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America's Songbirds At-Risk: Help Keep Deadly Towers Out of Their Way

photo of Golden-winged warblerEvery year, millions of migratory birds are killed when they collide with one of the thousands of communication towers scattered across the United States. As more and more cell phone, radio, and digital television towers are built, the escalating kills could soon spell disaster for many already at-risk songbirds like the Bell’s Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, and Bachman’s Sparrow.

Thankfully, simple improvements to the structure, location, lighting, and other details of new communication towers can significantly reduce the numbers of birds killed each year. The Federal Communications Commission can require these improvements – but it wants to hear from you first.

Millions of migratory birds need your help: Send a letter urging the FCC to require strong protections against bird kills for new communication towers today.

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Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Keep America's birds safe from tower collisions

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please accept these comments regarding WT Docket No. 03-187, FCC 06-164.

I am very concerned about the millions of migratory birds that are being killed each year by collision with communication towers. Please use your authority to require communication towers to minimize these unnecessary bird deaths however possible.

I rely on and appreciate our nation's advanced communication system. However, I also know the importance of healthy migratory bird populations as an important part of our ecosystem.

As simple ways to address this problem exist, such as using lights with white or red strobes, minimizing guy wires, and consolidating multiple towers together, it would be indefensible not to require these measures for new towers. In addition, where possible please require existing towers to replace their current lighting with lighting that is designed to minimize bird collisions.

Please carefully consider the mounting scientific evidence of how dangerous these towers are to our migratory birds, and do everything in your power to minimize migratory bird deaths.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 17, 2007


Background Information

 Earthjustice at Work
Earthjustice has long been working to protect America’s wildlife and diverse bird populations, including:
Bird kills from collisions with towers have been well documented for over five decades. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has reported that at least five million migratory birds are killed each year from collisions with cell phone, radio, and digital television towers in the United States alone, but estimates that a more realistic estimate may be as high as 40-50 million bird deaths per year.

Birds die when they collide with towers, their guy wires, or related structures. With over 85,000 communication towers currently scattered across the country and an average of almost 20 new towers built each day, migratory birds have an increasingly good chance of meeting a tower during their long journeys.

 photo of birds killed by communication tower

Almost 1000 birds were killed in a single night at a communications tower in Florida (photo by Robert Crawford)

The American Bird Conservancy reports that 230 individual species are known to have been killed at towers, which translates to one fourth of all bird species found in the United States. Neotropical migratory songbirds (small birds arriving from central and south America) are the most heavily affected due to their night migrations, because tower lights meant to warn human pilots actually disorient night-flying birds.

Out of these affected species, 52 have been identified by the Fish and Wildlife Service as species of concern, whose populations are already stressed from other threats.

These include Black Rail, Bell's Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow, Bachman's Sparrow, and McCown's Longspur. For some species, the increased threat of tower collisions on these already at-risk populations could be enough to push them over the brink.

A better way to keep songbirds flying safer

Thankfully, the Federal Communication Commission has the authority to require simple changes to communication tower structure, placement, and lighting to minimize the amount of bird collisions.

 photo of Golden-winged warble
For some at-risk species like the Golden-winged Warbler, the increased threat of tower collisions could be enough to push them over the brink.

For example, using daytime visual markers, replacing the current red glowing red lights with white or red strobe versions, minimizing or eliminating use of guy wires, and consolidating multiple towers to one tower with multiple antennae can all significantly reduce the number of bird deaths nationwide.

So far, the FCC has resisted efforts to assume responsibility for the killing of birds at communication towers that it licenses. And the communication industry is putting pressure on the FCC to continue to ignore the huge numbers of birds killed, allow current building standards, and approve new dangerous towers at a rate of 7000 every year.

 photo of communication tower
The FCC approves over 7000 new communication towers every year.
The FCC has recently requested input and comments from environmental groups, the industry, and the public, creating an important opportunity to tell the agency loud and clear that Americans care about keeping our skies safe for migratory birds. The FCC is accepting public comments only until January 22, 2007, so please send your letter today!

If you prefer to mail your letter, please send it to:

Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20554

Or submit comments directly through the Federal Communications Commission's website.