Summary:
- During the COVID-19 lockdowns, many university campuses were left empty, leading to a significant decrease in human activity and noise pollution.
- This change in environment allowed birds on these campuses to physically adapt, with some species developing larger beaks and wings compared to birds living in areas with more human activity.
- The study suggests that the reduced human presence and noise on university campuses during the pandemic provided an opportunity for birds to undergo rapid evolutionary changes to better suit their new, quieter surroundings.