Commercial
Communication Towers
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that any company proposing to construct a new communications tower should collocate the communications equipment on an existing communication tower or other structure such as a billboard, water tower, or building mount.
Additionally, the type of lighting used on the towers is important. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, it is estimated that nearly 7 million birds, predominantly night-migrating songbirds, die each year as a result of collisions with lit communication towers in the United States. Birds can be attracted to and disoriented by tower obstruction warning lighting systems that include non-flashing lights, especially during inclement weather. Research has demonstrated that eliminating non-flashing lights on towers may reduce migratory bird collisions by as much as 70 percent.
Fact Sheets
Additional Resources
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Communications Towers
American Bird Conservancy: Communication Towers
