Medrosas ou destemidas? O tamanho é importante para a distância de fuga em aves

Abstract

This study aimed to test, through human approach, the environmental and biological factors that may affect the escape behavior of Birds in urban green áreas in Jundiai, São Paulo, Brazil. To achieve this goal, we monitored the flight distance of the Birds (i.e., the maximum distance that a predator can approach before the prey starts its antipredatory/escape behavior). Eighteen different species were sampled in three urban green áreas (Parque da Cidade, Jardim Botânico and Praça Rildo Michel Martilho). Bird body mass and total legth, and enviromental temperature were the variables related to the flight distances. Larger birds had greater flight distances, being less tolerant of human approach when compared to smaller birds. This approach provides insights to public policies and management strategies to integrate human presence and biological conservation, allowing citizens to enjoy green áreas, both urban and natural, simultaneously maintaining the diversity of Birds and ensuring the occorrence of ecological processes.