A new study has found that birds in the Galapagos Islands exhibit aggressive behavior when exposed to excessive traffic noise much like humans experiencing road rage. Researchers discovered that yellow warblers a widespread songbird in the archipelago, become more aggressive when traffic noise drowns out their warning calls sometimes leading to fights with rivals.
The research published in Animal Behaviour, was conducted by scientists from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre at the University of Vienna. The study highlights the impact of noise pollution on wildlife, particularly in areas where human activity encroaches on natural habitats.
To test the birds’ reactions researchers played recorded bird songs from a speaker simulating an intruder, while simultaneously playing recorded traffic noise at 38 locations on the islands of Floreana and Santa Cruz. Some of these locations were close to roads, while others were at least 100 meters away.
The results showed that birds living near roads increased their aggression levels in response to the added noise while those farther away became less aggressive. The warblers also adjusted their songs increasing their minimum frequency to be heard over the traffic.
Dr. Caglar Akcay, senior lecturer in Behavioral Ecology at ARU says “Birds use song during territorial defense as an aggressive signal if external noise such as traffic interferes with the signaling, effectively blocking this communication channel increasing physical aggression would be an appropriate response”.
Dr. Akcay explained that in a real-world scenario, this disruption could escalate into physical fights between birds defending their territory. The findings highlight the need to consider noise pollution in conservation efforts and to develop strategies to mitigate its effects on wildlife.
