I’m afraid that I scared them away from an active nest by accident just playing around with the app. :(
If I were a bird, and another mysterious bird sound came that was speaking a certain feeling or phrase I could understand, and I come to see it's a giant monkey man playing the sounds from himself, I would probably move my family, too.
Yes, Cardinals are pretty territorial and chase each other out. Esp during nesting.
Whether it's whistling close to their tones, "Pishing" to get their attention, or playing sounds from phones, all of it interrupts their normal behavior. Cars, trucks, lawnmowers, motorcycles all mess with them too.
https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/04/the-proper-use-of-playb...
>When song is played in a bird’s territory, that bird’s response to the “intruder” is watched attentively by neighboring males and by females. In one study (Mennill et al 2002) high-ranking male Black-capped Chickadees exposed to aggressive playback lost status as their mates and neighbors apparently perceived them as losers, unable to drive away the phantom intruder.
It's clear we're capable of mimicking their language with our devices and playing it back to them has potential consequences to breaking up a family of birds.
Each time, I think to myself ... That bird is CLOSE! Let me take my phone out of my pocket and see if Merlin knows what it is ... DAMMNIT!