First Wednesday Taking Care of Wildlife Challenge: When Noise is Harmful

I love listening to the sounds of birds in the early morning and the last robin singing as the sun goes down. I don't often get to hear either these days. Things starting changing in our neighborhood when the 1950s brick homes with large yards became hot for development. They didn't want the homes, they wanted the land. Now, it's no longer as quiet as it once was.

 

Videos I take of bumblebee's buzzing among the native wildflowers are accompanied by the constant drone of traffic and construction noise. 

 

 

Yesterday, I hollered for Michael at the top of my voice and he couldn't hear me over the noise of 2 mowers and a leaf blower in the yard next door. To top that off, just as the new house construction across the street was nearing completion, I heard the sounds of a house being bulldozed. More noise on the way.

I really miss the quiet. I can go inside to get a break from the noise, but, I worry about the effects all that noise has on the critters that live and visit my garden.

 

Noise pollution is serious. 

Noise pollution in my neighborhood has had significant negative impacts on my well-being. I no longer spend a lot of time outside because the construction noise is so unpleasant. 

Noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems, just after the impact of air pollution. Approximately 10 million persons in the US have permanent hearing loss from environmental noise or noise related trauma.  Scientists measure sound in decibels using scales to determine harmful sounds. Sound levels above 85 decibels are potentially harmful to a person’s ears. See the chart below to see how many sound sources in our lives are impacting our well being and our hearing.

Research (source) has shown that it can also significantly harm wildlife by interfering with their ability to communicate, navigate, find food, care for their offspring and avoid predators. This can lead to stress, reduced breeding success, and even population declines. In birds, alterations in foraging, vocalizations and nests were noted; laboratory studies, on the other hand, carried out on small mammals, highlighted spatio-temporal cognitive alterations and memory loss. Researchers concluded that greater attention to all ecosystems should be given as soon as possible so as to try to achieve a balance between human activity and the well-being of terrestrial fauna. (source)

Here's the noise that's found disruptive and harmful to human and critter well being.

• Traffic noise: Possibly the biggest source of noise pollution in cities and suburbs. It comes from cars, trucks, motorcycles and construction vehicles. This noise impacts animals even in natural areas that are near busy roads.
• Construction noise: Jackhammers, machinery, and other construction activities generate intense noise that can disrupt animal behavior and well-being. (source) The constant beep-beep of vehicles backing up totally disrupts my peace of mind.
• Loud music and gatherings: Music played at high volumes, especially during parties or events, can bother mammals in the vicinity.
• Domestic animals: Barking dogs, particularly when frequent or loud, can be a significant source of neighborhood noise that is disruptive to other mammals and even humans. I suspect that most people are unaware of noise ordinances for barking dogs.
• Yard work equipment: Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and other power tools used for yard maintenance can generate high levels of noise.  
• Other sources: Airplanes flying overhead, industrial noise, and even noise from appliances and fireworks can contribute to the overall soundscape and impact animals. 

Impact of noise on mammals

• Behavioral changes: Animals have been observed changing their territorial movements, abandoning their nests, changing feeding patterns to avoid noisy areas.  
• Communication interference: Noise can mask the calls animals use for mating, warning signals, or social bonding, messing with their communication and potentially impacting breeding success and survival rates.
• Increased stress levels: Chronic noise exposure can increase stress hormones in mammals, impacting their health, immune system function, and overall well-being. A University of Georgia study even found that highway noises can elevate heart rates in monarch caterpillars.
• Reduced foraging efficiency: Noise can distract animals while foraging, reducing their efficiency in finding and handling food.
• Habitat abandonment or displacement: Some mammals may choose to leave or avoid areas with high noise levels, leading to habitat fragmentation and reduced access to resources, according to the Morris Animal Foundation.
• Hearing loss: Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to temporary or even permanent hearing loss in mammals. That's humans, too.
• Speaking of humans: From the EPA."Problems related to noise include stress related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity.  Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is the most common and often discussed health effect.

 

What can we do.  Yes, even small changes can make a big impact.

