Researchers from the Institute of Biology Leiden is investigating potential noise-induced hearing losses (NIHL) in birds that reside near airports.

In a recent study in the Journal of Animal Ecology, Wolfenden and colleagues (2019) found that birds near the airport sing at lower frequencies than other birds of the same species. The investigators suggest the altered song frequency may be due to NIHL at higher frequencies.

In addition, the birds in the noisier areas of the airport showed more aggressive responses to songs when compared to birds in a quiet control area, which may be related to noise-induced physiological stress or disturbed communication.

The researchers are concerned that this unusual aggression will impact reproductive efforts and could make the species more susceptible to injury and predators. Similar to humans, birds are affected by noise pollution, and the impact of extreme noise on birds should be considered in environmental impact assessments for airports.

Reference

Wolfenden AD, Slabbekoorn H, Kluk K, de Kort SR. (2018) Aircraft sound exposure leads to song frequency decline and elevated aggression in wild chiffchaffs. J Animal Ecology. October 25.

Share this

Related Posts

The Utilization of Telehealth Services (Drazen Zigic/shutterstock.com)

The Utilization of Telehealth Services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Audiology (2020) provided audiologists with guidance regarding the use of telehealth services. In October 2021, the Academy released a position statement titled The Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Audiological Services. Members can access this statement here. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have expanded telehealth services,…

Read More
Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately five percent of the pediatric population. Up to 50 percent of children with ADHD also exhibit motor control and balance issues in addition to the more commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Fidgeting, poor motor planning, increased postural sway, and difficulty sitting still may be related…

Read More
Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults (Cedric E/shutterstock.com)

Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults

At the end of September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data overviewing rates of death resulting from unintentional falls between the years of 1999–2020 by adults 65 years and older (Garnett et al, 2022). The report showed that death rates have increased, with the largest increase seen by those aged…

Read More