Heavily Used Forest Paths Disturb Birds

The more a forest path is used, the more it disturbs woodland birds. And this remains true even after many years. Apparently, not all bird species are able to habituate to humans.

Paths and roads fragment habitats and create barriers for wildlife populations. Researchers at the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach have investigated whether the paths themselves or the human activity on them have a greater impact on forest-dwelling birds. According to their findings, the mere presence of a path has less influence than the frequency with which it is used, the scientists report in the journal "Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution".

Along heavily frequented forest paths, both fewer bird species and fewer individuals overall are found. And this holds true even when the paths have been regularly used by hikers and walkers for many years.

Sensitive Woodpeckers

Some bird species proved particularly sensitive, including woodpeckers, for example. They take flight early when approached by humans and avoided these paths especially.

"Our study shows that even in forests that have been frequently visited for decades, bird communities have not sufficiently habituated to humans to offset the negative effects of disturbance," says Bötsch. The study's authors therefore advise against opening up protected forest areas with new paths.

Cinema Film Welcome to Zwitscherland

On 1 November, the film “Welcome to Zwitscherland – Like the Country, So the Birds” by Marc Tschudin comes to Swiss cinemas. The feature film, made in collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, offers a surprising glimpse into the country and its people.

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