Airport din makes for angry birds

The noise of planes landing and taking off are causing birds to become more aggressive, a study has found. Research published in the Journal

of Animal Ecology found that common chiffchaffs living close to airports were five times more likely to attack a speaker emitting birdsong than their counterparts living further away.

The higher levels of aggression may be the result of higher stress levels due to intermittent aircraft noise.

The noise may also be impairing birds’ hearing – damaging their ability to communicate with mates and rivals.

Noise from aircraft landing or taking off can reach 100 decibels at a distance of 100 metres – levels that can cause permanent hearing loss to humans as well as birds. The study by Manchester Metropolitan University found that birds living close to airports sang at a lower frequency, indicating possible hearing loss.