Factors affecting avian communities breeding on golf courses and green spaces in Montreal, Quebec

Recently, factors influencing avian community composition and nest survival in an increasingly urbanized landscape have received much attention. Despite this research, much is still unknown regarding the capacity of privately owned and managed golf courses to support diverse breeding bird communities and provide safe nesting grounds. My overall objective was to compare avian communities and nest success rates of open-cup nesting passerines on golf courses and green spaces to determine whether golf courses support breeding bird communities as effectively as other types of suburban green space. Breeding bird communities were assessed on six golf courses and six green spaces in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There was no difference in the mean number of bird species between golf courses and green spaces. However, species composition differed and was most correlated with site size, housing density surrounding the site, and the extent of coniferous tree, grass, and vegetated water cover. Nesting density, survival rates, productivity data and nest-site characteristics of several common open-cup nesting passerines were also compared between a subset of these sites (four golf courses and two green spaces) from 2003-2005. Species-specific differences in nest success rates were found between golf courses and green spaces. Nest survival of upland-nesting species was influenced by year, the type of nesting substrate and its arrangement, and the interaction of these two variables. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) nest success was not influenced by any of the measured variables, whereas Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) nest survival showed variation based on nest age and nest concealment. Non-viable eggs of five species were analysed for organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyl compounds to determine if they contained traces of these historically used chemicals. Thirty-two of the 191 compounds measured were detected in all egg samples, though most compounds were found at trace levels or were below detection limits. P,p'-DDE and the sum of all PCB concentrations dominated the samples. Though PCB levels were higher in Red-winged Blackbird eggs collected on golf courses, reproductive parameters did not differ between golf courses and green spaces. Thus, results suggest that suburban green spaces, including golf courses, can play a role in maintaining healthy bird populations by following simple management recommendations outlined in these pages.