Lisa, There are no other migratory concentration zones as well recognized in NY as shoreline regions. There are other geographic dynamics that cause migratory bird concentrations, such as long ridgelines (for migratory raptors especially) and box canyons (for night migrants especially) but there are no documented sites I am aware of for these other concentration dynamics in the Syracuse-Onondaga region.
The concentrations of waterfowl at Montezuma would not be considered actively migrating as much as "staging" (migratory birds taking a pit stop). The FCC has Environmental Assessment rules that may limit tower construction within MNWR boundaries but I think there is a gray area for building towers in proximity to such preserves. Ideally there should be a buffer zone for tower construction around NWRs (depending on tower height). However, the scientific grounding for such a zone is scant and would be more a precautionary gesture. >From what I've seen, communications towers and wind farms are being built with >little regard for many IBAs (e.g. new wind farm on Wolfe Island Ontario). It >seems human infrastructure can trump previously recognized wildlife zones in >many cases. A lot depends on public awareness/support for the IBA and the >nature of the intrusion, for example whether it is a 200-ft cell tower or >1000-ft TV tower. So, to answer your question, yes it is true in some cases and it should ideally be true in many other cases. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Welch To: Bill Evans ; cayugabirds Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Thanks Bill, Wouldn't this be true of other recognized migratory routes, wildlife refugees, or IBA, etc, for example, Montezuma? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Bill Evans <wrev...@clarityconnect.com> To: Lisa Welch <welch_m_l...@yahoo.com>; cayugabirds <cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:16 AM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Lisa, Unlike for commercial wind energy, there are no specific NY guidelines for minimizing avian impacts of communcations towers (i.e., nothing from NYDEC). The Federal guidelines put forth by the USFWS are pertinent for NY and can be found at the following link: http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/communicationtowers.html Generally, towers should be kept as far away from the shores of Lake Ontario as possible, due to occasional large migratory bird concentrations there. Towers located within ~3 miles of the shoreline should be free-standing (no guy wires) and as short as possible. Towers should not be built near sources of bright permanent light (sports stadiums, convenient stores, etc.), which may lead to dense bird aggregations of disoriented birds on cloudy nights. Towers should use flashing (not steady-burning) aviation obstruction lighting if possible. Bill Evans www.towerkill.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Welch To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:39 AM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Hello, I am a planner with Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency and I'm researching migratory bird (or otherwise) regulatory requirements and/or recommended practices for proposed and existing towers. Can anyone recommend a definitive guide for NYS? Thanks. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
