Hawaii goes digital early for an endangered bird
While Hawaii tends to be behind the trend when it comes to technological advances, the state's digital TV initiative is ahead of the curve, thanks to an endangered bird. The Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel, a volcano-dwelling bird that makes its home on the slopes of Maui's Haleakala, is quickly approaching its nesting season, which prompted rangers to request an early analog to digital TV conversion date so that analog transmission towers can be taken down.
On Thursday, January 15 all analog-based televisions on Hawaii were deactivated and now require digital converter boxes. Hawaii and the rest of the nation is changing over to an all-digital TV system because of a mandate issued by Congress to free airwaves. The rest of the nation will go digital on February 17.
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Filed under: Activism, North America, United States, Ecotourism, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nzm Jan 18th 2009 10:54AM
You haven't explained how this is of benefit to the birds?
David Jan 20th 2009 8:27PM
those birds have had those towers from what the forties whats the rush is this the first time they have mated in the last 100 years ?
Akela Jan 20th 2009 9:11PM
I highly resent the first statement of this article, We are not behind the times here in the islands. obviously the writer has not been here..and this is the first time I heard that reason for us going early. We went early so that any glitches could be worked out before we got transmissions from the continent.. Honestly we are ahead of the times in many ways.. Aloha
Karis Jan 20th 2009 10:27PM
I think the author wrote a good thesis statement.
Bob Jan 20th 2009 9:29PM
What kind of tower are they using for digital, or have they forced everyone to get cable, so they can tax it. I refuse to get cable, will watch very little TV after Feb 17, many stations I can not get.
Perry Jan 20th 2009 10:30PM
One solar flare will show us what being behind the times really means so, say good bye to online banking, DTV, Internet Service, and we will have to do everything the old fashioned way... i am just counting the days...
Chris Jan 21st 2009 3:01AM
I'm not sure how you people don't realize what kind of impact those towers could have on those birds once analog was shut off. And not because of the towers themselves, but because of the impact on the enviroment it would create to dismantle all those towers WITH cables, and then transport them out of what are probably desolate overgrown areas. This would disrupt the mating/nesting season for these birds, possibly causing more damage to their already low numbers. I can't believe I had to spell this out. "Well, what about the other animals?" I'm sure this is just one of many species they're looking out for. Perhaps this one has priority due to it's dangerously low population levels and the area/time of it's mating season. Hell, they probably even nest on the damn towers, so it'd definitely be a burden on their survival if we were to remove their nests along the towers. The Rangers are thinking logically. This should be common sense.
mistermac Jan 21st 2009 4:48AM
Just curious-- Why the big rush to get this done BEFORE the mating season? Would it not be easier to do it after when more time was available or do the birds have prolonged mating seasons like chickens?
Eric Jan 21st 2009 5:46AM
Most digital transmitters are broadcasting on the same tower that the analog signal comes from.
Richard Jan 21st 2009 3:31PM
It is obvious from reading the comments that most people have no clue as to why the towers pose a danger. These towers could be in the flight path of the birds and every year there are huge numbers of bird deaths related to crashes into such things as office buildings (windows are a huge problem), windmills, and other large structures that protrude into the flight path of the flock. If the bird population is at-risk; it would be a terrible tragedy if a parent bird were killed while flying off the nest seeking nourishment for their hatchlings.