The Effect of Microclimate on Bird Species Richness in Three Woodland Types across Leigh Woods, Bristol

British biodiversity is facing significant decline, with woodland birds being notably impacted by habitat and climate changes, particularly microclimate conditions. Microclimate parameters are strongly influenced by local vegetation. This study aimed to examine the effect of interactions between microclimate parameters and woodland type on bird species richness in a managed British woodland (Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve, Bristol) at dawn, midday and dusk. iButton temperature and humidity loggers and Wildlife Acoustic Song Meter Micros were deployed to record microclimate and bird call data, which was analysed with woodland type using general linear mixed models (GLMMs). The study hypothesised opposing effects for temperature and relative humidity, proposing them to be stronger in plantation stands than semi-natural ancient woodland (SNAW). The results indicated considerable variability and partially supported the hypotheses, suggesting plantations as the preferred bird habitat amid rising temperatures, and reduced relative humidity in SNAW. Both time-of-day and ecosystem management strategies are suggested to partially explain reported variation. Future investigations should integrate habitat and time-series data, and examine species-specific trends to inform optimal woodland management practices for woodland bird conservation. Overall, this investigation emphasises the importance of research examining the impacts of fine-scale climate changes on species of conservation concern.