Birds and
Wireless Radiation
Field studies at cell towers have documented the
negative effects of wireless radiation on wild birds flying or nesting nearby.
A double-blind study published in Nature found that robins exposed to wireless electromagnetic noise were unable to orient using their magnetic compass. Subsequent research has found strong negative correlations between bird breeding and wireless levels emitted from nearby cell towers; when radiation levels were higher, breeding success was lower.
The peer reviewed scientific research below paints a bleak picture of broader negative effects including nest abandonment, plumage deterioration, and locomotion problems among birds exposed to man-made wireless and cellular radiation, even at frequencies commonly used for modern connectivity.
Bird Conservation Efforts
North America has lost nearly 1 out of every 4 birds according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with a marked acceleration in bird losses since 1987.
Negative effects from wireless radiofrequencies have been documented across varied bird species, from common to endangered, including house sparrows, European robins, white storks, rock doves, magpies, collared doves, and the northern bald ibis.
Bird conservation efforts should include protection from the radiofrequency radiation emitted from cell towers into bird habitats, including night migratory routes, protected habitats, federal parks, and sleeping and nesting areas.
The Science
"Our results are in line with previous research
showing that a broadband RF noise can disturb magnetic compass orientation of night-migratory songbirds."
- Leberecht et al., 2022
Night-Migratory Songbirds and Broadband
Research published in 2022 found that the navigational abilities of night-migrating songbirds were negatively impacted when exposed to man-made radiofrequencies in the broadband range. Scientists Leberecht and colleagues conducted behavioral experiments in songbirds and concluded that the birds were unable to use their magnetic compass when exposed to radiofrequency fields in the 75-85 MHz or broadband range. Abstract: "The light-dependent magnetic compass sense of night-migratory songbirds can be disrupted by weak radiofrequency fields. This finding supports a quantum mechanical, radical-pair-based mechanism of magnetoreception as observed for isolated cryptochrome 4, a protein found in birds’ retinas... Here, we show that broadband 75–85 MHz radiofrequency fields prevent a night-migratory songbird from using its magnetic compass in behavioural experiments. These results indicate that at least one of the components of the radical pair involved in the sensory process of avian magnetoreception must contain a substantial number of strong hyperfine interactions as would be the case if a flavin–tryptophan radical pair were the magnetic sensor."
"The skin temperature increased by up to 7.11°C after 15 min of exposure, indicating significant bioeffects."
- Choudhary, Kumar, Mishra (2025). Thermal Impact of Chronic Exposure to High-Frequency Non-ionizing EM Radiation on Avian Skin: A Theoretical Approach.
Cell Towers Have Thermal Effects on Birds
In August 2025, scientists published research showing that radiation emissions from cellular transmission sources effect the health of birds through thermal or heating effects. The scientists measured the rate of absorption inside the skin of the birds, or Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). They then calculated the change in temperature within the birds' skin tissue when exposed to electromagnetic waves for one to 15 minutes. At the close proximity of 1 meter away from a cellular transmission source, at a frequency of 5.5 GHz, the SAR reached 27.65 W/kgskin temperature of the birds increased by up to 7.11°C after 15 minutes of exposure. The authors explained that this increase in skin temperature indicates significant bioeffects. The electric field intensity surrounding a cell tower is strongest closer to the tower and decreases with distance. Birds flying close to a cell tower will receive more radiation intensity than birds flying farther from the tower. Abstract: The manuscript reveals that the high-frequency electromagnetic radiations emitted from transmission towers affect birds' health. As the number of mobile phones is increasing rapidly, this radiation is present almost everywhere in the environment. This study uses a theoretical model based on Maxwell's equations to evaluate the thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of 3.5 GHz to 5.5 GHz frequency on avian skin. When birds fly from 1 to 10 m around a mobile phone tower, the electric field intensity is decreased by 90%. The results of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) inside the skin of avian show that its value is directly proportional to the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave. The change in temperature in the skin tissue is calculated for the electromagnetic wave exposure duration of 1 to 15 min. At a frequency of 5.5 GHz and 1 m from a transmission source, the SAR reached 27.65 W/kg, and the skin temperature increased by up to 7.11°C after 15 min of exposure, indicating significant bioeffects. This study aids in the protection of birds by evaluating the thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation exposure and contributes to establishing safer exposure limits.
