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For example, Darwin's finches illustrate how such changes can manifest: They have evolved different beak shapes adapted to various food supplies available on the Galápagos Island.

Gompert notes replicated, long-term studies from natural populations, including research on the famous Darwin's finches, are rare.

Take Darwin's finches: some evolved large beaks for nut-cracking, while others evolved small beaks for feeding on certain insects.

Darwin’s finches have also been included in such studies, with earlier research from Knutie showing that urban finches built more nests, laid more eggs, and raised more nestlings than non-urban finches during dry years, when conditions are tougher in the wild.

And to be clear, even though the urban environment appears to help Darwin’s finches in the fight against avian vampire flies, no one is suggesting we pave over the Galápagos to save the birds.