Natural History Wanderings

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

Phillips and her collaborators at Cal Poly may be the first researchers to document the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on songbird behavior. Their research, published in the journal Science this year, found that the sparrows sang about 30% quieter during the pandemic compared to previous decades.

“It’s pretty exciting that they responded so fast to the sudden change in the sound of the city,” she said.

The findings could have broad implications beyond birds. Conservation efforts have historically focused on restoring lost animal habitats, but have rarely considered the detrimental effects of urban noise. It’s a factor worth considering, Phillips said, especially as California contemplates a future full of electric cars.

 Read more at Since shelter in place, Bay Area sparrows are singing in tones that researchers haven’t heard in decades – SFChronicle.com