Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do if I see a bird nest sign on the tower compound gate or near the climbing ladder?
- If you see a bird nest and do not have a Bird Site Work Advisory or Eagle Site Conditional Work Approval from our Bird Watch team, log in to our site access application to request access. In the unlikely instance that access is not granted or this is a new nest site (no bird site signage posted), contact us at 877-518-6937 or bird.watch@americantower.com
- Who do I call for after-hours and weekend work approval for sites with a bird nest?
- Between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM on weekdays and on weekends, you can log in to our site access application to request access or contact our Network Operations Center 24/7 for urgent or emergency work requests at 877-518-6937.
- What should I do if I see a nest on an American Tower site with no bird nest signage?
- If there is no nest signage then the nest has just recently been built and has not been entered into our system yet. Stop all work and contact us at 877-518-6937 or bird.watch@americantower.com with the following information:
- Location and height of the nest
- Suspected species (if possible) or description of birds seen at the site
- Any observations of bird activity
- Any photos of the nest should be attached
- What should I do if I see bird signage at the base of the tower but there is no bird nest visible on site?
- Please contact bird.watch@americantower.com to report this information. It is possible that the nest was blown off the tower during a storm. In some cases there may be one or more smaller nests on the cable run, ice bridge, shelter or another area in the compound that is not readily apparent. If possible, please provide the Bird Watch team with a photo of the tower that illustrates there is no longer a nest, so we may update our records.
- May I complete work on an American Tower site that has a bird nest?
- For non-eagle sites, once a request is received by the Bird Watch team, the request is logged and an advisory is issued; work may proceed if it will not violate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- For eagle sites, once a request is received, it is logged and evaluated. If the work is being completed outside of the active nesting season or the nest has been determined by a biologist to be inactive, an Eagle Site Conditional Work Approval will be issued but may contain an expiration date. If the nest is active, work will be logged to be cleared at the end of the nesting season when the nest has been determined to be inactive.
- If you do not have an advisory or approval, you should log in to our site access application to request access. In the unlikely instance that access is not granted, please email bird.watch@americantower.com with the height and scope of your work, carrier the work is being completed for, and a copy of your ATC NTP letter if the work is associated with a collocation. If you observe a nest on site but the system does not reflect this or there is no bird nest signage on site, please email photos of the nest along with the details above so that we can add this new nest site to our system.
- Can I do work at a site that has an eagle nest on the tower?
- For all eagle sites, a hold is placed on all work during active eagle nesting season. During this time, you may submit ground work and emergency tower work requests to bird.watch@americantower.com. We will review these requests and work with the appropriate state and federal agencies and issue an eagle site conditional work approval when possible.
- What should I do if I cannot gain access to the site or my lock code is not working?
- Call the hotline listed on the tower signage, 877-ATC-SITE (282-7483). If you have received a Bird Site Work Advisory they will be able to help you obtain access. If you do not have an advisory, they will put you in touch with a member of the Bird Watch team, who will advise you if work is permissible.
- Does the Bird Site Work Advisory clear my work to proceed?
- The Bird Site Work Advisory functions to inform you that there is a migratory bird nest protected by federal law located at the site, and it is needed for you to be able to gain entrance to the site with the site access team for the duration of your work. It is not a clearance but provides information that will help you decide if your work can proceed and stay in compliance the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition to a bird site work advisory, if you are adding or removing equipment from the tower, you need an American Tower issued Notice to Proceed to begin work.
- I have received my Bird Site Work Advisory, but the status of the nest is “unconfirmed.” What does this mean?
- If an unconfirmed status is given on your Bird Site Work Advisory, this means that American Tower does not have a current biologist report that confirms that the nest is active or inactive. A customer can order a biologist evaluation at a site any time to confirm the status of the nest. If needed, the Bird Watch team can provide a biologist or agency contact for your area.
- How long is my Bird Site Work Advisory valid?
- Your Bird Site Work Advisory is valid for the duration and scope of work for which it was originally issued. Once new work needs to be completed, you will need to obtain a new advisory.
- May a nest be removed from the tower?
- Before removing any nest from an American Tower site, you must have either a Bird Site Work Advisory or a Conditional Work Approval with Nest Removal Conditions. There are instances where the local and federal laws do allow the removal inactive nests without a permit. Copies of any necessary permits should be provided to Bird Watch prior to the nest removal. Once the removal has been completed bird.watch@americantower.com must be notified with before and after photos of the nest removal.
- What should I do if I observe an injured bird on the tower or within the site compound?
- Please collect as much information as possible (e.g., site name and number, a description of the bird and its behavior, photos) and send to bird.watch@americantower.com. The Bird Watch team will contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center to coordinate a rescue of the bird if needed. If the bird is discovered on a weekend or Monday - Friday before 8:00 AM or after 5:00 PM, please contact our 24/7 Network Operations Center at 877-518-6937.
- What should I do if I see a bald or golden eagle perched on the tower?
- If nesting material is visible on the tower report this sighting to bird.watch@americantower.com along with any information about nesting material that may be visible on the tower. The Bird Watch team will respond with guidance on how to proceed at the site. If an eagle is observed on the weekend or after hours Monday - Friday (before 8:00 AM or after 5:00 PM), please call the American Tower Network Operations Center (NOC) at 877-518-6937 and you will be directed to the appropriate contact.
- If there is no nest on the tower, then work may proceed as long as the birds do not become agitated or aggressive. If this behavior is observed, stop work and contact bird.watch@americantower.com for further guidance.
- What should I do if I have a Notice to Proceed (NTP) but arrive at the site and see an adult bird sitting in the nest?
- If you have an NTP issued by our Leasing Operations team, you should check this letter for your Bird Site Work Advisory. This advisory will provide regulatory guidance if you believe the nest is active. If you are completing work that does not require a Notice to Proceed letter from American Tower’s Leasing Operations team and do not have a Bird Site Work Advisory, you should contact bird.watch@americantower.com to request one. If you have questions after reviewing the information outlined in the advisory, please contact bird.watch@americantower.com for further guidance. Work may be allowed to proceed depending on particulars of the nest and bird behavior.
