Study: Communication Tower Lights are Dangerous to Birds
A new study found that night-flying birds are attracted to the standard lights found on the towers.
Research shows that current lighting standards for communication towers in Michigan are dangerous to birds.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service study found that continuously burning lights attract birds to the towers and can lead to collisions.
Jack Dingledine is a deputy field supervisor with the service. He says the risk of collision can be reduced by up to 70 percent if towers used flashing lights.
“I don’t think we know why for sure that steady burning lights are more attractive but the research that was conducted here in Michigan showed that if you change the steady burning lights to ones that flash those are less attractive to birds and then there is less likely to collide with the towers,” Dingledine says.
Dingledine is urging tower owners in the state to switch to flashing lights.
He says the Federal Aviation Administration is making changes to the lighting standard for towers in Michigan.
