Noise Pollution and Birds (E)
Loud sound can have a serious impact on human health as well as on ecosystems. The effects of noise pollution on birds have been a key subject of study for scientists and conservationists over the last decade. Researchers suggest that noise pollution affects their behaviour, their fitness, breeding and growth, and often leads to chronic stress. Scientists say that constant noise may form an acoustic blanket muffling the audio cues birds rely on to detect predators, competitors and their species. You may have noticed that many birds around us sing at a different pitch or volume in response to noise. One well-known example is of Robins, which sing at quieter times of the day or night. This could be seen as an adaptation, but the problem is that this change can disrupt mating and affect breeding success in such birds. On this show, we look at how noise pollution alters birds’ behaviour and poses serious risks to their health.
