Out of the forest: the movements and habitat selection of mixed-species bird flocks in agricultural landscapes adjacent to protected areas in Sri Lanka

The findings emphasize how mixed-species flocks can move through human modified landscapes and how their organization (e.g., leading species) influences that process. To sustain avian diversity in agroecosystems, conservation strategies must be spatiotemporally explicit. The study highlights the importance of planning heterogeneous landscapes, including water-associated habitat and mixed cultivations, in order for flocks to persist in this agricultural landscape.