Montpellier

This is the most recent monitored population (2011), and is comprised of eight study sites across the city of Montpellier, with different gradients of urbanization. Parc de la Mosson, parc de Font-Colombe, quartier de Mas-Nouguier, parc de Grammont, faculté des Sciences, campus du CNRS, jardin botanique et zoo de Lunaret are weekly checked and represent a total of 187 nest boxes monitored during the breeding season. The main bird monitored is the great tit (Parus major) but each year, we also get blue tits (Cyanistes caruleus) and sometimes crested tits (Lophophanes cristatus). The habitat varies depending on the gradient of urbanization but is mainly composed of oaks (Quercus sp.), Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and/or plane tree (Platanus orientalis). (Not so) fun fact: nest boxes are usually set higher because they can be stolen more readily, due to the higher presence of humans around.