Tourist Noise May Be Changing the Calls of Uttarakhand’s Himalayan Monal

Increasing tourist activity and transportation noise in the Himalayan region may be influencing the way the Himalayan monal communicates, according to a recent scientific study.

The Himalayan monal, known for its striking metallic green, blue and copper-coloured feathers, is the state bird of Uttarakhand. The pheasant is found across the Himalayan mountain ranges and is recognised for its distinctive appearance.

Researchers from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University studied the bird’s vocal behaviour in different habitats within Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary.

The study, published in the journal Behavioural Processes, found that Himalayan monals living in noisier areas produced calls with higher peak frequencies compared with birds in quieter locations.

Researchers compared recordings from Madmaheshwar Valley, which experiences relatively lower human activity, and Chopta Valley, a popular tourist destination with roads, traffic and pilgrim movement.

Using microphones and passive acoustic monitoring equipment, the research team recorded hundreds of calls across different seasons.

The findings indicated that birds in Chopta Valley produced shorter calls with higher frequencies. Scientists believe the adjustment may help the birds communicate in environments where lower-frequency sounds from vehicles and human activity can interfere with their calls.

The researchers described the changes as behavioural flexibility rather than a permanent evolutionary transformation.

Communication plays an important role in the Himalayan monal’s social and reproductive behaviour. Male birds use mating calls to attract females, and excessive background noise could potentially affect the transmission of these signals.

However, the researchers have not established whether the observed changes have any direct impact on breeding success or survival.

The study highlights the possible effects of growing human activity on wildlife in mountain ecosystems.

Scientists have also raised concerns about habitat fragmentation and climate change, which could influence the future distribution of Himalayan monals.

The findings underline the importance of understanding how tourism, transportation and environmental changes affect wildlife communication and behaviour.

Further research is needed to determine the long-term consequences of noise pollution for the species.

Source: Scientific study published in Behavioural Processes.