Birdsong As an Element of the Urban Sound Environment: A Case Study Concerning the Area of Warnemunde in Germany

Birds are common species in urban ecosystems and birdsong is an important element of many urban sound environments. Perceptions of birdsong loudness, based on a case study in Warnemunde, a coastal area in Germany, were analysed in terms of its role in urban sound environment, the relationships with other sounds, spatiotemporal characteristics, as well as the relationships with underlying landscape characteristics. An important and positive role of birdsong in urban soundscape perception in the study area was recognised. The analysis of the relationships between birdsong perception and other sounds suggested that, although birds could adjust their songs with continual urban traffic sounds, they are still sensitive to excessive sounds related to human appearance (adult voice, child voice and footstep) or human activities (construction sounds, music). The spatiotemporal patterns of perceived loudness of birdsong suggested the adapted patterns of bird species in urban areas. Perceived loudness of birdsong showed close relationships with the underlying landscape characteristics indicated by a series of landscape spatial pattern indices. Positive relationships were found with construction density, road density, vegetation density, as well as fragmentation status indicated by patch density, largest patch index, landscape shape index, fractal dimension and contagion.