I'd like to add an addendum to the New Mexico study of birds and noise at a gas compressor site.
I studied the heronry at Chatfield State Park for 15 years (see CFO's Colorado Birds 43 (1):26. During the middle third of the study, gravel mining operated about 300 yards away, day and night, during the nesting season. The mining produced steady noise from the use of heavy machinery including steam shovels and drag lines. During that period, nesting pairs of herons increased substantially each year, from 24 nesting pairs to 71. Intermittent human intruders (before the reservoir flooded the grove) and intermittent motorboat intrusions (after flooding) would cause the herons and cormorants to flush. Another example of avian response to disturbance: in winter, the ducks along the (well-traveled) South Platte bike trail in Denver tolerate people more readily than do ducks at a pond or reservoir where they flush at greater distances. My take: a constant noise source -- one that drones on and on, day and night -- has a different impact on birds than intermittent ones. The birds get accustomed to steady noise, but sometimes find intermittent noise or intruders disturbing. Familiarity breeds toleration. [Maybe that works with people, too.] Hugh Kingery --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
