Noise pollution is affecting birds’ reproduction, stress levels, and more

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Mohammed Karim

Noise pollution is affecting birds’ reproduction, their stress levels and more according to a recent report by researchers at the University of Michigan and summarized in the Michigan News. The study, published in the U.K. Scientific journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, synthesizes data published since 1990 covering six continents and 160 bird species. 

Researchers found that noise pollution affects different birds differently. Birds living in cavity nests appear to have more negative effects than those living in open nests. Birds in urban areas tend to have higher levels of stress hormones than those living outside of cities. Due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and noise pollution, 3 billion breeding adults have been lost in North America alone.

Senior author Neil Carter commented that noise could be reduced by adapting built environments to stifle sound. I think reducing transportation noise pollution at its source- from enforcing muffler laws to banning engine braking to mandating quieter combinations of road surfaces and tire materials- is a better way to make the world a quieter, better, and healthier place for birds and for humans.

Because, for living things, noise is an unwanted and/or harmful sound.