A new study has found that humans are not the only ones affected by road rage, birds can experience it too. Scientists discovered that certain birds in the Galapagos become aggressive when exposed to loud traffic noise, as it drowns out their warning calls. This often leads to fights between rival birds.
The research, published in the journal Animal Behaviour, was conducted by scientists from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre at the University of Vienna. They studied yellow warblers, a common songbird in the Galapagos, known for its unique wildlife.
Researchers studied yellow warblers in the Galapagos to understand how traffic noise affects their behaviour. They played recorded bird songs through a speaker to simulate the presence of an intruder while simultaneously playing recorded traffic sounds at 38 different locations. Some of these sites were near roads, while others were at least 100 meters away from any traffic.
The findings showed that birds living closer to roads displayed increased aggression when exposed to traffic noise, likely because the loud sounds interfered with their communication. In contrast, birds in quieter areas showed lower aggression levels. Dr Caglar Akcay from ARU explained that birds use their songs to mark territory and signal aggression. However, when external noise, such as traffic, disrupts this form of communication, birds may resort to more aggressive physical responses, potentially leading to fights.
Along with this, the study found that birds in both noisy and quiet areas adjusted their songs by increasing the minimum frequency to make themselves heard over traffic sounds. Researchers highlighted the importance of these findings for conservation efforts, emphasizing the need to develop strategies to mitigate noise pollution’s effects on wildlife and help species adapt to changing environments.
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