The reasons that they should not land are two-fold: the mess that they make adds to maintenance costs, and birds that land are more likely to die before competing their journey.
“Offshore platforms, such as oil and gas rigs, wind turbines, and their substations, offer a tempting respite for migratory birds attracted by their lights, but landing on these structures can be a death sentence for tired birds that use up precious energy needed for their onward journey,” according to Glamox, the Norwegian lighting company that has just announced a luminair designed not to attract birds.
It went on to say that bright lights attract birds, with fog or a new moon doubling the chances of avian distraction. Birds on their first migration are most at risk. .
Minimising spill by mounting lamps appropriately is part of the solution, said the company, but a significant contribution can be made optimising the lighting spectrum.
“It is well known that birds react differently to light at different wavelengths,” said Glamox lighting designer Oskar Mile. “Green light is significantly less attractive to migrating birds. Blue-green light reduces the impact on the magnetic orientation of migratory birds, while red light can disrupt their internal compass. Another important factor is whether the lights can switched off or dimmed down when people are absent, or programmed to dim during weeks when endangered bird species are known to migrate. Nevertheless, the overriding factor is ensuring that people working offshore have the light they need to do their job and are safe and secure.”
He lead the team that has developed lights that emit shorter wavelength green light (so towards blue), either by applying a diffuser inside the luminaire, or using green LEDs.
It calls these ‘bird-friendly’, and has created suitable versions of its MIR G2 linear led luminaire (pictured), which is aimed at offshore platforms, wind turbines and vessels, as well as led kits to allow customers to convert their existing MIR luminaires.
The company’s Max G2 explosion-proof luminaire has had the same treatment, as has its RLX B floodlight.
Alongside these, Glamox is offering advice on how to mount, orient and shield the lights to avoid light spillage, and also offers ‘dark sky’ approved marine-certified luminaires and led kits designed to minimise glare and spill.
Find a non-bird-attracting MIR G2 luminaire on this Glamox web page
