Noisy Birds

So here is an interesting one. A new study is being conducted about the effects of urban noise on nestlings.

No one ever really thinks about the effects of the noise we make; cars, factories and even just regular household noises like children playing or loud music. Birds are just a part of everyday life. Seeing nests (at least for me, and I know definitely for kids) is super exciting. If you find a nest that is low enough, I know most are tempted to look inside to see what kind of fun stuff is in there. All the shuffling people do. Driving and noise making.

Imagine yourself as a bird. Naturally nesting and residing in woodlands. The only noise is the rain, wind and other animals. Then humans come and bring strange smells, substances and sounds. Birds now need to compete with us, calling and communicating over every day noises we unwittingly create.

                So now to the study. It was hypothesized that urban noise would have an effect on the efficiency of communication between parents and their nestlings. Birds have certain calls to communicate whether there is danger in the area or they are coming home with goodies for the babies. The nestlings react accordingly when they hear these different calls. The test was conducted by presenting sparrow tree nestlings noises adult sparrows make when approaching the nest with food and warning for a predator. Background noise was added to the calls and the reactions of the nestlings were compared. It was found that nestlings failed to beg when there was background noise as well as failed to stop begging and crouch down when predator calls were made.

(Picture of a tree swallow taken by  Hugh M. Vandervoort)

This effect is significant since birds are just as important as deer and wolves and even insects. They contribute to the ecosystem, balancing the world around us, and even enrich our lives. The mis- communication between mother and chick puts the lives of the nestlings in danger. Kills by predators may pose a greater risk in birds that nest within human communities than that once thought  when compared to birds raised in the wilderness.

With our populations growing exponentially, we could see less and less of Mr. and Mrs. Robin visiting our feeder in the back yard. Less of those adorable barn swallows flying around eating bugs as you mow the lawn.

Horn made an important statement that ‘most people think that the physical destruction of habitat is what is the biggest factor when the decline of animal species is brought up, but noise is another factor that is becoming apparent and we can’t ignore it.’