Birds and habitat: relationships in changing landscapes

Most of us know something about bird habitats, or at least where to look for different species. But in practice we seldom understand why particular species are found where they are, why not all suitable-looking places are occupied, or why habitat preferences seem to vary from time to time and place to place. One reason is that we inevitably view bird habitats differently from the birds themselves. Our verbal descriptions focus on structure and vegetation but, for birds, other less visible aspects are also important, such as food, song-posts, nest-sites, roost-sites, security and predation risks.

These and many other issues are discussed in this book, which – weighing in at 1.1 kg – comprises the first detailed review of bird–habitat relationships for more than 20 years. The emphasis is on Europe, but some examples are drawn from elsewhere, and in any case the general principles probably apply worldwide. No fewer than 32 authors have contributed to different chapters, all edited into a coherent whole by Rob Fuller, a Science Director at the BTO, well known for his own lifetime research on bird habitats.

The chapters are grouped into three sections, the first dealing with basic concepts of habitat selection, quality and occupancy and geographical variation in habitat preferences. The second presents seven case studies of habitat use and selection by birds in different environments (sea coast, wetland, woodland, moorland and mountain), while the third section, entitled ‘broader perspectives’, discusses aspects of bird performance in relation to habitat, gives comparisons with North America and Australia, and some final comments by Rob Fuller as editor.

The book thus provides a broad synthesis of recent research and is, in my view, a substantial step forward in our general understanding of bird–habitat relationships. It is intended mainly for students, researchers and conservationists, but will be of interest to anyone with more than a casual interest in birds. Several chapters offer messages pertinent to the planning and restoration of nature reserves and habitat networks. The text is readable yet full of interesting information, and I enjoyed it greatly.

Book reviewed by Ian Newton