INTRODUCTIONThe most drastic influences of human modification result from urbanization, a progression characterized by human disturbance, buildings and other man-made infrastructure (Hahs and McDonnell 2006). Such changes have significant effects on biodiversity, often without consideration of the long-term effects and ways to mitigate them. In most cases, human modification of the environment has reduced biological diversity by replacing native flora with new ecological spaces. However, urbanization, particularly in suburbs, can introduce many new resources (McDonnell and Pickett 1990; Pickett et al. 2001) that coexist with natural biota and increase avifaunal diversity in semi-urban environments . The hypothesis is that “intermediate areas should have greater spatial heterogeneity of environments than other urban areas” (Marzluff 2005) which have the capacity to provide resources for a greater diversity of birds. A concern often seen in the ecological community is impacts. of urbanization on native birds. Native species are known to be in decline in cities dominated by those with the specific characteristics needed to adapt to its intensely modified landscape (McKinney 2006) – primarily exotic species. This requires the implementation of conservation plans to maintain native bird species in the urban environment. This report characterizes and assesses the structural elements of specific locations around the city of Melbourne to observe the impacts of urbanization on avifaunal communities. Specifically, how these influences impact native and non-native birds in urban areas and how we must emphasize the need to mitigate the effects... middle of article......127–57.- Watson , DM 2003, “‘Standardized research’: an improved way of conducting bird surveys”, Austral Ecology, vol. 28, pp. 515-525.- White, JG, Antos, M J., Fitzsimmons, JA and Palmer, GC 2005, “Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: the influence of streetscape vegetation”, Landscape and urban planning, vol. 71, pp. 123-135.- Whitney, GG, Adams, SD 1980, “Man as creator of new plant communities”, Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 17, pp. 341 – 448.- USDA Forest Service. 2006, i-Tree Canopy program (version 6.0) [computer software]. Retrieved from http://www.itreetools.org/canopy/ - Daft Logic. 2014, Daft Logic Software [Computer software]. Retrieved from http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm-MyGeodata Converter. 2014, [Computer software]. Retrieved from http://converter.mygeodata.eu/