• You've probably noticed how chatty birds are in the early mornings, that's when they are busy communicating with each other. Mowing and blowing in our yards disrupts that communication; we should do noisy yard work later in the day (after 9am). Better yet, start raking instead of blowing grass and leaves away, it's good exercise and very quiet. You could do what I do...Leave the leaves.
• After dark is another critical time for wildlife so if you're having a party, turn the music down and while you're at it turn off the lights after 11pm.
• To keep sound out of your yard, densely plant native trees, evergreens or deciduous shrubs to act as noise blockers. If you've driven past my yard, you might have wondered why I still have some forsythia hedging. It's there because it protects my yard from street noise. 
• Do your own hearing a favor, as well as animals' hearing, by switching from gas- to battery-powered tools, including leaf blowers, string trimmers and chainsaws. Better yet, replace lawns with native plants that don’t need mowing. 
• Get involved with local groups that are working to change noise laws. Start with your homeowners association, schools, businesses and churches to get them to limit loud, destructive activity on their properties. When we understand the disruptive effects of noise pollution, we along with our community leaders can work towards creating quieter environments that are more beneficial for both people and mammals. 
• Find out about your local city noise ordinances. For instance in Nashville construction noise is regulated, particularly in residential areas. Generally, construction work cannot occur between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM, except during June, July, and August, when the restriction extends from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Also, construction activities are generally prohibited on Sundays. Specifically, the current Metro Nashville noise ordinance prohibits construction work on Sundays between midnight Saturday night and midnight Sunday night. This applies to all construction, demolition, and related activities that generate noise. 
• We need to be aware of the noise we create. Always observe noise ordinances at home and in public places...Especially parks and nature centers.

 To learn more about the body of scientific literature exploring the effects of noise on wildlife and humans, see the the Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division's Annual Synthesis of Studies on the Effects of Noise: a systematic, comprehensive up-to-date query of the scientific literature. To date, more than 800 peer-reviewed studies on the effects of noise on wildlife have been published. The synthesis summarizes the noise sources and effects, and highlights suggested readings from the most current research. (source)

 

I can't stop the development that's happening all around me and probably near many of you, but I  believe that at the very least I can share noise pollution information with neighbors. That's why I publish the First Wednesday Challenge. Maybe, we can get organized to tackle this serious and growing problem.   

 

Thanks for stopping by and for caring about wildlife...xoxogail 

Here's an incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden, and things you can do for and/or in your community. But don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check out the internet for ideas.

 Looking for ways to get involved go here for a list of environmental advocacy groups.

Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.

Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.

Get in the garden with your children and grandchildren.

Give nature books as baby shower gifts (Nature books for infants and toddlers)

Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.

Plant your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I garden for wildlife so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.

 

Plant more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (source) 

Plant for bloom from late spring to early winter. Bees are most active from February to November (longer in mild climates) late winter blooming Hamamelis vernalis and the earliest spring ephemerals (like the toothworts, hepaticas, spring beauties, and False rue-anemeone) are perfect plants for a variety of pollinators.

Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garden.

Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native wildflowers”

If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers. You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot!
 
Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.

Make a rain garden in low spots to collect and mitigate runoff.

Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in bare soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. 

Get rid of the plastic weed barriers in your garden, it's not good for anything.

Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract beneficial bugs.

 

Learn to tolerate damaged plants. Imperfection is the new perfect.

Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves. Leave a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from the trees in the fall and need a soft landing site and a place to live over the winter.

Allow a fallen tree to remain in the garden. Limbs on the ground are a perfect shelter for small animals such as rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels and a habitat for beetles, termites and other insects.

Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles. Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs". Bugs are also good bird, toad and small critter food. 

Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and they're great bird food!

Add nesting boxes for birds. 

Turn off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm. This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes, insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (Birdcast suggestions)

Plant shrubs and small trees that provide berries and nuts.

Keep a nature journal: You can observe visitors to your water feature, make note of when they visit. Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. 

Join your state native plant society (Tennessee Native Plant Society)

Join WildOnes even if there's no local group you can join the national organization.  (Middle Tennessee WildOnes)

Support your local native plant sellers. (GroWild in middle Tennessee, Overhill Gardens in east Tennessee,  Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society)

Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.

If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants.

Get trained as a naturalist (Tennessee Naturalist Program. Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program

Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. 

Take an online course on designing with native plants.

Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in Sidewalk Nature "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."

Read! There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment, and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and informative articles.

If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership)

Join the Xerces Society.

Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. 

Get certified (National Wildlife Federation, check to see what your state offers)

Support trees by joining the effort to make sure developers don't remove more trees than are necessary for their project. Work to make sure there are tree removal permits and that they are actually enforced in your community.

 

 

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener, Tennessee Naturalist and nature writer in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.