Those who analyze the interactions between those unfortunate animals that we are and the environment with Covid have had a unique (I hope) opportunity for study, thanks to the 4.5 billion people in home confinement (data: April 2020) and the consequent reduction of activities in conflict with the environment that ensued.

 

A 17% drop in CO2 emissions (in the first months of the Lockdowns) has been associated with other temporary positive aspects, such as animal procreative activities facilitated by the absence of man (it seems that for example the Indian tortoise of the "Olive Ridley" type has managed to save itself from extinction) or the reduction of deforestation or fishing and hunting activities, the improvement of the quality of groundwater, and hundreds of other "green" successes.

 

There have also been negative effects, such as increased poaching and illegal fishing, less tourist revenue in natural parks with negative effects on their conservation, or the growth of parasites (e.g. the invasion of locusts in Yemen).

 

And the biblical multiplication of single-use plastic (masks, gloves, suits, etc.), in the face of Greta “Evian” Thunberg. Is the balance positive? They say yes, for the environment as a whole. Leaving aside the effects on humans, who as executioners… well, it’s karma, baby.

 

Meanwhile, in April, in the Bay Area (when as many cars passed on the Golden Gate Bridge as in 1954) there are those who measured the effects of the lockdown on birdsong in some urban and extra-urban areas of SF, discovering a world of differences.

 

With a decrease in noise of 7.4dB in the city and 3.6dB in the countryside, the birds accelerated their bpm, decreased their volume (by a third) and emitted notes on average 162Hz lower than usual (in the city; in the countryside ‘only’ 40Hz less), thus expanding the range of their amorous and territorial warblings, making them more melodious and effective.

 

Without aiming at becoming one, the big Covid Lockdown was nonetheless a successful example of “acoustic ecology” - a discipline to which, not surprisingly, some musicians (the beloved Ivor Cutler is one case) have dedicated no small amount of attention.

 

“Nature immediately takes control, as soon as man gets out of the way” commented the head of the study, animal communication expert Elizabeth Derryberry. Who also discovered how city birds (suddenly put in competition with other suburban birds, because of the silent and clean air that transmitted their chirps better) turned out to be more competitive and ultimately victorious over those from the suburbs, more subdued chirpers not used to competing with the noise of cars and other noise pollutants.

 

We too suffer from this constant noise of “progress” and - like birds - we must (for example) talk to each other louder to cover the cars that pass by, or not hear many sounds or even limit our conversations, as we do in a noisy environment. Or argue over each other.

 

The American study has shown how the “white-crowned” sparrow has adapted immediately to the reduction of noise pollutants. The reduction of noise could in general limit the progressive reduction of biodiversity, both animal and social. The study has in short shown that sound can make us live like brutes. Or blessed.

 

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