urban-bird-nests
Then go to one of your observations and click on the right side the field: projects, to select which project (this is from the website). Or from the android app, go to the observation, click edit, then at the bottom you have the field to add the project.
Please, let me know if this helps. Thank you for your interest!
@adremix I think the first time I tried to join failed indeed.
Now it seems to work fine :-)
I'm glad to hear that, welcome aboard on the project! :)
@das43 Thanks for you message and please accept my apologies for my late reply.
Absolutely gorgeous those nest observations of Buteo lineatus. They are located in green areas surrounded by urban environment. Yes, they are so valuable for the project!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=29.77864690783513&nelng=-95.34521714056609&place_id=any&q=nest&subview=map&swlat=29.737665288147706&swlng=-95.42778626288055&taxon_id=5206&user_id=das43
I have included a couple of them as an example. From your account, using the "edit observations" option would easy to add them all at once. Let me know if you encounter any issue with that. Thank you!
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