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The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount of conservation focus is directed toward biodiversity hotspots where urban land conversion is happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining biodiversity in urban areas not only benefits the environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase the stability of urban systems to disturbance, a concept known as "urban resilience". In this synthesis paper, we explore the ecological dimension of urban resilience and specifically focus on avian biodiversity because birds are easy to observe, relatively abundant, and can serve as an indicator of the overall health of urban environments. We first examine the concept of ecological resilience and discuss the role of environmental stressors associated with urbanization in the ongoing avian biodiversity crisis. We then provide an overview of characteristics of the urban environment that may promote ecological resilience in birds, and associations between social and economic factors and urban ecological resilience. Finally, we provide recommendations on future research regarding strategies to improve urban ecological resilience and thus, urban resilience as a whole, at the intersections of urban ecology, ecosystem ecology, environmental justice, and urban planning. Since 68% of the world's population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050, it is imperative that scientists, urban planners, civil engineers, architects, and others consider urban ecological resilience as a dimension of both environmental health and the resilience of cities to future natural and anthropogenic stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With habitat fragmentation constituting one of the primary threats to many forest songbird species in North America, it is becoming ever more important to be cognizant of current population trends and breeding status of such uncommon species as the Swainson's Warbler (Limnothylpis swainsonii). The Brazos River Valley in Brazos County, Texas provides some of the most westerly known breeding areas for this species. Our goal in this study was to determine the current breeding status of the Swainson's Warbler at Lick Creek Park, a 523-acre tract of public land in Brazos County. In the summer breeding season of 2019, we conducted a series of standardized point count surveys, nest searches, and qualitative habitat assessments. We identified multiple singing male Swainson's Warblers on territories and were able to confirm breeding on-site by observing recently fledged young. Detection of warblers was associated with dense understory vegetation and abundant leaf fitter. By confirming the presence of breeding Swainson's Warblers at this site we hope to promote more effective conservation measures of bottomland habitats in this immediate region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]