Protocol for censusing urban sparrows

摘要

The Working Group on Urban Sparrows is investigating the decline of sparrows Passer, in urban and suburban habitats. At a meeting held in February 2009, it was decided to define a standardised census procedure that would enable meaningful comparisons of House Sparrow P. domesticus breeding density in urban/suburban habitats throughout this species' range. A breeding-season mapping census based on 'active' nests was proposed, together with a simplified method of describing different types of urban/suburban habitats.