American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is gathering signatures for lette...
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is gathering signatures for letter to House Appropriations interior subcommittee that requests congressional appropriation for research on threat to birds posed by communications towers. Ranking Commerce Committee Democrat Dingell (Mich.) and ranking Telecom Subcommittee Democrat…
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Markey (Mass.) already have sent letter requesting $350,000 appropriation to Appropriations Interior Subcommittee Chmn. Skeen (R-N.M.), said Gerald Winegrad, vp- policy for American Bird Conservancy. While appropriations amount is relatively tiny, letter is seen as sign of extent to which this issue may begin to play out on Capitol Hill. In petitions for review filed by Friends of the Earth and Forest Conservation Council at FCC over tower siting proposals, migratory bird impact has been among concerns cited. Winegrad said he is circulating letter among wireless industry representatives, FCC and environmental groups for support. He said that besides ABC, National Audubon and Defenders of Wildlife have agreed to sign letter to Skeen and ranking subcommittee Democrat Dicks (Wash.). “We believe that bird kills at communications towers could be greatly reduced, if not eliminated, with some concentrated research,” draft letter said. Draft noted that 3 peer-reviewed research proposals have been cleared by industry-govt. Communications Tower Working Group but await funding. E-mail circulated last week soliciting signatures for letter noted that on April 26, FCC held meeting to discuss bird mortality issue related to towers and potential solutions. Wireless industry has contended that most-significant problem with bird kills is posed by largest towers, such as those for DTV, and that there is lack of current, scientific evidence on impact of smaller, cellular towers (CD May 13 p4). Fish & Wildlife Service has estimated that 4 million birds each year are killed in N. America from collisions with communications towers. While some in wireless industry have argued there’s no clear body of evidence as to connection of their towers and bird kills, environmentalists have accused industry of stonewalling rather than supporting research. One proposed study that has been peer-reviewed and is awaiting funding is one that would examine impact of towers under 400 ft., Winegrad said. Another study would evaluate whether sound and lighting systems could be activated to deter birds from towers during bad weather, he said.