Northern Bald Ibis:
Eye Problems in Tagged Birds
Balmori A. (2022). Corneal opacity in Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) equipped with radio transmitters. Electromagnetic biology and medicine, 41(2), 174–176. Link
A study published in 2022 examined possible explanations for increased cases of corneal opacity in radio tagged birds. The Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) is an endangered species in Europe. In efforts to reintroduce the birds, wireless radio transmitters have often been attached to the birds' backs for monitoring. However, among the radio tagged birds, biologists have documented the development of unilateral corneal opacity, in which the clear lens or cornea of the eye becomes opaque. The eye then appears white or clouded over, preventing light from passing through. This in turn causes impaired vision in the birds. Scientist Alfonso Balmori found that the most likely explanation for the increased problem of corneal opacity in the tagged birds was a slight rise in temperature in the eye tissue of the birds, which was caused by the electromagnetic radiation transmissions from the wireless GSM tags. The wireless modules worn by the tagged birds were repeatedly emitting radiation during the ongoing wireless tracking transmissions, and therefore the eye tissue was repetitively experiencing artificially raised temperatures. In addition to explaining the vision loss among the tagged birds, the study found that the corneal problem resulted from non-thermal effects from the radiation constantly emitted from the tagging modules. The authors conclude that serious and measurable health effects were caused by the non-thermal effects of the wireless devices. To date, regulation of wireless technology only considered thermal effects and has excluded any potential non-thermal effects from regulatory consideration. Balmori A. (2022). Corneal opacity in Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) equipped with radio transmitters. Electromagnetic biology and medicine, 41(2), 174–176. Link
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"Broadband electromagnetic noise disrupts the magnetic compass orientation of birds tested inside the grounded aluminm-screened huts."
- Egels et al. (2014) Anthropogenic electromagnetic noise disrupts magnetic compass orientation in a migratory bird.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13290
European Robins Unable to Orient
Published in the journal Nature in 2014, this double-blind research study examined the effect of man-made wireless radiation and associated electromagnetic noise on the behavior of the European robins, as well as the ability to reproduce the effect repeatedly. Researchers placed European robins in wooden huts on a university campus in Germany to study the effects of the background levels of electromagnetic noise on the birds. When the robins were exposed to the background wireless electrosmog from the college campus, without any special screening on their wooden huts, they were unable to orient normally using their magnetic compass. Once their huts were protected from the electrosmog using aluminum screening which blocked out the electromagnetic noise, the robins regained their magnetic orientation capabilities. This effect was observed when repeated over and over again by removing the grounding on the aluminum screening. It was also observed when deliberately generating broadband electromagnetic noise inside the screened huts. In these cases the birds would again lose their magnetic orientation capabilities. Abstract: "Electromagnetic noise is emitted everywhere humans use electronic devices. For decades, it has been hotly debated whether man-made electric and magnetic fields affect biological processes ... Here we show that migratory birds are unable to use their magnetic compass in the presence of urban electromagnetic noise. When European robins, Erithacus rubecula, were exposed to the background electromagnetic noise present in unscreened wooden huts at the University of Oldenburg campus, they could not orient using their magnetic compass. Their magnetic orientation capabilities reappeared in electrically grounded, aluminium-screened huts, which attenuated electromagnetic noise in the frequency range from 50 kHz to 5 MHz by approximately two orders of magnitude. When the grounding was removed or when broadband electromagnetic noise was deliberately generated inside the screened and grounded huts, the birds again lost their magnetic orientation capabilities. The disruptive effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields is not confined to a narrow frequency band and birds tested far from sources of electromagnetic noise required no screening to orient with their magnetic compass. These fully double-blinded tests document a reproducible effect of anthropogenic electromagnetic noise on the behaviour of an intact vertebrate.
