The Effects of Urban Ambient Noise on the Song Frequencies of Migratory Bird Species: Preliminary Results
Additional Funding Sources
This project is supported by a 2018-2019 STEM Undergraduate Research Grant from the Higher Education Research Council.
Abstract
We are interested in how ambient noise from urban environments affects the wildlife living within those areas. It has been documented that urban ambient noise does affect the frequencies of resident song birds living within urban areas. In a study conducted by J.L Dowling, et al. (2011), two of the six species studied raised their minimum frequency in response to heightened urban noise levels. What has not been studied thoroughly are the effects on migratory song birds. The question is, does urban ambient noise affect migratory birds the same as resident? The target species include Yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), chipping sparrows (Spizella passerine), and Townsend’s warblers (Setophaga townsendi). The location gradient of urban, peri-urban, and rural will allow for frequencies to be compared, which is essential in determining whether urbanization affects their song frequencies and how much it affects them. We recorded our target species using a parabolic microphone and a recorder. When recording, we stood face to face with the bird, stood 10 meters away from the bird, and faced away from any kind of traffic. This is an ongoing project and will be continued up until summer of 2020.
The Effects of Urban Ambient Noise on the Song Frequencies of Migratory Bird Species: Preliminary Results
We are interested in how ambient noise from urban environments affects the wildlife living within those areas. It has been documented that urban ambient noise does affect the frequencies of resident song birds living within urban areas. In a study conducted by J.L Dowling, et al. (2011), two of the six species studied raised their minimum frequency in response to heightened urban noise levels. What has not been studied thoroughly are the effects on migratory song birds. The question is, does urban ambient noise affect migratory birds the same as resident? The target species include Yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), chipping sparrows (Spizella passerine), and Townsend’s warblers (Setophaga townsendi). The location gradient of urban, peri-urban, and rural will allow for frequencies to be compared, which is essential in determining whether urbanization affects their song frequencies and how much it affects them. We recorded our target species using a parabolic microphone and a recorder. When recording, we stood face to face with the bird, stood 10 meters away from the bird, and faced away from any kind of traffic. This is an ongoing project and will be continued up until summer of 2020.
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