Agenda - 09-12-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Three factors influence bird tower mortality. First, lit towers aver 200 feet in height attract migrating birds, particularly if the structure uses red strobe warning lights with a short, regular pulsing rate. Secondly, electromagnetic towers emit energy in the microwave spectrum, which may disrupt migrating bird's ability to navigate at night, by creating force fields and resonating with avian magnetite, the bird's internal navigation system. Finally, the towers pose a physical obstacle in which birds can become entangled or into which they may collide.. Vulnerable migratory species breed during the spring and summer in North America and migrate to the southern states, the Caribbean, or Central and South America during the fall and winter. They generally fly at night and are most susceptible to tower collisions during misty, foggy, rainy, or low-cloud atmospheric conditions. During these inclement weather conditions, migratory birds seem to switch from their innate, nighttime navigational abilities to visual reckoning. They can become attracted, more accurately, they are reluctant to leave the lit area of red, pulsing navigational strobe lights, continue to fly around the lit tower, and often collide with or become entangled with the tower and tower guy wires. Migration occurs aver a broad front in May and September-October across the Triangle region,. According to conversations with local ornithologists, there are no organized, consistent migratory flight patterns in Orange County.. Most species migrate evenly across the County and can stop wherever there are woods or water, according to the local experts. Neighboring Towers. There are six telecommunication towers within two miles of the PEMC site. They are a: 1. 15T monopole on Old NC 10, 2. 160' guyed tower on NC 86, 3. 178' monopole in Hillsborough, 4. 160' monopole on Landau Dr. 5. 254' lattice tower on New Hope Church Road, and 6. 180' monopole on Palmers Grove Church Road.. Piedmont's consultants evaluated each individually and collectively to determine if they could serve as co-locations far the two-way trunked radio communication system. The proposed radio reception service area is reduced by 30% by doing so. Please refer to the attached scenario map. Historic Properties. Planning staff is in receipt of an August 25, 2006 memorandum from Rich Shaw and Tina Moon, ERCD staff, states that there are two historic sites within a one and one-half mile radius of the Piedmont property (Blackwelder Service Station and Rigsbee's Rock House). Both properties will be somewhat visually shielded from the tower by the I-85 corridor.