image: Chaffinch in vineyard. photo by Natalie Zielonka
Increased bird sound diversity in vineyards enhances visitor' tour experience
A new research paper, conducted by University of East Anglia and Professor Lynn Dicks from Cambridge University's Zoology Department, has found that a larger level of bird song diversity increases visitor enjoyment and experience during vineyard tours across the UK.
Soundscapes recorded across 21 English vineyards found that locations with higher bird species richness, but not abundance, led to more diverse and louder soundscapes. The locations with richer soundscapes correlated with positive visitor response in areas such as sound enjoyment, soundscape connectedness and tour satisfaction.