(Technical) advice on public illumination wanted (1 Viewer)

[willito]

A fellow birder of the loca (Chilean) watchers net informed us about death of Peruvian diving petrels (Pelecanoides garnotii), an endangered species according to UICN, at a coast town in Central Chile, apparently due to dazzling caused by recently changed luminaries, the new ones being higher both in size and intensity.

We have already contacted relevant local authorities as well as some biologists who have provided information on the species, but locally we seem to have very little experience and technical directives ruling public illumination, so my question is:

Does anybody know of internationally acknowledged standards or directives on the subject, giving e.g. sound, practical advice on light intensities, projection angle, suitable distance from the coast and further parameters that can help us solve the problem?

Any information provided will be highly appreciated.

 

[Ross McGregor]

There has been some research on birds being attracted to lights on offshore gas platforms in the North Sea (Europe). It showed that it was the red part of the spectrum in the lights that cause birds to be disorientated and fly in to objects or continually around the light source. Even if the light appears white it may include the red end of the spectrum. Phillips have produced a new type of lighting that reduces the effect of birds being disorientated by the light - http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/about/news/news/20080128_bird_migration.wpd