Expanding human noise is not just background sound, it’s disturbing the peace of some bird habitats and altering their behaviors. Noise pollution is widespread and affects birds across North America. Many studies have shown that human-made noise affects birds. What hasn’t been clear is how bird species’ lifestyles shape their responses. Researchers performed a global analysis of 160 studies across six continents to examine how noise pollution affects bird behavior, growth, physiology and reproduction, based on their traits. Using nearly 1,000 measurements, researchers examined how 12 bird traits, such as habitat and nest type, may make some species strongly affected by noise pollution. The study found that noise pollution reduces reproduction, increases aggression, communication and foraging. Noise pollution also had more impact on birds that nested closer to the ground, in open spaces and that lived in forests where trees lost their leaves annually. By identifying traits that increase vulnerability to noise pollution, the researchers hope to inform conservation actions to mitigate the impacts of human-made noise.
