Simon,
I, too, have read many environmental impact assessments which maintain that
birds readily become habituated to loud noise. I am concerned that such
claims are often unsubstantiated.
However, the studies in the Netherlands (and others in North America and
Britain) have shown that sensitivity to noise by birds differs considerably
among species. Some species are quite tolerant to ongoing elevated noise
levels, whereas others are not and are easily displaced or experience
disruption to their foraging, roosting and/or breeding activities.
I have observed many bird species readily forage seemingly unperturbed on
the edges of runways at major airports as planes taxi pass them and have
even seen Masked Lapwings nest and successfully rear chicks within a few
metres of airport runways. I've also seen waterbirds nesting and roosting on
wetlands in and adjacent to airports. These birds have become habituated to
aircraft activity. It would be interesting to find out if some of these
birds are deafened by the noise from aircraft activity, rendering them less
responsive to noise disturbances. Nevertheless, they do seem relatively
habituated to ground vibrations and movements of aircraft along runways.
I've also done quite a lot of bird survey work in woodland remnants along
the Hume Highway over the last 18 months. My general feeling is that most of
the woodland birds in these remnants are habituated to traffic noise.
However, a major problem is the impact of wind turbulence on these birds
when large trucks or buses pass by.
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Ryde, NSW
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