Impact of Seasonal Ecotourism on Avian Species Richness in the Woodland Habitats of Stewart Park, Middlesbrough, Northeast England

This study investigates the correlation between seasonal ecotourism activity and its disruptive impact on avian species richness within the woodland habitats of Stewart Park, Middlesbrough. As urban green spaces face increasing recreational pressure, understanding this dynamic is critical for balancing conservation with public access. The methodology involved monitoring avian diversity and systematic hourly human presence and activities (major recreating, and general activities) across four distinct seasons spring, summer, autumn, and winter along three designated woodland trails. Human activity was monitored systematically along the three designated trails. Avian data were collected using standardized fixed-radius (100m) point counts, conducted during the first three hours after sunrise. Dawn chorus activity were quantified by conducting supplementary acoustic monitoring throughout the spring and summer breeding seasons. A one-way ANOVA confirmed a statistically significant difference in mean visitor density across the seasons (F(3, 116) = 45.32, p < 0.001), with summer (85 ± 8.7 visitors/hour) and winter (12 ± 3.1 visitors/hour) representing the extremes. Analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between total visitor numbers and overall species richness (Pearson’s r = -0.89, p < 0.01). Species richness was highest in winter, with a mean of 18.5 (±2.1 SD) species per count, and lowest in summer, plummeting to 9.2 (±1.8 SD) species per count a 50% reduction. A Chi-square test of independence demonstrated a significant association between traffic level and the detection probability of disturbance-sensitive species (χ²(1) = 15.8, p < 0.001). Specifically, species such as the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) were 70% less likely to be recorded on high-traffic days (>80 visitors/hour). Furthermore, a comparative analysis of dawn chorus vocalization activity, measured as the number of distinct songs per minute, showed a significant 40% reduction on weekends (high traffic) compared to weekdays (low traffic) during the breeding season (t(58) = 5.67, p < 0.001). These statistically significant findings demonstrate that unmanaged ecotourism activity directly and measurably reduces avian biodiversity. The study recommends implementing targeted management strategies, such as seasonal trail rotations and visitor number caps during critical biological periods, to mitigate disturbance and enhance the park's conservation value.