The recent unexpected discovery of woodpeckers, tanagers, meadowlarks, catbirds, kingbirds, and swallows in the diet of Tiger sharks has prompted environmentalists to request authorities to fix bird friendly lighting on oil and gas platforms. The scientists led by Dr Marcus Drymon, were studying the diets of the sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and the results were a surprise for the researchers.
Large numbers of night-migrating birds are fatally attracted to lighted oil and gas platforms. This happens more often on cloudy nights. Some birds circle in confusion before crashing into the platform or the open sea, exhausted. Even if the birds mange to fly off after some time they fall easy prey to predators.
Scientists say using green lighting at platforms would nearly eliminate the circling behaviour. Cycling lighting off and on is also proving to be real beneficial. Strobing white and red lights have far less propensity, than steady burning ones.
Netherlands has already instituted bird friendly lighting on oil and gas platforms off their coast. Conservationists want other countries to follow suit.
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