Communication Towers

An estimated 4 to 10+ million night migrating birds collide with communication towers each year.

Known or Suspected Collision Risk Factors:

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Action

As the number of communication towers increase rapidly, the Service is focusing more attention on the bird collision issue and has considered action under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

As a proactive means of addressing the issue, the USFWS established the Communication Tower Working Group (CTWG), a consortium of federal agencies, the communication industry, environmental organizations, private consulting firms, and other stakeholders.

Current efforts include identifying the issue and establish research strategies that will quantify risk factors and lead to reduction of mortality. The USFWS now has voluntary siting and technical guidelines for communication towers and wind turbines.

Curry & Kerlinger Involvement

Paul Kerlinger serves as a member of the Communication Tower Working Group and sits on the CTWG Research Subcommittee.

Curry & Kerlinger, LLC, under contract with the USFWS, reviewed the recent literature on the tower collisions. That report is available on the USFWS website.

Curry & Kerlinger are now working with several corporations to reduce bird fatalities at communication tower sites.

Click for more on Curry & Kerlinger communication tower services

For more information on communication tower issues, see TowerKill.com

For more information on bird migration, see: How Birds Migrate, by Paul Kerlinger (a primer on bird migration).