City Must do All Possible to Save Birds

My supportive letter in the Public Pulse. Omaha World-Herald 149(29): 6B.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal for a lighting schedule at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge (Nov. 4 World-Herald) is a compromise regarding the reality of bird strikes in eastern Omaha. The spring and autumn periods suggested are associated with peaks of migrational movement along the Missouri River valley by a wonderful variety of species.

There are hundreds of bird strikes in the downtown environs every year. They can occur any day between early March through November, based upon my investigation of more than 500 dates since May 2008. Dead or disabled birds can be easily found.

City of Omaha officials should do everything possible to minimize hazards to migratory birds, especially due to lighting at the Kerrey bridge. The cityscape is already very dangerous to so many birds, and steps to reduce the tragic impacts should be made by public and private entities.

Avian Collisions - Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

This is a copy of the email sent by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Brook Bench, director of the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department; a copy was also sent to the nongame biologist at the Nebraska Game and parks Commission. This letter was the basis for an article "Threat to migrating birds puts spotlight on Bob Kerrey bridge" by Nancy Gaarder that was in the Omaha World-Herald on November 4th. There are some supportive comments included with the online article.

"The purpose of this E-mail is to recommend a minor modification to the current lighting regime at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to minimize the risk of birds colliding with the lighted support cables and pylons during their spring and fall migrations. Protection of migratory birds is a priority to the Fish and Wildlife Service and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in Nebraska and we have worked with numerous organizations to find ways to avoid and minimize the risks posed to migratory birds in our state.

"As you are probably aware, the Missouri River provides an important migration corridor for birds in the spring and fall. Many of these birds migrate at night and rest during the day. Sources of light can attract migrating birds, especially if these lights are located along a flight pathway and are illuminated at a time when birds are looking to rest after a night of migration. We believe that this is the time when birds tend to collide with structures and are injured and killed. For this reason, we request that you consider the following modification to the current lighting at the Pedestrian Bridge.

"We request that you shut off the lights on the cables and the vertical pylons at 11:00 pm as is currently done. However, we request that the lights not be turned back on until sunrise during the spring and fall migrations only. Spring migration is from April 15-May 31 and fall migration is from September 1-October 31. Currently, it is our understanding that the lights are turned back on at 5:00 am year round. Path lighting should remained unchanged to ensure a safe environment for those using the bridge as should any lights associated with warning for aircraft or vessels as required by FAA and the Coast Guard, respectively.

"Our effort here is to try and be proactive and work with you on what appears to be a somewhat minor modification to the current lighting regime to protect birds as they migrate along the Missouri River. At this point, we are unaware of any birds that have collided with the lighted cables or pylons at the Pedestrian Bridge. It is likely, however, that collisions have occurred and dead and injured birds simply fall into the river and go undetected. As you are probably aware, the vast majority of migrating birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

"Thank you for your consideration and assistance in the protection of birds as they migrate through Nebraska. Please contact me if I can be of assistance to you on this matter or if you have any questions. Thanks."

Robert R. Harms

Fish and Wildlife Biologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

203 West Second Street

Grand Island, NE 68801

Kerrey Bridge Lighting Threat to Migratory Birds?

Intentional lighting of the Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge along the Omaha Riverfront is likely creating a hazard for migratory wildbirds.

The lights of the structure, which are appropriately turned off at 11 p.m., are turned back on at 5 a.m. by a lighting schedule maintained by the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department. Not only are there bright white, constant lights upon the guy wires, but a "light show" atop the two support pylons. The latter flashes different colors and color mixes.

Improving migratory safety for birds is accomplished by turning "lights out." There are these types of programs in Boston, Chicago, New York City, Portland, Washington D.C., the San Francisco Bay area and Toronto. Omaha officials have chosen to do just the opposite.

It is the early morning period which establishes a hazard. About this time, during the spring and autumn migration periods, migratory birds are looking to find a safe haven. within this urban environment. With sunrise after 7 a.m. during mid-September, and then later, there is about a two hour period when the lights would be hazardous.

It is highly unlikely to find any carcasses due to their striking the guy wires or other features, as they would probably fall down into the Missouri River.

Pictures of the bridge lights early on the morning of September 6, 2013.

Lights are an obvious hazard to migrating wildbirds, as well documented in the scientific literature. There have also been known occurrences of window-bird strikes at adjacent Omaha buildings since 2008. This includes the adjacent National Park Service building and nearby CenturyLink Center Omaha.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through their responsibility associated with bird protection through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, has been asked to investigate this matter.

During the migration season, there should be a minimum of light on the Kerry Pedestrian Bridge. It is very likely that public officials will insist that public safety and visual presentation will override any environmental concerns.

		Colors of the lights which flash and phase atop the pylons at the Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. The birds sitting on the guy wires are European Starlings, which are not a protected species.