[BCNnet] Palmolive beacon

[Judy Pollock]

I just checked with the people at Draper and Kramer, the building that has
the beacon.  They have been in communication with the BCN to ask about
details of the Lights Out program several times this fall and winter.  They
affirmed that they are happy to participate in the Lights Out program.  

This year, the city asked building owners and managers to extingush their
exterior lighting from March 17 to June 7 - after 11 pm.  Althought the
lights go out later in the evening, they will be out for just about the
entire migration period.  The Lights Out committee did extensive research
over the winter before they made these recommendations.  As you've heard in
other messages, you can contact Ken Wysocki if you are interested in
monitoring the effects of this year's Lights Out program.  

Judy Pollock

At 05:18 PM 4/5/02 -0600, you wrote:
>> I guess BCN and bird groups should try to minimize adverse
>effects that this beacon would have.   How?   your thoughts, please >
>
>Dear Alan and all in BCN,
>I'm Karolyn Beebe in Madison WI. I found BCN in *A Bird's Eye
>View of  the Migratory Bird Route* linked in:
> http://www.cityofchicago.org/Environment/  (Hope this means the
>lights out page finally stays online!)
>
>I sent it to the DarkSky and the Outdoor Lighting Forums, saying in
>part: 'I strongly suggest that we get that page to ALL city managers.
>Give them the choice - follow Chicago's lead and help reverse this
>terrible erosion of declining avian species, or let it continue.' People
>on these lists educate about and work to control obtrusive lighting.
>Many of them signed this petition to stop that beacon: 
> http://www.petitiononline.com/Beacon/petition.html  so a link
>to the Palmolive beacon news went too:
> http://www.suntimes.com/output/business/cst-nws-beacon04.html )
>
>I think we need to meet deas like the beacon & NY's memorial with 
>more education. The Oklahoman recently announced: "Beacon to give 
>downtown its opportunity to shine - Within a year, Oklahoma City will 
>have a downtown "Beacon of Hope.." Then there's the Luxor Skybeam:
>http://www.cosmiverse.com/paranormal04130102.html quote: "The 
>shaft of light atop the black pyramid on the Strip comes alive at night, 
>attracting thousands of silver moths, bats and birds for what transforms 
>into an aerial feeding frenzy." I once mistook the activity in the beams 
>over the WI capitol dome as a "feeding frenzy" for birds and bats. 
>
>A letter in today's NY Times offers a chance for follow-ups that
>could raise awareness - Birds in the Light 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/opinion/L05LIGH.html
>
>To the Editor:
>Re "A Survey Reveals Sentiment for Keeping Shafts of Light" 
>(news article, March 29) The New York City Audubon 
>Society supports the temporary memorial, but not its extension 
>past April 13.
>
>Since migrating birds are confounded by artificial light, society 
>members watch the light beams from remote computers and 
>survey the site each night. So far, only a few disoriented birds 
>have been seen. But peak spring migration starts at the end of 
>April. Our research shows that in certain weather conditions 
>there could be numerous bird casualties.
>
>Migration is a perilous journey. We do not wish to increase 
>the hazards for these "gatherings of angels."   
>MARCIA T. FOWLE

>President, New York City Audubon Society
>======================================
>
>Here's: A Survey Reveals Sentiment for Keeping Shafts of Light: 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/29/nyregion/29LIGH.html
>
>We could also ask webmasters of pages about birding, 
>sustainability, planning, anything on improving the quality of ALL 
>life to add a link to International Dark-Sky Assoc.
> http://www.darksky.org/ida/links/enviro.html 
>
>Birds near the end of the page. I hope BCN links to it.
>
>
>Karolyn Beebe - Madison WI
>keedo@merr.com
>
>
>
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Judy Pollock
Evanston (Cook)
bobolnk@ix.netcom.com