Greenhouse Light and Migratory Birds

B.C. Horticultural Coalition (bchort@iceonline.com)
Fri, 30 Aug 96 09:04 PDT

We are an organization that represents commercial horticultural growers in
British Columbia, Canada. One of the municipalities in southwestern BC is
proposing to adopt bylaws that would restrict the development of
greenhouses. The rationale being given is that the light from the
greenhouses will negatively affect bird migration and nesting habits. (The
municipality is part of the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds.) While we
have found research that indicates that light does affect bird migration, we
have been unable to find any articles that specifically studied the effect
of light from greenhouses.

Is anyone aware of studies of the impacts of greenhouse light on bird
migration? If there are studies that indicate this is a problem, how does
one mitigate it without banning greenhouses outright? Can one measure the
light and determine that there is a "safe" level? How does the light from
greenhouses compare to the light from residential areas or airports, in
terms of impact on birds?

Any help would be most appreciated. If there is a demand for it, I would be
happy to post a summary of the responses on sanet.

Thank you in advance.

Kathleen Zimmerman
Program Coordinator
BC Horticultural Coalition
#201 - 15225 Thrift Avenue
White Rock, BC
V4B 2K9 Canada
Tel: (604) 535-1476
Fax: (604) 531-9126