The Presence and Behaviour of Birds at Two Prescribed Fires in Sweden

ABSTRACT Fire has shaped terrestrial ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years. Human activities dramatically shift natural fire regimes, leading to adverse conservation impacts that are projected to increase in severity. Many animals appear ill‐equipped to face these drastic changes, and they may be unable to adapt rapidly enough. In contrast, behavioural plasticity could offer a faster solution to achieve a suitable balance between avoiding the risks and maximising the opportunities of fire. Birds from fire‐prone regions have been observed to exploit fire and burned landscapes for various benefits. However, it is poorly understood how birds from other regions respond to active fire. Here, I observed the presence of 17 bird species at two prescribed fires in Sweden. They appeared to largely ignore it, with some even singing close to fire and smoke. Future studies should systematically examine bird abundance and behaviour across different fire ecologies, which would provide invaluable insights into how the immediate response to active fire may be shaped through adaptations, senses, and learning, eventually leading to effective conservation strategies in an increasingly fiery world.