Avian nesting behavioral adjustments and vocal plasticity in response to anthropogenic noise

The objective of the present application is to extend the completed one-year investigation on the effects of gas well compressor noise on nesting birds. The results from the first season are compelling: the avian community as a whole demonstrated a trend to avoid highly noisy areas, Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism only on control sites, and a higher nest success rate at higher noise levels due to a complete lack of predation and brood parasitism. A second field season is needed to verify the trends observed in our first season, and to further understand how the influence of noise impacts the pinyon-juniper avian community, nest predators and parasites.