The Animals That Thrive in Cities
A Red-crowned Parrot in Coahuila, Mexico
Conventional wisdom has it that urban centers are biological dead zones, home to little more than infestations of rats and pigeons, but in truth, cities can provide unexpected ecological niches. Most cities have well-kept green spaces filled with pollinating flowers, as well as tall buildings and other structures that are filled with crevices waiting to be filled. Coral reefs are a useful metaphor here: coral provides shelter to fish, which in turn attracts more fish and turns the reef into a combination hunting and breeding ground. A city can work in the same way: one species exploits a feature of the urban environment, attracting more animals in turn.
These human-reliant animals are called synanthropes and can be found in cities all over the world. For example, the Red-crowned Parrot is indigenous to northern Mexico and southern Texas, but it also has populations in Miami and Los Angeles, formed from their escaping as pets. The irony is that these parrots are endangered in their indigenous areas but thrive elsewhere, with Los Angeles now hosting 3,700 of the birds, more than in all of Mexico. Similar situations have been found in Hawaii with Madagascar-originating geckos or the wall lizards of Trier, Germany.
The parrots' distribution in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’ parrots have been so successful that there have been proposals to intentionally release other endangered birds into cities in the hope that their numbers will rebound. These biodiversity arks could in theory shelter a given species for a time while their natural habitat is restored, saving them from extinction. If the Red-crowned Parrot is any indicator, the project could save other birds, with the parrots now considered naturalized to the California ecosystem, perfectly fitting into its ecological niche.
Of course, the introduction of a foreign species of animal can have unexpected effects on the larger ecosystem. If the animal is predatory, it can overhunt an indigenous group, imperiling the city’s food chain. And while some cities have proven to be unexpected hotspots of life, the exception proves the rule that urban expansion generally imperils ecosystems and the animals living there. The urban ark is a novel idea for conservation, but its use should only come after careful consideration.
Featured Product
SR-71 Blackbird Fragment
Latest News
-
Sep 11, 2025 Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible! Read More -
Aug 28, 2025 Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight! Read More -
Aug 21, 2025 Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans! Read More -
Aug 19, 2025 Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy Read More -
Aug 14, 2025 Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos! Read More -
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More
Cool Things!
Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible!
Last Thursday, an auction set a new record for Star Wars memorabilia, when a screen-used prop of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for over $3.6 million.
Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight!
Of the five layers of Earth’s atmosphere, the mesosphere (the third layer from Earth’s surface) is a height at which traditional aircraft have, thus far, been unable to reach on their own power. Generally beginning about 154,000 feet above sea level, even the world record for highest aircraft altitude falls about 20,000 feet short. However, a newly developing technology may change this reality, and it involves aircraft that punch high above their weight.
Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans!
In studying early human ancestors, known as “hominids,” anthropologists have historically found much wider variations from specimen to specimen than expected, particularly among other paleontological fields. A recent study argues that certain groups of hominid fossils previously thought to be an already discovered species constitute a new one entirely.
Specimen Deep Dives
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!