For some, golf courses are green oases of nature, while others see only toxic scars on the landscape. This review develops a less dichotomous approach by synthesizing all research on avian use of golf courses. Comparisons with other habitats reveal that golf courses have higher species richness due to attraction of species adapted to human-dominated landscapes, including non-natives. However, species of conservation concern usually disappear altogether from golf courses. Golf courses that support some bird species of conservation concern are those that preserve large tracts of native vegetation. The amount of intact vegetation surrounding a golf course is an important determinant of avian diversity within the course due to dispersal to and from surrounding patches. Most of what is known about reproductive success of golf course birds comes from just one species, eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), which generally reproduces as well on golf courses as in similar habitats. But this species is not representative of most songbirds because it is pre-adapted for sparsely forested landscapes with high ecological disturbance. Overall, there are no documented examples of golf courses playing a meaningful role in conservation of rare birds. However, widespread avian mortality from pesticides, once a major impact of golf courses, has not been conclusively demonstrated in the 21st century. In conclusion, golf courses are greenspace with a relatively high number and variety of birds and successful reproduction of bluebirds, but their role in reaching conservation goals or serving as valuable breeding habitat for species of concern has not been realized.

中文翻译：

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高尔夫球场对鸟类是好是坏：综合评论


对一些人来说，高尔夫球场是大自然的绿色绿洲，而另一些人则只看到景观上的有毒疤痕。本综述通过综合所有关于鸟类使用高尔夫球场的研究，开发了一种不那么二分法的方法。与其他栖息地的比较表明，高尔夫球场具有更高的物种丰富度，因为吸引了适应人类主导景观的物种，包括非本地物种。然而，受保护关注的物种通常会从高尔夫球场中完全消失。支持一些受保护关注的鸟类物种的高尔夫球场是那些保护了大片原生植被的高尔夫球场。高尔夫球场周围完整植被的数量是球场内鸟类多样性的重要决定因素，因为这些植被会扩散到周围斑块或从周围斑块扩散。关于高尔夫球场鸟类繁殖成功的大部分知识仅来自一个物种，即东部蓝鸟 （Sialia sialis），它通常在高尔夫球场上和在类似栖息地中繁殖一样好。但这个物种并不能代表大多数鸣禽，因为它预先适应了生态干扰严重的稀疏森林景观。总体而言，没有记录在案的高尔夫球场在保护珍稀鸟类方面发挥有意义作用的例子。然而，杀虫剂导致的鸟类广泛死亡曾经是高尔夫球场的主要影响，但在 21 世纪尚未得到最终证明。总之，高尔夫球场是鸟类数量和种类相对较高的绿地，并且蓝鸟的成功繁殖，但它们在实现保护目标或作为相关物种的宝贵繁殖栖息地方面的作用尚未实现。