Emily Finch Department of Biology Calvin College T URN DOWN THE NOISE : T EMPORAL MODIFICATION OF SONGBIRD SINGING BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESENCE OF PUNCTUATED NOISE EVENTS

H YPOTHESIS AND P REDICTION If temporal modification is an important adaptation for persistence in anthropogenic noise, we predict that songbirds will sing more often and with greater regularity during quiet periods of time embedded within experimentally elevated noise than during similar times intervals under control (non-noise) conditions.

O BJECTIVES Determine the effects of road noise on bird singing patterns Possibility of adaptation Determine if songbirds will adapt to sing more in quiet gaps Modify behavior to sing more frequently during 1 and 5 minute gaps in noise compared to equivalent gaps in quiet conditions Or delay vocalization until post-playback conditions

M ETHODS 6 weeks of data collection

M ETHODS 6 weeks of data collection 2 experimental sites and 2 control sites per week

M ETHODS 6 weeks of data collection 2 experimental sites and 2 control sites per week Focus on forest/forest edge species

M ETHODS 6 weeks of data collection 2 experimental sites and 2 control sites per week Focus on forest/forest edge species 3 to 4 days of experiment per week Possibility of acclimation

M ETHODS 6 weeks of data collection 2 experimental sites and 2 control sites per week Focus on forest/forest edge species 3 to 4 days of experiment per week Each site 350+ meters apart

S ITE LAYOUT Speaker Passive recorder ~50 meters 25 meters Control has passive recorder, but no playback setup

N OISE P LAYBACK 10 min pre 10 min post 5 min 1 min Ramp

D AILY P ROCEDURE Point counts System Test Enter point counts Analyze recordings, focus on the gaps 10 minutes Top 20 forest species Note distance Check the unknown species Purpose

D AILY P ROCEDURE Point counts System Test Enter point counts Analyze recordings, focus on the gaps Run sound playback and check speakers Change out the battery

D AILY P ROCEDURE Point counts System Test Enter point counts Analyze recordings, focus on the gaps Species and distance Other factors: wind, temperature, clouds, time

D AILY P ROCEDURE Point counts System Test Enter point counts Analyze recordings, focus on the gaps Cut gaps Count number of songs per species

C ALCULATING THE R ESULTS Finish data collection (1 week remaining) Count all 1 and 5 minute gaps and 10 minute post-playback

C ALCULATING THE R ESULTS Finish data collection (1 week remaining) Count all 1 and 5 minute gaps and 10 minute post-playback Then… Choose focal species In the lead: REVI, AMRO, EAWP, TUTI, ACFL, COYE Compare 1 and 5 minute gaps in control and experimental conditions Calculate song rate in 10 minute post playback

P OSSIBLE O UTCOMES Birds sing more in silent windows during noise playback than during equivalent gaps under control conditions Birds vocalize less in noisy conditions than in quiet conditions Under noisy conditions, birds will leave the area As time progresses, bird singing patterns change indicating that they are able to or not able to adjust to noisy conditions

C ONCLUSION The information gathered from this study can help influence road construction. Bird adaptability can be used in conservation efforts when planning roadways