House Sparrows in Decline:
Electromagnetic Pollution Could Be a Factor
Abstract: In recent decades, there has been a decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), mainly in European cities, and several hypotheses have been proposed that attempt to determine the causes of this rapid decline. Previous studies indicated that house sparrows were significantly negatively associated with increasing electromagnetic radiation and sparrows disappeared from areas most polluted. In addition, there are many studies on the impact of radiation on other bird and non-bird species, as well as numerous laboratory studies that demonstrated detrimental effects at electric field strength levels that can be found in cities today. Electromagnetic radiation is the most plausible factor for multiple reasons, including that this is the only one that affects the other hypotheses proposed so far. It is a type of pollution that affects productivity, fertility, decreases insects (chicken feed), causes loss of habitat, decreases immunity and can promote disease. Additionally, the recent sparrow decline matches the deployment of mobile telephony networks. Further, there are known mechanisms of action for non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation that may affect sparrows causing their decline. Thus, electromagnetic radiation must be seriously considered as a factor for house sparrows’ decline, probably in synergy with the other factors previously proposed. Balmori, A. (2021) Electromagnetic Pollution as a Possible Explanation for the Decline of House Sparrows in Interaction with Other Factors. Birds 2021, 2, 329–337. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds2030024
White Storks:
No Chicks in 2 of 5 Nests
The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird that usually lives in urban areas, with white stork couples typically building their nests in pinnacles and other very high places that have become exposed to man-made microwave radiation in recent decades. For three years during the Spring seasons of 2002, 2003 and 2004, biologist Alfonso Balmori monitored the reproduction of white storks. He studied white stork nests located (a) within 200 meters of cellular antennas and (b) located more than 300 meters from antennas. He found that twelve of the nests located within 200 meters of an antenna had no chicks, amounting to 40 percent of the nests near antennas. In contrast, among the nests further than 300 meters of antennas, only one of the nests had no chicks, or 3.3 percent of the nests. In addition, white stork couples near antennas were found to fight frequently for sticks, and to drop their sticks to the ground while trying to build nests; the nests nearer to antennas often never got completely built, and hatched white stork chicks frequently died. Abstract: "Monitoring of a white stork population in Valladolid (Spain) in the vicinity of Cellular Phone Base Stations was carried out, with the objective of detecting possible effects. The total productivity, in the nests located within 200 meters of antennae, was 0.86 ± 0.16. For those located further than 300 m, the result was practically doubled, with an average of 1.6 ± 0.14. Very significant differences among the total productivity were found (U = 240; p = 0.001, Mann-Whitney test)... Twelve nests (40%) located within than 200 m of antennae never had chicks, while only one (3.3%) located further than 300 m had no chicks. The electric field intensity was higher on nests within 200 m (2.36 ± 0.82 V/m) than on nests further than 300 m (0.53 ± 0.82 V/m). Interesting behavioral observations of the white stork nesting sites located within 100 m of one or several cellsite antennae were carried out. These results are compatible with the possibility that microwaves are interfering with the reproduction of white storks and would corroborate the results of laboratory research by other authors." Balmori, Alfonso. (2005). Possible Effects of Electromagnetic Fields from Phone Masts on a Population of White Stork ( Ciconia ciconia ). Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. Link
Magnetic Sensitivity of Migratory European Robin Exceeds That of Non-Migratory Birds
A study published in the journal Nature in June 2021 examined the mechanism of magnetic sensitivity in the European robin (Erithacus rubecula). One of the ways the European robin navigates at night is through directional cues using an internal magnetic compass that is thought to involve cryptochrome flavoproteins located in the retinas of the birds. The study found that the birds' cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) is magnetically sensitive in vitro, and in fact is more sensitive than in the non-migratory birds studied, chickens and pigeons. Abstract: "Night-migratory songbirds are remarkably proficient navigators1. Flying alone and often over great distances, they use various directional cues including, crucially, a light-dependent magnetic compass2,3. The mechanism of this compass has been suggested to rely on the quantum spin dynamics of photoinduced radical pairs in cryptochrome flavoproteins located in the retinas of the birds4,5,6,7. Here we show that the photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin (Erithacus rubecula) is magnetically sensitive in vitro, and more so than CRY4 from two non-migratory bird species, chicken (Gallus gallus) and pigeon (Columba livia). Site-specific mutations of ErCRY4 reveal the roles of four successive flavin–tryptophan radical pairs in generating magnetic field effects and in stabilizing potential signalling states in a way that could enable sensing and signalling functions to be independently optimized in night-migratory birds." Xu, J., Jarocha, L.E., Zollitsch, T. et al. Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird. Nature 594, 535–540 (2021).
