Anna Hartz
Every year, New Year’s Eve brings celebrations, loud noises, and bright lights.
Most people enjoy fireworks, but they can be terrifying for wildlife. Birds are particularly sensitive to sudden noise and light. Studies show that on New Year’s Eve, the number of birds flying at night can increase by up to a thousand times compared to a normal night. This panic can lead to collisions between birds and with buildings, power lines, or other structures, writes WP.
Not Evolutionarily Prepared
Ornithologist Karolina Skorb, president of the Upper Silesian Ornithological Club, explained that fireworks create three types of pollution: noise, light, and air pollution. Noise causes the strongest reaction.
Birds are not evolutionarily prepared for sudden, loud sounds. In nature, such sounds almost never occur. Large groups of birds often panic and fly erratically when startled.
Collisions are more likely in cities because of bright lights. While mass bird deaths are rarely documented, there have been known cases in Rome and the United States. Large birds are most at risk because their reactions are stronger and flight distances are shorter.
In Poland, geese and cranes are particularly affected. In cities, corvids roosting in large flocks also experience intense stress. Smaller birds in woodlots are stressed too, but less dramatically.
They Can Take up to 11 Days to Recover
Even though New Year’s Eve falls outside the breeding season, the stress from fireworks can last a long time. Birds may circle in panic for an hour and take up to eleven days to recover.
This can be dangerous in winter when food is scarce. Reactions are often stronger in rural areas, where birds are not used to noise. Fireworks can affect birds up to ten kilometers away from the ignition point.
Some countries have banned fireworks to protect wildlife. Germany and the Galapagos Islands have strict restrictions, and in Poland, bans mainly apply to national parks. Experts recommend concentrating fireworks in one location for a short time, ideally in city centers. Alternative displays like drones or light shows reduce the impact on wildlife.
Skorb says public awareness is increasing. Every effort to limit fireworks or use safer alternatives benefits birds and entire ecosystems. Eliminating fireworks completely would be best, but steps toward restrictions are already helpful. Protecting wildlife during celebrations is possible without taking away the joy of New Year’s festivities.
Sources: WP
