Joe Dunlevy An Examination of the Bird Communities at Seven Sites Within Licking County Division Sciences Department Biology Year 2003 Advisor Tom Schultz

As urban sprawl spreads into Licking County, both forest and field bird habitats are being reduced.  The purpose of this study was to compare differences in components of bird diversity and microhabitats between 7 sites within Licking County differing in forest/field areas and area dimensions, surveyed over the spring/summer of 2002.  Between the sites, Shannon indices showed that Alrutz, Infirmary Mound, and Marie Hickey each differed significantly in bird diversity from 3 of the other sites, while Lobdell and Taft Reserve both differed significantly in bird diversity from 4 of the other sites.  Norpell/Taylor-Ochs differed significantly from all other sites.  Also, regression analyses were performed between Shannon indices of summer residents and site microhabitat area as well as habitat heterogeneity. A significant positive relationship occurred between the site Shannon indices and amount of old field (km2), but this result was called into question.  Conservation strategies recommended include allowing heterogenous blocks of field and forest to grow, opposed to thin, finger-like projections.