Socio-economic-driven differences in bird-feeding practices exacerbate existing inequities in opportunities to see native birds in cities

Abstract

Socio-economic status of urban householders explains some of the variation in avian community composition through its impact on vegetation; however, it may also affect the quality of human-nature interactions through its association with bird-feeding practices. We investigated whether socio-economic status-related differences in bird-feeding exacerbate existing inequities in bird-viewing opportunities, particularly for native species.We surveyed 378 households across three high and three low socio-economic status suburbs in Dunedin, New Zealand, and counted birds in those suburbs. A higher proportion of householders in high socio-economic status suburbs provided food appropriate for native species than those from low socio-economic status suburbs. Food provision was not associated with education level, although people who fed birds had a better knowledge of birds' names. While feeding sugar water increased householders' chances of seeing native birds in their own garden, all respondents in high socio-economic status suburbs were more likely to see native birds than householders providing sugar water in low socio-economic status suburbs, as numbers of native birds were very low in low socio-economic status areas. Better-informed bird feeding can improve the likelihood that people in low socio-economic status suburbs can encounter, recognise and value native species, and potentially advocate for their conservation, but incentives to improve vegetation volume and cover are more important.