Habitat preferences of Birds in Urban Singapore
This study explores the habitat preferences of birds in Singapore, focusing on the distribution of three bird species - the Javan mynah, the rock pigeon, and the Oriental pied hornbill - across different urban habitats.
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Process
I imported the base maps (green, commercial, high/low density residential) from various sources into the QGIS software, and layered the different zones and map layers to create a comprehensive representation of the spatial data. I then manipulated the existing shape files to reflect the specific categorisations I had created for the study. The bird data (species observations) was collected from inaturalist - which was then layered on top of the base layers.
The GeoSpatial/Data Layering process is shown here - Findings
Through a geospatial analysis of data collected, the study found that the Javan mynah and feral pigeon are well-adapted to various urban environments, including high density urban areas, while the Oriental pied hornbill is more specialised and found only in certain forested spaces.
Conclusion
The findings are consistent with previous studies done around the world and in Singapore, and they highlight the importance of conserving forested spaces for the survival of certain bird species and integrating conservation goals into urban planning to minimise ecological damage.
However, the study's limitations, such as using subjective observations and not differentiating between highly-manicured parks and highly-forested nature reserves, suggest that the data collected may not fully represent the bird species distribution across the entire city-state.
Read the full study here -