As the growing season kicks off in the garden, dirt once again finds its way under our nails. For those of us in my neighborhood (and likely yours), it heralds the noisy invasion of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other essential tools for landscape maintenance.
From 8 AM to early afternoon, 5-6 days a week, the sounds of power tools and machinery disrupt my tranquility. However, the more pressing issue is that my serenity impacts the other living beings on my property as well.
Birds, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, insects, and various wildlife greatly suffer from human noise. They inhabit this outdoor world, which they perceive as a conflict zone, causing them to remain on high alert. The cacophony surrounding them is not merely an annoyance; it disrupts the fundamental instincts that sustain animal life.
Instincts that signal potential predators are masked by the gas-powered din that saturates most suburban environments.
Additionally, unnatural sounds from birds and bats can alter the foraging, nesting, and mating behaviors of various species. Kevin Munroe, Director of the Long Island Preserve at the Nature Conservancy in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, points out this troubling adaptation.
“Many animals rely on songs for communication and connection,” Munroe explained. For species with softer songs—like warblers, owls, bats, and some crickets—the threat posed by noise pollution is dire: they “literally cannot establish or nurture a family.”
To clarify, Munroe likens animal vocalizations to navigation systems.
“Think of these songs as the roadmap for birds. It’s like trying to navigate somewhere with a GPS, then suddenly having it malfunction. That’s their sole means of locating one another.”
Artificial sounds from power tools, traffic, construction, and industrial activities can also induce stress and hearing impairments in animals. A study from the University of Georgia revealed that highway noise can elevate heart rates in Monarch caterpillars.
Thoughtful planning can mitigate noise
This might feel like an uphill struggle in today’s world, yet steps can be taken to alleviate the issue.
Nature suggests reforms in industrial practices, such as considering sensitive areas when establishing noise-producing facilities (like access roads and compressor stations) and incorporating sound barriers—like walls, vegetation screens, and noise-absorbing materials.
Altering the timing and length of noisy activities during critical periods like breeding and hibernation could also lessen the adverse effects on wildlife, as advised by the organization.
What you can do at home
On our properties, minor adjustments can yield significant results. Munroe recommends avoiding loud yard work from dawn until 9 AM. He also highlights nighttime as another critical period for many species.
“You can enjoy music, just ensure it’s not overly loud,” he noted.
Furthermore, establishing sound barriers by planting dense native trees and shrubs, whether evergreen or deciduous, and transitioning from gas-powered tools to battery-operated ones—such as leaf blowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws—are simple yet effective actions to minimize harm.
Promoting change within the local community is equally vital. Munroe encourages collaboration with Homeowners Associations, schools, businesses, and churches to curtail loud and disruptive activities on properties.
“Engaging with local governments about their noise regulations and advocating for the creation of healthy wildlife sanctuaries in neighborhoods can help protect species like tree thrushes and katydids,” he said.
Always adhere to public noise ordinances in your residence or communal spaces.
Wildlife “supports pollinators, pest control, and positively impacts agriculture and the economy,” Munroe emphasized. “We want them in our neighborhoods.”
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Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the Associated Press and publishes her award-winning weekly dirt newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.
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Source: apnews.com