Birdsong Phone Apps May Harm Birds: Nature Reserve Acts to Protect Species

If you walk outside on a cool, spring morning, you're likely to hear birds all around you, chirping and calling out to one another. Inspired by these sounds of nature, people have recorded birdsong and have created apps to listen to the different cries. Yet it turns out that these recorded songs may be harmful to the birds. One nature reserve has told visitors to stop using birdsong apps to attract certain species since it may disrupt their usual activities.

The nature reserve, called the Brownsea Island nature reserve, is known for its spectacular views of the Purbeck Hills. Housing species such as avocets and the nightjar, the reserve is an important location for a variety of animals. When reserve officials found visitors using an app to mimic the call of the nightjar in order to snap a better photograph, though, they were quick to act.

"Use of these apps is not suitable for nature reserves and can be potentially harmful to sensitive species," said Brownsea Island nature reserve manager Chris Thain in an interview with BBC News. "The apps are becoming quite common, and are great, but their use needs some guidance I feel. I'm sure visitors would be devastated if they realized the possible disturbance they were causing to wildlife."

Birds use their songs to establish territory, attract mates and sound out warning calls. Since spring is the breeding season, many bird species are hyperaware of the songs of other individuals. Although using an app that mimics the sound of a bird may let you snap a better photograph, the app may distract environmentally sensitive species from important activities--like finding food for their young or locating a suitable mate.

Most birdsong apps aren't designed to attract birds--even though that can be a consequence of using one. Instead, they're meant to educate users about what certain birds sound like. But that doesn't stop some people from using apps to lure out birds into the open.

The Brownsea Island Reserve has now put up signs warning visitors not to use apps in order to attract birds, according to The Guardian. Hopefully, the various species that call the reserve home will benefit from the new regulations.