Noise pollution can harm birds even before they hatch

The raucous din of modern life can seriously mess with animals (SN: 2/9/15). Traffic noise can drown out mating calls, spike stress hormones and even increase mortality. Now, new research suggests some critters can be harmed by this noise even before they can hear it.

Zebra finch eggs and nestlings exposed to everyday traffic noise experience significant, lifelong reductions in health and reproduction, researchers report in the April 26 Science. These harms stemmed from direct exposure to the sound itself, the researchers say, suggesting noise pollution poses a more pervasive threat than previously thought.

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