Urbanization involves the modification of natural habitats but also creates novel urban habitats which are full of both opportunities and perils for birds. As global urban landcover is expected to double over the next 30 years, it is critical to learn how birds interact with and survive in these novel habitats. While past research projects have investigated how breeding songbirds navigate city life during the summer, there is very little research into how wintering songbirds are using cities. My ongoing thesis investigates how the survival and movement of Golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) vary across an urbanization gradient in the Vancouver area. During this talk, I will discuss techniques used to study urban songbirds including radio-tagging and colour-banding, findings from my research so far, and share some steps both people and communities can take to make cities safer for our feathered friends.

Dilan Praat completed his BSc, with honours at the University of the Fraser Valley. He has also worked as an environmental technician at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve and as a laboratory technician at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Biology Department. He is currently completing his M.Sc. in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University where he is supervised by Dr. David Green and Dr. Elizabeth Gow.