WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has entered into an agreement with the state of Michigan to use its 800 MHz public-safety communications system towers for a study on the impact of towers on birds.
“This agreement promotes FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s action plan, announced in May, to improve the FCC’s ability to protect valuable historic and environmental resources, while at the same time accelerating the process of developing necessary communications infrastructure. Specifically by providing empirical scientific information on bird collisions with towers, the study will help the commission carry out its environmental responsibility in an efficient, effective and streamlined manner,” said the FCC.
There are 180 towers that will be part of the study, but smaller towers may also be included if funding becomes available.
The study was developed and designed collaboratively by ornithologist Paul Kerlinger of Curry and Kerlinger and wildlife biologist Al Manville of the division of migratory bird management of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The study is intended to systematically research the effect of lighting, height and guy wires on avian collisions at selected towers in the 350- to 500-foot height range.
The research is not conclusive as to whether the towers themselves kill the birds by the birds flying into them or whether the lighting required under Federal Aviation Administration rules for towers higher than 200 feet attracts and then confuses the birds.
The state of Michigan signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, but the agency’s release did not say why the Enforcement Bureau was involved. Michigan also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Fish & Wildlife Service’s Twin Cities Office to facilitate the avian study.
