Conservation of birds in an urban environment – wild bird fauna at the Osijek Zoo, Croatia

Zoos are our closest, independent, and continuous link to nature. Apart from providing the opportunity to observe captive and exotic wild animals, they also attract various species of wild birds. For that purpose, the main goal of this study was to provide a list of free-living bird species at the Osijek Zoo. During 2021, fieldwork was performed monthly using a point count transect, except during the breeding season when counts were performed twice a month. A total of 61 species were recorded, belonging to 31 families distributed in 15 orders. The most frequently recorded species were Hooded crow, Corvus cornix and Great tit, Parus major. Five species observed at the Osijek Zoo are listed as endangered species in the Red Book of Birds of Croatia: critically endangered: European roller, Coracias garrulus; endangered: Great egret, Ardea alba and Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus; vulnerable: Little egret, Egretta garzetta and Black stork, Ciconia nigra. It appears that the Osijek Zoo provides a good foundation for a high diversity of bird fauna, indicating that this is a good quality urban area. The Osijek Zoo should also strive to preserve this abundant avifauna, by educating the public on conservation, and forbidding any potentially disturbing behaviours.