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FCC must consider impact of communications towers on birds

Posted at 11:14 AM on 20 Feb 2008

A federal appeals court has made the call that the Federal Communications Commission must analyze the impact of new Gulf Coast communications towers on migratory birds. Green groups which sued over the birds' flight plight point out that up to 50 million birds die annually from collisions with towers as they cross the Gulf of Mexico, a problem relatively easily addressed through attention to location, height, and design of towers.

sources: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times

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Comments: (5 comments)

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Communication towers and migrating birds

FINALLY!! The number of precious birds struggling to follow their ancestral migratory routes that have been killed because of our supposed "need" to have cell phones, etc. is more than we who care about Planet Earth and her life can imagine. It is heartening to know that people are having an influence with decision makers and federal agencies to protect bird species that ask only to be allowed to migrate as their kind have done for eons. They have far too many hazards to overcome without us adding to the dangers.

Peace and respect to our fellow beings!

by birdrehabber at 2:36 PM on 20 Feb 2008

hurray the birds!

Well said, BirdRehabber.

Meanwhile, let us recognize that birds unfortunately are not a very high priority, when it comes to building anything. As good as this new restriction (really still in the early embryo stage, with no assurance that it will be brought to light) on communication towers around the Gulf of Mexico, there will be no similar restricting the construction of tall buildings with glass windows.

It is ironic that wind turbines, which in the long run are part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis as affected by GHG emissions and global warming, have received much more attention recently -- by environmentalists too! -- as bird-killers, when all kinds of conventional buildings are many times more deadly.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 2:50 PM on 20 Feb 2008

Surprisingly Good Result

Another attorney and I were trying to get a similar suit going several years ago here on the west coast, but couldn't find a willing client. I'm glad Earthjustice did.

One of the most egregious facts is that they've been building cell phone towers in places like National Parks. This is done on the pretext of safety, but far more likely is done to make money for cell phone companies. I'm sorry, but if you can't go to a park without your cell phone, do the planet a favor and stay home!

by Wolverine at 4:25 PM on 20 Feb 2008

Cell phone towers

You would be amazed to see the number of cell phone towers that are 199 feet tall, so they don't have to light them.

Also amazing the number of towers that are built without proper permits and local notice. They can go up very quickly before authorities can protest, and then their lawyers go to work for a variance.

While somewhat off topic, fighting un-authorized tower construction is a constant struggle in the aviation world.

by Boyscientist at 11:28 AM on 23 Feb 2008

Tall towers the worst

As much as I dislike the spread of cell towers like the blight of highway billboards in the past, it appears from a review of the literature that it's the tall towers that are the big killers. Lots of stuff here paid for by your taxes.

http://library.fws.gov/Pubs9/avian_mortality00.pdf

by Boyscientist at 2:17 PM on 23 Feb 2008

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