Federation of New York State Bird Clubs Towerkill Resolution

RESOLUTION ON BIRD MORTALITY AT COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS

WHEREAS, nationally communications towers over 200 feet high are lighted and have a well documented history of killing migratory birds, and

WHEREAS, the number of such communications towers in New York State has doubled in the last seven years, and is expected to double again in the next five years, and

WHEREAS, there are only two long-term studies in New York State and these have been conducted at towers over 500 feet, and no studies have been reported at towers in the 200-500 foot height range, and

WHEREAS, towers in the 200-500 foot height range are proliferating at the greatest rate, and

WHEREAS, many of these new towers are being constructed on hilltops to broaden their range, and this may increase their impact on migratory birds, and

WHEREAS, surveys are needed to document bird mortality at communications towers, therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs endorses efforts to monitor tower mortality in New York State, and be it further

RESOLVED that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs encourages communications companies across the state to cooperate with such studies and allow members of bird clubs to periodically search the grounds of communications towers for bird kills, and be it further

RESOLVED that the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs encourages the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to address this issue.

Approved at the Annual Meeting in Rochester, New York on September 26, 1998.

References:

Avery, M. L., P. F. Springer,and N.S. Dailey. 1980. Avian mortality at man-made structures: an annotated bibliography (revised). US Fish Wildl. Serv. FWS/OBS-80/54, 152 pp.

FWS/OBS-80/54, 152 pp.

Cochran, William W.and Richard R. Graber. 1958. Attraction of nocturnal migrants by lights on a television tower. Wilson Bulletin,
70:378-380.

Federal Aviation Administration Digital Obstacle File. National Ocean Service, Riverdale, MD.

The New York State Ornithological Association
formerly The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs