Preserving wintering frugivorous birds in agro?ecosystems under land use change: Lessons from intensive and super?intensive olive orchards

Fleshy fruit production is becoming more intensive worldwide, but how this affects frugivorous birds poorly known. In the Mediterranean region, and super-intensive olive orchards are fast expanding, potentially affecting millions of wintering songbirds. Here, we test idea that intensification may benefit birds, at least locally, due to increased availability, while negatively wider bird community management, structural simplification landscape homogenisation. We estimated abundance surveyed in early, mid- late winter, traditional, southern Portugal. used Hierarchical Modelling Species Communities relate species richness, prevalence management intensity, winter period, availability context, evaluated role frugivory modulating observed responses. Olive was much higher throughout than traditional orchards, both trees on ground. Frugivorous most abundant (blackcap, song thrush, robin) were positively affected by and/or increasing cover level had relatively minor effects after accounting for other variables. Non-frugivorous richness many non-frugivorous lower or landscapes dominated cultivation. Synthesis applications. While community, our results suggest farming can contribute sustaining large numbers region. As not seen as damaging farmers, there an opportunity promote their conservation which requires increase habitat heterogeneity, reduce risks such mortality associated with mechanical harvest contamination pesticide residues. Overall, recommend efforts manage farmland biodiversity should consider impacts opportunities crop intensification.