Testing the Likeable, Therefore Abundant Hypothesis: Bird Species Likeability by Urban Residents Varies Significantly with Species Traits

The urbanization of landscapes filters bird communities to favor particular species traits, driven in part by the changes that homeowners make amount and quality habitat yards. We suggest an ultimate driver these proximate mechanisms underlying community change with respect is likeability traits urban residents. hypothesize likeability, modulated influences degree which alter availability on their properties thereby affects population sizes urbanized landscapes. refer this new hypothesis as Likeable, therefore Abundant Hypothesis. Hypothesis predicts (1) varies morphological behavioral (2) use trait-based a motivator modify properties, (3) residential populations at landscape scales. tested first prediction using survey 298 undergraduate students University North Carolina Charlotte who were asked rank preferences for 85 forest generalist edge/open country songbird grouped according 10 traits. Survey respondents preferred very small, primarily blue or black are insectivorous, aerial bark foragers, residents, culturally unimportant. On other hand, disliked large large, yellow orange forage ground and/or flycatching, migratory, important. If true, natural resource managers planners could capitalize high nevertheless negatively affected convince residents actively manage conservation.