Ambient noise impairs birds’ territory defense and mate attraction

Evidence

Ambient noise may be detrimental to birds through direct stress, masking of predator arrival or associated alarm calls, and by interference of acoustic signals in general. Two of the most important functions of avian acoustic signals are territory defense and mate attraction. Both of these functions are hampered when signal efficiency is reduced through rising noise levels, resulting in direct negative fitness consequences. — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 942

Categorization

• XREF: Extends the book’s mechanism for how noise harms animals — direct stress plus signal masking. — connects to: Industrial noise measurably reduces ovenbird mating success — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 693; Noise harms hearing-dependent wildlife more than visual species like peregrines — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 691; Noise pollution directly reduces birds’ reproductive success — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 942 (+12 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 942

Broader Connections

• Noise pollution directly reduces birds’ reproductive success #expands (0.85) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 942
• Urban birds shift their songs to higher pitches to escape traffic noise #expands (0.75) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 941