Activity of bird assemblages and distribution of birds of different nesting types in garden squares and parks of the right-bank part of Dnipro City

The species composition and activity of birds in urban ecosystems largely depend on the level of anthropogenic impact, vegetation structure, and the availability of nesting sites and vary depending on landscape characteristics. Our analysis of the bird communities revealed that the large areas and diverse natural conditions provided higher species diversity compared with smaller areas with a high level of urbanization. This study analyzed the species composition of birds in garden squares and parks of the city of Dnipro and identified the features of their spatial distribution depending on the biotopes of the area. The research results indicate that the most active species were Columba livia, Sturnus vulgaris, Parus major, Passer montanus, and Turdus pilaris. The analysis of ecological groups of birds in the studied areas was conducted according to the M. Akimov’s system, considering the nesting characteristics of different bird species. The birds recorded in the city parks may indicate the presence of favorable conditions in the studied areas, although not all of them nested directly within park boundaries. The garden squares and parks with diverse biotopes and adjacent natural areas promoted higher bird activity and species richness, creating optimal conditions for the existence of bird species of different nesting types. Among the 13 identified bird groups based on nesting type, the most active were the "anthropogenic-substrate", "hollow-nesting, anthropogenic-substrate", and "tree-canopy" groups. In the parks, the least active groups of birds by nesting type were the "tree-canopy, anthropogenic-substrate" and "riparian". The greatest diversity of groups of birds by nesting type was recorded in the Diivkski Plavni floodplains. The presence of two-layered forest stands with a diverse composition of trees contributed to a higher number of bird species. Landscape diversity, such as the presence of sandy or clay cliffs and water bodies, created favorable conditions even for bird groups of specific nesting types, with low species richness. Urbanized areas located near the garden squares and parks served as important biodiversity hotspots, as they integrated anthropogenic and natural environments, providing nesting sites for various forest, synanthropic, and waterfowl species