Evening star., 1936-11-28
Colored Lights Proposed
To Conserve Bird Life

10 the Eoitor Oh i ne star:
From time to time we read OF accounts
of the destructive effects on bird life
from the illumination of such structures
rs the Washington Monument, the
Lindbergh Beacon at Chicago, the tower
OF the Philadelphia City Hall. the Statue
of Liberty at New York, lighthouses and
various other tall buildings in New York
and other cities.
1t would seem that the substitution of
colored light for white glare would solve
the problem, as color would more likely
give the appearance Of solidity than does
white light. Has this experiment ever
been tried? Red. yellow or orange, or
possibly shades of these colors should
prove to be the most likely for successful
color illumination. However. any or all
Of the various colors OF the spectrum
may easily be tried. Red Is the first
choice as 1t stands for danger not only
among humans but in other forms OF life
Red Is often 'tn0t always) found to
designate the particular species as
poisonous, dangerous or undesirable as
food.
The effects Of white light on insects
is well known and myriads OF insects
are killed by the open electric arc light
The white globes that inclose white
incandescent lights are usually sur
rounded by great variety OF insect
life during the warm seasons OF the
year. On the other hand. the red lights
marking the fire alarm boxes are not
attractive to insects and apparently are
actually avoided. Insects are also at
tracted by the glare of automobile head
lights, but who ever saw insects buzzing
around the red tail-lights OF motor cars?
The Illumination of tall monuments
and structures Is partly ornamental but
largely as a warning to airplanes. II
the shaft of the Washington Monument
was illuminated in red or yellow. could it
be seen equally as well as white by
aviators? Yellow is the most luminous
of all colors and is supposed to be more
penetrative Of fog than white light. For
q time yellow glass was used on the
headlights of automobiles for this reason.
Any particular color or color scheme
may be tried OH the Washington Monu-
ment by simply using various color
screens in connection with the flood
lights now in use. Aviators could be
notified II the experiments are to be
tried and their cooperation and ObSer-
vations might prove valuable in the
selection of the color having visibility
of safety to them. II necessary or ad-
visable to retain the use of white il
Elimination for any reason. the mottling
effect or spots Of color might prove suf-
ficient to warn bird life, while at the
same time not losing the present element
of safety to man. The idea, of course is
the selection of a color or combination
of colors that would best serve as a
warning to both man and bird.
I trust these few suggestions on the
use of color in the illumination Of high
structures as protection to bird life
may lead to a practical solution of the
question and thereby stop this terrible
destruction OF the birds.
Is it an impossible dream to see
colored light flashing from lighthouses
and beacons. lighting up the exteriors
of buildings and other tall structures
throughout the world, while the flyers
of the air-birds as we'll as men-pass
on to their respective destinations in
safety?
HAROLD EDMUND DUNNE.
Miami, Fla.