MEXICO: For humans, getting a message across to other people can sometimes be a challenge when noise from background sources drowns out and hampers effective communication. The same goes for bluebirds that sometimes find their majestic songs muffled by traffic and other sounds produced by human activity.
In a study published in the journal Integrative & Comparative Biology, researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom examined how male bluebirds alter their songs to counteract the effects of noises in their surroundings.
They discovered that these natural crooners make real-time adjustments to their singing in response to increasing levels of background noises, producing lower-pitched but louder songs. The findings suggest that birds are capable of noticing increases in noises and reacting accordingly, much like people do when in raucous environments.
Behavioral ecologist and lead researcher Dr. Caitlin Kight said that the findings could help provide scientists with better understanding regarding the various environmental constraints that hinder communication among animals.
She said that these results could also enhance people’s own awareness of what type of human activities affect animals in order to find out how these disturbances could be lessened.
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