| Autor: |
Lundstrom, Lisa A., Horn, David Joseph, Capparella, Angelo P. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science; 2013, Vol. 106, p9-12, 4p |
| Abstrakt: |
Avian mortality has been documented at television towers and other constructed lighted structures for over 150 years, and it is estimated that 6.8 million birds are killed annually in the United States and Canada as a result of communication towers. Tower structure (lighting, height, and guy wires) and weather conditions (wind direction, cloud cover) play a large role in mortality rates. We examined the effects of tower structure and weather conditions on mortality at three television towers in central Illinois (WAND, WBUI, and WILL). Forty-three searches were conducted between August and November 2006-2009 with a total of 415 birds from 14 families found. Most birds found were of Family Parulidae (66%), Family Emberizidae (9%), and Family Turdidae (9%). The WILL tower accounted for 96% of the total birds killed. The high mortality observed at the WILL tower may be due to the tower's steady and flashing red lights as opposed to the flashing white lights on the WAND and WBUI towers. We found that more birds were killed following nights with winds from the north and ⩾50% cloud cover. Most studies of tower collisions have focused on tower structure rather than weather conditions; however, the combination of tower lighting and weather may play a substantial role in avian mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Supplemental Index |
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