![\"Three](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Banding-chickadee-copy-1050x700.jpg\")
Biological Sciences PhD student Michelle Ross (left) bands a black-capped chickadee at the Brock farm while Biological Sciences undergraduate students Ava Talarico (centre) and Natalie Bakker (right) observe and record data.<\/p><\/div>\n
But while the Brock farm boxes welcomed their first residents at the end of June, the downtown boxes haven\u2019t seen the same results.<\/p>\n
\u201cChickadees and house wrens are not the best of the best urban adapters,\u201d Ross says. \u201cThere is a chance that the house sparrows and European starlings, two urban-adapted species, have outcompeted our target birds in the downtown area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the setback, Ross was pleasantly surprised at the public engagement during the downtown site installations.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many people stopped to thank us or ask questions. It was inspiring to see how much people cared,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
With no nests in the urban boxes, Ross is shifting her research focus to investigate the urban stressor of noise pollution.<\/p>\n
Taking advantage of the Brock farm\u2019s location on Merrittville Highway, the team is now looking at how highway traffic noise affects bird communication.<\/p>\n
As the project continues, she is eager to see how many birds may return next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve become a bit like proud mother geese,\u201d she says. \u201cSo, we\u2019re really looking forward to seeing our hard work pay off as the chicks grow and successfully leave the nest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ross encourages the public to support local wildlife by planting native species and speaking up for conservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven small actions can have a big impact when it comes to protecting wildlife and making space for nature in our cities.\u201d<\/p>\n