IN THE PIPELINE:

There was a flurry of media activity last week up on the mesa near the now-infamous glass “Wall of Death” as it has been deemed. As it often happens with today’s aggressive news cycles, this week many people have moved on to other issues and so I thought I’d update you on what I know about the status of the wall, because this is something that I think is fluid and deserving of attention.

In case you missed it, Hearthside Homes erected a nearly mile-long, nearly six-foot-high wall of glass around the perimeter of the company’s Brightwater housing development, perched on the mesa above the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Citizens began noticing a variety of birds that were dying after hitting the wall, and they brought it to the developer’s attention. A firestorm erupted over the purpose of the wall, and the many inherent dangers it presents in the sensitive natural environment. Initially, Hearthside Homes seemed to dismiss the issue. However, since then the company has responded by erecting a chain-link fence behind the wall, with little yellow streamers atop it. Then came a brown tarp behind the fence. Next, special decals are to be added this week to much of the glass, which in theory will further help the birds make a visual identification of the wall. But will all of this work?

There was a second morning walk last Saturday, led once again by Scott Thomas, conservation director for the Sea and Sage Audubon Society. Several dozen people attended, and we saw the new decals.

Thomas also provided me with an excellent article titled, “Glass: A Deadly Conservation Issue for Birds,” written by expert Daniel Klem Jr. It begins, “Aside from habitat destruction that eliminates fundamental resources upon which life depends, it is my contention that clear and reflective sheet glass causes the deaths of more birds than any other human-related avian mortality factor.”

As we walked, Thomas related his concerns about the decals. First, he’d noticed only two per panel on the test panels. Based on the company information, he thought there needed to be more, about six to eight per pane, since they are to be placed every 10 inches. He’s also concerned that the problem of “Window Striking,” as it is called, usually involves office building and homes, not mile-long monstrosities. In a way, this is unprecedented. He also questions the upkeep and maintenance of the decal system. “Will homeowners be required for the upkeep?” Thomas posed. “How will it all be enforced once people move in?” Thomas thinks the best solution might be some permanent etching on the glass, but he says that idea comes with two strikes against it: “It’s expensive. And it would affect the view of the residents.”

Ed Mountford from Hearthside Homes told me that since the fence, flags and tarps have gone up, his biologist (who makes three rounds per day) has not found a single dead bird. He also stands by the assertion that once the homes go up, they will provide enough backdrop for the birds to see and prevent a pattern of increased future strikes. Thomas doesn’t agree the houses unto themselves will create a backdrop, partly because they sit back a good distance from the wall itself.

Connie Boardman, (a professor of biology at Cerritos College and former mayor of Huntington Beach) who found some of the originally reported dead birds, agrees with Thomas. As to Hearthside’s contention that no birds have been found near the model homes, well, she said there may be other factors keeping the birds away from there, like workers and noisy machinery. Also, the other day she took an interesting photo near the existing homes — it shows the impression of a bird that hit the wall, its image etched into the morning condensation on the glass. Did the bird fly away? Was it removed? I don’t know. But the ghostly picture certainly challenges the Hearthside premise.

The view on the path is spectacular, not just for homeowners, but anyone who wants to go enjoy it. I encourage you all to experience its beauty — and to keep an eye out for birds near the glass. This situation has prompted a healthy amount of citizen involvement that’s resulted in positive change. But it’s early in the game. After all, this story doesn’t just have legs. It has wings. And it needs to be followed closely.

Thoughts on the “Wall of Death”? Post it In The Pipeline, www.hbindependent.com/ columns.

Reminder: I’ll be signing books at the Bella Terra Barnes & Noble at 7 p.m. tonight. If I can sign something as a holiday gift for someone, just let me know. Also, I’ll have a limited number of early proof sheets for the cover of my forthcoming book, “Huntington Beach, Then & Now.” They’re reserved for Independent readers and free for the asking.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of nine books including “Led Zeppelin Crashed Here, The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America.” He also hosts “The Pop Culture Road Trip” radio show on webtalkradio.net.