This can have unpleasant consequences for humanity
The songs of birds are one of the main touches in literature, movies and are among the first things that attract people’s interest in nature. A new study from the University of East Anglia shows that the “nature soundtrack” is becoming more uniform and quiet, Nature reported, quoted by CNET.
The researchers used the Xeno-Canto online database, which contains records of various birds. They also added information on bird censuses and data from over 200,000 places in the last 25 years.
The analysis shows that in North America and Europe there is a significant decline in the diversity of bird songs, as well as in their strength. This could lead to unpleasant consequences for humanity, scientists warn.
“The results show that the spring soundtrack is becoming quieter and more uniform, and this is one of the main ways in which people interact with nature. If it is chronically declining, it can have widespread unpleasant consequences for human health and well-being.” , warns Simon Butler, head of the study.
The trend is not new. In 2019, another study was published that covered only the United States and Canada. It found a decline in the bird population, the main reasons being climate change and declining habitats.
According to Catriona Morrison, co-author of the new study, the reason for the deteriorating environment may be the weakening link between humans and nature. The result is a vicious circle in which the missing bird songs alienate people from nature, they think less and less about it and this contributes to their activities, which further deteriorate the environment.
“Studies like ours seek to draw attention to the problem and demonstrate the potential impact of such factors on overall human well-being,” Morrison added.
