10,000 migrating birds trapped after becoming confused byTwin Towers memorial lights

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More than 10,000 birds became confused by the memorial lights switched on to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York.
The twin light beams, known as the Tribute of Light, had to be switched off five times after the migrating birds got trapped last week.
Every year the Tribute of Light is switched on by the Municipal Art Society on the anniversary of the attacks.

Members of the New York City Audubon, a conservation organisation, noticed the confused birds and alerted organisers.
The lights were then switched off for 20-minute periods to allow the birds to gather their bearings and continue their journeys.
An Audubon spokesman told Animal Planet that the birds could waste valuable energy needed for their migration while flying around the lights.
He said: 'We have a protocol in place in partnership with the Municipal Arts Society in case something happens like it did.
'There were huge numbers of birds flying through and large numbers did have difficulty navigating out of the beams.
'The Municipal Arts Society was very supportive of our goals of minimising the risk to migratory birds.


An estimated 90,000 birds die every year after becoming disorientated by lights and crashing into skyscrapers in New York as they migrate south for the winter.
Many owners of tower blocks dim or switch off lights at night to reduce the risk to birds.


 
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