Steve Nowicki studies animal communication and says young songbirds learn from older ones, so after a while differences in style emerge. ”We know that birds can be attentive to very subtle differences in their songs in the context of choosing whom to mate with,” he says.

So if birds from the city can’t flirt with birds from the country anymore, “those birds are actually going to be less likely to mate with each other,” he says. “I mean, literally they’re going to stop being able to speak the same language.” >> Read more at npr.org

Learn about how you can support Brooklyn’s bird populations.

Birds of Brooklyn is now featured on Celebrate Urban Birds!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has decades of experience connecting hundreds of thousands of people with nature. Their newest initiative, Celebrate Urban Birds, involves using visual and performing arts, participatory art, and science projects to engage city dwellers.

If you are an educator or parent try out the Birding by Ear activity.