When we consider the sounds of nature, we think of crickets, birds, storms, wind, etc. – but have you ever wondered what nature thinks of our sounds? Humans make a lot of noise. Think about the noise of our planes, the noise of the road, the noise of machines and even the sounds of our voices. Fortunately, some human noises keep rodents and large mammals away, thus protecting them, even when we damage their environment by invading their territories.
Some mammals are getting used to our sounds, they have learned to adapt to them. These animals have grown up surrounded by these sounds. Some animals that listen to us are curious and come to have a look. Many feel that if they listen to us, they are safe from their normal predators. Just as rabbits and birds hang out together, both knowing that if a predator approaches, the other species will run and therefore warn them. Predatory birds and some predatory animals like human noise as it covers up their own noise and stalking activities and distracts them as they approach for the kill.
You don’t want all the human noise. Much of it irritates wildlife, for example the ultrasonic emitting blades of wind turbines and the noise of trains when it rumbles on the ground, as well as noise from highways and airports. While we have come to appreciate the sounds of nature, we have not harnessed our noise to make it as pleasing to others in our environment. A good example is ship noise and sonar for large marine mammals such as whales. Our noise pollution even irritates us humans, and can cause “hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbances,” to name just a few listed by WikiPedia.
We should suspect that these same types of problems cause distress and health problems in local wildlife and birds where we share space and territory. Many species sleep during the day and own much of our domain at night, as they are nocturnal and share space. If we interrupt their sleep during the day, this can cause unhealthiness in the food chain. Humans often use noise as a burrow to keep animals away; gopher ground thumps, deer car whistles and short popping sounds to keep birds away from crops.
Humans consider the chirping of birds and the ‘shrill’ sounds of crickets to be peaceful and part of nature. Just like those of us who live near the beach, we consider the sound of the waves crashing as a relaxing sound of tranquility. Everyone knows this inherently; there’s no big reveal here, but in case you haven’t thought of it because you like being in a highly developed urban area, consider if you want to. howling wind, waves, birds and crickets. These sound tracks are sold under the auspices of being able to help us meditate and/or de-stress.
Perhaps, animals living in the city and rural areas listen to our televisions, music and conversations as something calm and normal. Perhaps these sounds make them feel safe and content, that everything is normal, and therefore less apprehensive, less afraid. Maybe you miss those sounds when the power goes out and it’s quieter? Perhaps some animals find this disturbing and therefore become more alert, changing their sleeping, eating and mating habits for a short time?
It is obvious that humans have evolved alongside nature, and that nature has been there all along, evolving alongside us. Everything affects everything else, so it stands to reason that our noise affects your well-being much more than we think, both on the negative and positive sides of the equation. Please consider all this and think about it.
