Although some songbirds will nest near noisy natural gas pipeline compressors, and even lay the normal number of eggs, their reproductive success ultimately suffers, research finds.
The researchers used unceasing playback of recorded compressor noise, 80 new, never-before-used nest boxes occupied by Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows, and behavioral observations with video cameras placed within boxes.
“Importantly, the birds did not preferentially select quiet boxes over noisy boxes, suggesting they do not recognize the reduction in habitat quality resulting from the noise,” says study coauthor Margaret Brittingham, professor of wildlife resources in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. “But both bluebirds and tree swallows nesting in noisy boxes spent less time incubating their eggs, had fewer eggs hatch, and produced fewer young than their neighbors nesting in quiet boxes.”
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IMAGE: Both bluebirds and tree swallows, like this one, nesting in noisy boxes spent less time incubating their eggs, had fewer eggs hatch and produced fewer young than their neighbors nesting. view more
Credit: Julian Avery, Penn State
Some songbirds are not dissuaded by constant, loud noise emitted by natural gas pipeline compressors and will establish nests nearby. The number of eggs they lay is unaffected by the din, but their reproductive success ultimately is diminished.
That s the conclusion of a team of Penn State researchers who conducted an innovative, elaborate study that included unceasing playback of recorded compressor noise, 80 new, never-before-used nest boxes occupied by Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows, and behavioral observations with video cameras placed within boxes.
Pennsylvania
United-states
America
Margaret-brittingham
Julian-avery
Danielle-williams
Thomas-gabrielson
Purdue-university-hardwood-ecosystem-experiment
Association-of-field-ornithologists
Penn-state-applied-research-laboratory
Penn-state-schreyer-institute-for-teaching-excellence
Pennsylvania-space-grant-consortium