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The
Sounds of Spring –
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March 31, 2004
(Madison, WI) It’s Monday morning, which usually leads most of us to wish it was still Sunday, but maybe today is different. Spring is creeping up on us. The sun is shining (if not on us, then somewhere), crocus and tulip flowers are poking up through the soil and the trees are budding. As you step out your front door, listen for the traditional sounds of spring: birds chirping, building and road construction, and all the related traffic noise. What has become of the sound of spring? If scientist and author Rachel Carson were still alive, she might be inclined to write an epilogue to her famous text, Silent Spring, this time lamenting the loss of spring sounds to increasingly common noise pollution. Unfortunately, noise pollution is here to stay. It is not going to disappear the day that last brick is laid on the new apartment complex down the block or the day that final line is painted on our repaved roads. Increased suburban and rural development is endangering the environmental landscape and our natural “soundscape.” This is not to say that all development is bad. On the contrary, good development brings many benefits, adding safety and order to communities and increasing public harmony. But successful development must plan for noise management in addition to protecting environmental conditions. While an individual’s initial reaction to their environment is usually stimulated by visual cues, we should not forget about the sonic landscape, the sounds generated by nature’s “sound system.” When you think of “peace and quiet,” do you think of absolute silence, or just the silencing of human-made contraptions, from factories to highways? The auditory signals of nature define and contribute to our sense of place just as much as the visual hallmarks. The amount and kinds of noise in our backyards is part of what makes home feel like home and, for most Americans, the more natural sounding, the better. Spring is a great time to evaluate the level of noise pollution in your neighborhood. The outdoors becomes flooded with life and activity as birds return from the south, insects thrive, and everything from frogs to dogs seem to revel in the warmth and energy brought by increased daylight. We humans also seem to thrive in this season. Lunch breaks gain new meaning, allowing many of us to step out of our dim cubicles and recharge our energy levels in the fresh air. There are many auditory cues of spring that we take for granted, but one that few people can ignore is the sound of singing birds. Many species of birds are an excellent indicator of biodiversity health – the interconnectedness of all life on earth. In order to preserve the bird population we must take action to preserve our grasslands, forests, wetlands, and waterways that provide their food, shelter and breeding grounds. Every species of bird has a unique call which expert listeners can discern through ear training. There are academic courses, cassettes and cds and even bird-calling contests. But for those of us less interested in identifying birds, the science is less important than the songs. While few Americans are actually “bird watchers,” nearly everyone is a “bird listener” – it’s easy, just find a bird friendly neighborhood and keep your ears open. While birds generally represent the morning soundscape, frogs are conversing in the evening hours and are a perfect example of a creature that we typically hear but rarely see. Like birds, frogs are very dependent upon healthy wetlands and waterways, but surprisingly frogs spend the majority of their time on land. Therefore the grasslands that surround these wetland breeding areas must also remain intact to maintain the amphibian population. Frog calls, like bird songs, are also unique and are key to identifying the shy amphibians. However, also like birds, one doesn’t need to be an expert to enjoy the sounds of Spring Peepers’ alto songs and American Bullfrogs’ throaty bass croaks. So what can we do to help preserve our natural soundscape? First we must be certain that the creatures that perform this spring symphony have protected habitat. Urban and rural parks can shelter a surprising diversity of birds, insects, amphibians and mammals when they are properly designed. Mixed, native vegetation, in addition to athletic fields go a long way toward supporting human and wildlife co-habitation. Protecting our water resources, especially wetlands, is crucial to protecting wildlife. At home, you can make a difference by limiting the use of lawn pesticides and other toxic chemicals that can be carried to the nearby waters when it rains. Some common lawn chemicals can cause high mortality in plants and animals and make important wildlife habitat unlivable. Finally, we can all help protect the natural soundscape by limiting the amount of noise we all produce. This spring, instead of driving to work, consider biking, taking the bus or just carpool with others. Not only will you be able to take in a bit of nature along the way, you’ll also be cutting down on air pollution caused by auto emissions. That sounds good, doesn’t it? ## ## ## The Biodiversity Project advocates for biodiversity by designing and implementing innovative communication strategies that build and motivate a broad constituency to protect biodiversity. A national organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, the Biodiversity Project has worked with leaders in policy, advocacy, education, science, religious and grantmaking fields since 1995. For more information, visit www.biodiversityproject.org.
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