Who hasn't found themselves shouting to be heard over the din of the city -- the traffic, the shouting, the boom boxes, etc.? Well, it turns out that birds are the same way. In fact, a recent longitudinal study of urban-dwelling White-crowned Sparrows in the San Francisco Bay area found that the birds have not only changed their frequency to be heard, but also in many cases changed their song. The research is the latest in a long series of studies that illustrates the many ways in which human activity is altering the behavior of birds and other wildlife. So, as we say good-bye to the White-crowns this season (don't worry, they'll be back this winter), this research might prompt us to keep it down a little.