November 7, 2006
Bird-friendly communications towers on cards
The FCC drew praise from a wildlife conservation group for considering a plan to make communications towers less deadly for migrating birds - which currently kill up to 50-million birds a year in the United States. IOL reports.
"An American Bird Conservancy report analyzing documented towers kills, lists 230 species – over one third of all avian species found in the United States – that are known to be killed at towers, including many species of conservation concern such as the Blackpoll Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
"If we can find a solution, as simple as changing the lights on a tower, I think everyone wants to see that happen," said Darin Schroeder of the American Bird Conservancy. "We're hopeful that a rule will be developed."
The commission agreed on Friday to seek comment on how much communications towers affect migrating birds and various issues related to ways to keep birds from crashing into them.
PIcture above of Northern Harrier birds killed in tower guy wired from American Bird Conservancy's page on
Communication towers.
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