Natural gas compressor noise slashes nesting success of nearby birds, study finds

Cavity-nester

Eastern bluebird at nestbox for cavity-nesting birds.

While some songbirds are not put off by the constant, loud noise from compressors on natural gas pipelines, their nesting success is diminished by the din.

According to Penn State research, eastern bluebirds and tree swallows were willing to establish their nests and lay their eggs near the compressors. But their nesting efforts did not produce the same number of offspring as nests away from the noise of the machines.

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