DO HIGHWAYS INFLUENCE DENSITY OF LAND BIRDS

Land bird densities in roadside habitats were studied in 17 locations in central Finland by the line transect method. Two transects were cen sused in each location. The first transect was situated 25 m from high way edge and the second transect 200 m away from the first one. The re sults suggested that land bird density was lower closer to highways. S pecies that avoided the road included willow warbler (Phylloscopus tro chilus), crossbills (Loxia spp.), and tree pipit (Anthus trivialis). T he composition of the bird community did not vary significantly betwee n the compared transects. Some species appeared to favour road-forest edges but this could not be confirmed with our data. These species wer e not the same as have been reported to favor clear-fellings-mature fo rest edges. Therefore, the edge effect does not seem to be the most im portant factor controlling relative bird densities immediately adjacen t and further away from highways. The likelihood of avoiding the probl ems the highways are causing for bird density are been discussed.