Сolonisation and nest site selection in the urban landscape of Poltava, Ukraine by Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius): A case report study

In recent decades, the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) has been actively colonising urban areas; however, its adaptation to living near humans has been understudied. This study examines the nesting density, habitat preferences and the impact of urban landscape elements on nest site selection of Eurasian Jays in Poltava, Ukraine. The study covered over a 16.46 km² area in Poltava, comparing the coverage around Eurasian Jay nests to that of randomly selected points. Statistical analyses, including the Kruskal–Wallis-test and Bayesian logistic regression, suggested that tree cover slightly influences nest site selection, though no strong correlations with other urban variables were detected. Additionally, the distance of nests to roads and buildings did not significantly differ from random points, suggesting a tolerance of urban infrastructure. However, the overall low density of Eurasian Jays compared to other сorvids in the city highlights their relatively limited adaptation to urban environments.