Making Communication Towers Safer

A simple solution to reduce bird fatalities exists: flashing lights. Unlike steady-burning lights, flashing lights pose little danger to birds. In fact, their use can reduce nighttime bird fatalities by as much as 70 percent. And that is not the only benefit of using flashing light systems:

• The elimination of steady-burning lights greatly reduces operation and maintenance costs for tower operators.
• The change to flashing lights can be made inexpensively and reduces energy use.
• The use of flashing lights will help bring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the tower industry into compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other laws protecting migratory birds.

Bird enthusiasts can play an active role in reducing communications tower collisions by urging tower owners and operators to turn off their steady-burning lights. This simple improvement will make communication towers more bird-friendly while reducing operating costs. It is worth the effort: Every tower made safer now will benefit birds for years to come.

Not all communications towers pose equal threats to birds, and basic changes to the most dangerous towers can greatly reduce tower collisions and bird deaths. Those most in need of improvement include:

• Towers with steady-burning nighttime lights: these lights attract and disorient birds, leading to collisions and bird fatalities. Red lights in particular are dangerous for birds.
• Towers 300 feet and taller cause significantly more avian fatalities than shorter ones. Likewise, towers supported by guy wires are responsible for more collisions than self-supporting ones.
• Towers located in areas with high migratory bird concentrations. This is particularly important in areas used by rare birds.
• Towers located in areas with frequent fog in the spring and fall; foggy conditions tend to increase bird collisions.

Tower operators and engineers can learn more about specific actions they can take to protect birds by consulting the Federal Communications Commission’s 2017 report, “Opportunities to Reduce Bird Collisions with Communications Towers While Reducing Tower Lighting Costs.”

The FAA has found that flashing lights on communication towers do not pose a safety danger for aviators. Accordingly, the agency released an Advisory Circular requiring that new towers greater than 150 feet tall be lit with flashing lights. Unfortunately, existing towers are still allowed to use nonflashing lights.

Everyone has something to gain by turning off steady-burning lights. And the tower industry has generally been supportive of this option, recognizing that flashing lights reduce operating and maintenance costs. The win-win aspect of this opportunity is an important point to emphasize when interacting with the communication tower officials.

The Songbird Saver app, developed by Celiron Labs, allows users on mobile devices and desktops to quickly find towers that need to change their lights and contact tower operators. To get started, visit songbirdsaver.org. Please send printed letters to ensure your letter is received.

The Songbird Saver App includes a template letter that can be used to help craft messages to the tower owners in your area.

You can follow up on your letter by contacting the tower engineer who will be most familiar with individual towers and is responsible for their marking and lighting. If a phone call does not suffice, consider a face-to-face meeting, as these are typically most effective. Always remember to be respectful and positive in your interactions.

Do not hesitate to follow up with the tower owner after your initial meeting to check on progress. This is especially important if progress is not obvious. During interactions, it is also important to mention that bird-friendly changes provide an opportunity to generate positive media attention for tower operators and affiliate stations.

Tracking Progress: The Songbird Saver website also provides a reporting feature enabling you to inform us which towers have been contacted and the response, if any, received from the tower owner.

Federal Aviation Administration website for applying to change communication tower lights.

Federal Communications Commission website for applying to change communication tower lights.

Federal Communications Commission website with individual communication tower contact information.

Reports

Evaluation of New Obstruction Lighting Techniques to Reduce Avian Fatalities. 2012. By James Patterson, Jr. (Federal Aviation Administration).

The Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular for Marking and Lighting of Tall Structures (AC 70/7460-1L) 2015.

Communication towers, lights, and birds: successful methods of reducing the frequency of avian collisions. 2009. Joelle Gehring et al.

The role of tower height and guy wires on avian collisions with communication towers. 2011. Joelle Gehring et al.

An Estimate of Avian Mortality at Communication Towers in the United States and Canada. 2012. Travis Longcore et al.

Other

Download a sample petition letter to tower engineers.