The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a species we more often hear than see, which makes it especially valuable for studying how noise affects birds.

Last year’s acoustic research in the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve showed that on noisy weekdays it calls louder and at higher pitches, while on quieter weekends its calls become softer, gentler, and more varied. This highlights its adaptability but also warns how strongly traffic noise reshapes life in wetlands.

A wetland surrounded by noise
Škocjanski zatok is encircled by a port, shopping centres, a railway, and a motorway. Traffic noise is one of the quietest yet most persistent threats to birds, making communication difficult and altering their behaviour. The water rail’s response clearly shows how essential silence is for the survival of wetland species.

You can read more about the research in the latest issue of the magazine Svet ptic: https://ptice.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SP_2025-04__web.pdf