Avian assessment in the Västerby area
Ambagalage Dona, Senuri (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121838173
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121838173
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of tree logging on birds and their habitats in the Västerby recreational area of Raseborg, southern Finland. The aim was to map out the current bird species and assess how logging strategies may impact them and their habitat. Survey points (15) were chosen within study area, and data were collected by survey methods known as Point Count Survey and AudioMoth survey in the summer of 2025.
The findings indicated that Västerby has a diverse bird community, with 26 different bird species total of 186 individual birds were counted on the 15 survey locations, meanwhile AudioMoth identified even 44 different species. While we acknowledge limitations in identifying endangered, vulnerable, and near-threatened species based along with AudioMoth survey, emphasize the urgency for conservation actions. The study also identified several habitat types, including pine mire, rocky pine mire, spruce dominated mixed forest, pine dominated, spruce rich in herbs and spruce dominated. And indicated uniformity of birds among coniferous habitats. Further, findings suggest that bird diversity may be influenced by tree complexity, although conclusions regarding spruce dominated mixed forests are limited by small sample size.
Further, clear- cutting in bird hotspots could lead to population declines. Therefore, selective logging should be continued with longer logging cycles, low logging intensity and ecological long-term monitoring to ensure sustainability of logging operations. While we found that the combination of point count survey and AudioMoth survey significantly enhanced the bird survey, the results of this study also described the limitations associated with each bird survey method. Overall, these findings will provide the vital framework for future conservation activities and survey practices.
The findings indicated that Västerby has a diverse bird community, with 26 different bird species total of 186 individual birds were counted on the 15 survey locations, meanwhile AudioMoth identified even 44 different species. While we acknowledge limitations in identifying endangered, vulnerable, and near-threatened species based along with AudioMoth survey, emphasize the urgency for conservation actions. The study also identified several habitat types, including pine mire, rocky pine mire, spruce dominated mixed forest, pine dominated, spruce rich in herbs and spruce dominated. And indicated uniformity of birds among coniferous habitats. Further, findings suggest that bird diversity may be influenced by tree complexity, although conclusions regarding spruce dominated mixed forests are limited by small sample size.
Further, clear- cutting in bird hotspots could lead to population declines. Therefore, selective logging should be continued with longer logging cycles, low logging intensity and ecological long-term monitoring to ensure sustainability of logging operations. While we found that the combination of point count survey and AudioMoth survey significantly enhanced the bird survey, the results of this study also described the limitations associated with each bird survey method. Overall, these findings will provide the vital framework for future conservation activities and survey practices.