The Effect of Air Quality on Birds in New York State

Authors: Jesus Carre, Jiale Chen, Isabella Huang, Tricia Marchese, and Rhaldni Sayaman (Alexis L. Brewer/Denisse Andrade Seminar 3, 2020)

In recent years, air pollution, PM2.5 in particular, has been showing a nationwide increase, with an estimated rise in human death of nearly 10,000. In order to best combat the effects of rising air pollution, a better understanding of how the world is affected by air pollution is critical. This project aims to correlate air pollution and bird abundance, reasoning that air pollution would be a detriment to the health of the bird population and predicting a negative correlation. The analysis fails to demonstrate any significant correlations between PM2.5 and bird abundance.

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata):

“This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.”

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura):

“Very common, widespread dove. Almost half the size of Rock Pigeon. Chunky body, small head and pointed tail. Brown with dark spots on wings. Pinkish-beige belly is slightly paler than wings. Found in a variety of habitats with some shrubs and trees; loves suburbs. Avoids dense forest, but found on forest edges.”

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor):

“Common backyard bird in the eastern U.S. Look for its overall gray plumage with paler underparts and orangey sides. Crest is gray, but forehead is black. Often in flocks with chickadees and other songbirds.”

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos):

“Entirely black. Large, long-legged, thick-necked bird with heavy, straight bill. In flight, wings are fairly broad and rounded with wingtip feathers spread like fingers. Short tail, squared off at the end. Very social, sometimes forming noisy flocks in the thousands. Aggressive, often chase away hawks and owls. Common in fields, woods, and cities. Thrives around people.”

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis):

“Most common roadside raptor across much of North America. Often perches atop telephone poles, light posts, and edges of trees. Incredible variation in plumages, including less common dark morphs and various regional differences. Eastern adults have brilliant reddish-orange tail and pale underparts with an obvious band of dark marks across [their] belly. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail.”