Several studies have demonstrated that natural habitat heterogeneity
within urban landscapes can enhance avian species
richness. Gifford et al. (2010) showed that even highly fragmented
urban pine barren habitats can provide breeding habitat and may
aid in the conservation of early-successional shrubland birds. Urban
forest fragments in Australia were found to provide suitable habitat
for ecological specialists and species otherwise found in low
density in urban settings (Platt and Lill, 2006). Other habitat types
such as desert scrub, grasslands, and coastal sage shrublands have
been shown to potentially ameliorate urban impacts on native bird
community assemblages (Chace and Walsh, 2006). Wetlands may