Avian Species selection in Urban Habitats: A study in Coimbatore, India.

Abstract

Survival of a species is closely associated with changing habitats. We studied this in the context of urbanization that brings massive changes in the landscape. The study is contextual in view of high rates of conversion of natural landscapes into urban areas. With the ascent of urbanization, many species disappear while some species become abundant. The present study investigated avian species and their distribution along a rural-urban gradient of the Coimbatore city - a fast growing city in Tamil Nadu, India. The study was taken up to explore the factors that affect the distribution of avian species across an urbanisation gradient and to identify survival strategies adopted by avian species in urban areas.