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Index of Subjects
Index of Subjects This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C732F7.43166300 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The following is from a e-newsletter sent out by Wild Ones, an organization of natural landscapers that is based in Wisconsin. Although this is directed to people in the United States, I thought some of the information might be of interest to members of this list: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates the number of migratory birds killed by collisions with communication towers to be between 4 million and 50 million per year. At least 96,000 towers are registered with the Federal Communications Commission nationwide, and more are built every year. The FCC is seeking comments on the possible adoption of measures that would reduce migratory bird kills at communication towers. After many years of pressure from the bird conservation community, this is the first opportunity for public input. Comments are due by Jan. 22, 2007. Communication towers have long been known, especially in Wisconsin, to be a hazard to birds, as the longest study to date was conducted here by Dr. Charles Kemper: A Study of Bird Mortality at a West Central Wisconsin TV Tower from 1957-1995. Over the 38-year period of the study, he collected 121,560 birds representing 123 species. On one night in 1963, he collected more than 12,000 birds, the largest single-night kill yet documented. The number of birds killed by communications towers varies based on the type of lighting (medium intensity white strobe lights appears to be much better than red obstruction lighting systems), the use of guy wires (free-standing towers are better), tower height, and location of the tower. Communication devices should be collocated (all on one tower) whenever possible; and Environmental Assessments (EAs), prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, should be required for proposed facilities that could have adverse effects on migratory birds. EAs would be of particular importance for any places where there could be cumulative impacts, such as known migratory pathways. A prime example is along the Gulf Coast, where birds make landfall after a lengthy and arduous migration. FCC is seeking all comments, but prefers information based on the scientific or technical evidence. All comments need to include the agency name and be identified by WT Docket No. 03-187, FCC 06-164. To submit your comments, choose one of the following options. Go to http://www.regulations.gov or to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ (this is also the website to access the docket and read background documents) or e-mail ecfs@fcc.gov and include "get form" in the subject of the e-mail to receive a sample form to fill in or send via U.S. mail to Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Good background resources can be found at www.towerkill.com and at www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/towers/comtow.html or you can read the entire proposal on the Federal Register at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov /2006/pd f/E6-19742.pdf Peace, Wild Flora in the Stewiacke Valley ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C732F7.43166300 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.5730.11" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV> <P><SPAN class=3D096522911-08012007><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The = following is from=20 a e-newsletter sent out by Wild Ones, an organization of natural = landscapers=20 that is based in Wisconsin. Although this is directed to people in the = United=20 States, I thought some of the information might be of interest to = members of=20 this list:</FONT></SPAN></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>The U.S. Fish & = Wildlife Service=20 estimates the number of migratory birds</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>killed by collisions with = communication=20 towers to be between 4 million and 50</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>million per year. At = least 96,000=20 towers are registered with the Federal</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Communications Commission = nationwide,=20 and more are built every year. The FCC is</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>seeking comments on the = possible=20 adoption of measures that would reduce migratory</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>bird kills at = communication towers.=20 After many years of pressure from the bird</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>conservation community, = this is the=20 first opportunity for public input. Comments are</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>due by Jan. 22, 2007. = </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Communication towers have = long been=20 known, especially in Wisconsin, to be a hazard</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>to birds, as the longest = study to date=20 was conducted here by Dr. Charles Kemper: A</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Study of Bird Mortality = at a West=20 Central Wisconsin TV Tower from 1957-1995. Over</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>the 38-year period of the = study, he=20 collected 121,560 birds representing 123</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>species. On one night in = 1963, he=20 collected more than 12,000 birds, the largest</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>single-night kill yet = documented.=20 </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>The number of birds = killed by=20 communications towers varies based on the type of</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>lighting (medium = intensity white strobe=20 lights appears to be much better than red</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>obstruction lighting = systems), the use=20 of guy wires (free-standing towers are</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>better), tower height, = and location of=20 the tower. Communication devices should be</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>collocated (all on one = tower) whenever=20 possible; and Environmental Assessments</FO