Disruption of the magnetic compass in migratory birds
Abstract: The radical-pair mechanism has been put forward as the basis of the magnetic compass sense of migratory birds. Some of the strongest supporting evidence has come from behavioral experiments in which birds exposed to weak time-dependent magnetic fields lose their ability to orient in the geomagnetic field. However, conflicting results and skepticism about the requirement for abnormally long quantum coherence lifetimes have cast a shroud of uncertainty over these potentially pivotal studies. Using a recently developed computational approach, we explore the effects of various radiofrequency magnetic fields on biologically plausible radicals within the theoretical framework of radical-pair magnetoreception. We conclude that the current model of radical-pair magnetoreception is unable to explain the findings of the reported behavioral experiments. Assuming that an unknown mechanism amplifies the predicted effects, we suggest experimental conditions that have the potential to distinguish convincingly between the two distinct families of radical pairs currently postulated as magnetic compass sensors. We end by making recommendations for experimental protocols that we hope will increase the chance that future experiments can be independently replicated.
Hiscock HG, Mouritsen H, Manolopoulos DE, Hore PJ (2017) Disruption of magnetic compass orientation in migratory birds by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Biophys J 113(7):1475–1484.
Pigeons and Cell Towers:
Hematology Effects
In a study of 120 pigeons placed at varying distances from a source of base transceiver station (BTS) waves, scientists found that closer proximity to the wave source was significantly associated with greater changes in blood factors. A longer exposure time was also significantly associated with greater changes in blood factors. Proximity to the BTS source had the largest effect on platelets, followed by hematocrit testing (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophil counts, hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), lymphocytes, white blood cells (WBC), and monocytes, respectively.
The pigeons were divided into groups based on distance from the radiofrequency wave source. Pigeons in Groups 1-3 were exposed for 30 minutes/day, and pigeons in Groups 4-6 were exposed for 60 minutes/day. Pigeons in Group 1 were located the closest to the wave source at 50 cm away; pigeons in Group 2 were located 100 cm away; and pigeons in Group 3 were the farthest at 150 cm away. Similarly, Group 4 pigeons were the closest at 50 cm for 60 minutes daily; Group 5 pigeons were 100 cm away, and Group 6 pigeons were the furthest at 150 cm away.
Blood labs were done before exposure and again after 30 days in a row of exposure.
"Increasing exposure time and decreasing distance from the wave source have significant effect on hematologic factors."
- Akbari, Khoramipour, Hossaini, Mafigholami, Moradighiasabadi. (2021) Effect of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) waves on some blood factors in domestic pigeons: an experimental study. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering.
Sparrows: Lower Breeding Numbers
In a field study of house sparrows, biologists found a possible effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phone base stations on the number of breeding male birds. They examined geographic variation in the number of sparrows and the strength of wireless radiation emitting from cellular base stations at 150 locations in six residential areas. The variation in number of sparrows was highly significantly related to the strength of the radiofrequency range electric fields. The authors found that fewer House Sparrow males were seen at locations with relatively high electric field strength values of GSM base stations. This supports the idea that long-term exposure to higher radiation from cell towers has negative impacts on the abundance or behavior of sparrows in the wild.
Joris Everaert & Dirk Bauwens (2007) A Possible Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation from Mobile Phone Base Stations on the Number of Breeding House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 26:1, 63-72. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17454083/