Analyzing Word Choice in Urban Development Context

In the following passage, the author examines the effects of urban development on local wildlife:

"As skyscrapers sprang up, casting long shadows over meadows, the rustling of leaves gave way to the harsh sounds of machinery. The once vibrant chorus of birds was replaced by the mechanical whir of construction, a jarring reminder of progress at a profound cost. The delicate balance of nature teetered on the brink, echoing a dire warning about the choices we make. In prioritizing concrete over flora and fauna, the city risked severing its vital connections to the environment, inviting a future where the harmony of life would vanish into the ether of ambition."