Penn Forest Township has voted to approve a zoning amendment that would designate an area for warehouses in the township.

Among the concerns associated with warehouse development is the noise pollution that comes with heavy truck traffic. While a noisy environment may be stressful to humans, it can be life-threatening for birds.

Bird calls are not just idle chatter but a means of communication by which birds signal to one another the presence of danger, the availability of foraging and nesting sites, and the nearby presence of potential mates. Without this signaling, birds are at great risk for death by predation, malnutrition, and reproductive failure.

A quiet environment is essential for bird communication. Songbirds have been shown to sing louder in the presence of noise, causing them to expend energy that would be better spent foraging, avoiding predators, and reproducing. Noise pollution is a major factor in the drop in bird populations worldwide.

Carbon County, and more specifically Penn Forest Township, are included among Pennsylvania’s 86 state-designated Important Bird Areas (IBAs), with higher than average species diversity and the potential for rare bird sightings. One such site is located in the Hawk Falls/Mud Run Natural Area of Hickory Run State Park, and another in the Penn Forest Tract of Weiser State Forest. Both these sites are in the immediate vicinity of the township’s proposed new C-1A Zoning District.

The township’s proactive stance on this issue is not without merit. However, unless it is designed to protect the township’s most valuable assets, including its scenic views and rare habitats, the plan could have a devastating impact on the biological diversity of our region.

Juliet Perrin

Albrightsville