Traffic Noise Harms Baby Birds’ Development, Research Finds

A study conducted by Deakin University in Australia has found that baby birds exposed to traffic noise experience developmental issues and long-lasting harm, even while still inside their eggs. The research showed that exposure to traffic noise in the days leading up to hatching resulted in a 20 percent decrease in the likelihood of the eggs hatching successfully. The study included zebra finches, native Australian birds, and found that the impact of noise pollution extended into adulthood, with birds exposed to traffic noise having significantly fewer chicks of their own.

The researchers noted that the detrimental effects of traffic noise on baby birds raise concerns about the impact of noise pollution on biodiversity. Solutions to reduce noise pollution, such as electric vehicles and planting roadside trees and hedgerows to absorb sound, were suggested. Other studies have also shown negative impacts of noise pollution on various wildlife species, highlighting the urgent need for noise reduction measures to benefit both humans and wildlife.