Paris quiets the streets, but urban birds still sing with higher pitches

New research shows Paris has become quieter over the past decade thanks to measures like cyclist-friendly streets, automated noise cameras, and Bruitparif monitoring, reducing noise by about three decibels. However, great tits in Paris still sing at higher pitches than birds in nearby quiet forests, indicating that further noise reductions are needed before urban birds can revert to their natural songs. The study also notes that quieter periods, such as COVID-19 lockdowns, briefly allowed some birds to lower their pitch, illustrating the potential for change when cities become quieter.