Urban noise could have led to sparrow decline

Researchers believe noise could make house sparrows less attentive because they are unable to hear their chicks’ cries.

Dr Julia Schroeder said: “Our study shows the first evidence for noise affecting breeding success in birds by interrupting communication between parents and offspring in a wild population.

“We have found a potential cause for the decline of sparrows in cities.”

The experts from Sheffield University studied house sparrows living on Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel.

Dr Schroeder added: “We believe that the noise from the generators on Lundy is comparable to the one made by cars in cities, and therefore, that noise impairing parent-offspring communication could be a reason for why sparrows decline in cities.”