April 15, 2009 -- Millions of birds die every year from nighttime collisions with communication towers. But there may be a simple way to save tons of avian lives -- without tearing down towers or sacrificing airplane safety. All we have to do, suggests a new study, is change some light bulbs so that steady lights become blinking lights. "The potential is that all the communication towers in the world could potentially be changed to be better," said Terry Rich, director of Partners in Flight, a bird conservation group, in Boise, Idaho. He was not involved with the new study. "That would save millions and millions of birds," Rich said. "It's hugely important. It's hard to overemphasize what the potential is." An estimated 4 or 5 million birds die each year in the United States from flying into communications towers, said Joelle Gehring, lead author of the new study, though some estimates range as high as 50 million birds a year. Migratory songbirds are the most common victims of tower collisions. And most run-ins happen at night, which is when these birds tend to travel. Related Content:
Scientists suspect that migratory birds use stellar constellations and other light cues to navigate. If the animals encounter other lights along their journey, they can become easily confused, especially if fog, clouds or rain push them down to lower altitudes and obstruct their view of the stars. Befuddled birds often circle illuminated towers before ramming into them or the wires that connect them to the ground. These structures are lit at night so that pilots can avoid them. "We knew these towers were involved in collisions for decades," said Gehring, a conservation scientist at the Michigan Natural Features Inventory in Lansing. "But we never dove into why and how we could prevent it." Gehring and colleagues happened upon the perfect natural experiment. The Michigan state police maintain a network of communication towers that were built around the same time and are all equipped with the same lighting systems. Best of all, the police department agreed to give the researchers full access to the towers, including the ability to fiddle around with the way the lights glowed at night. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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