Spring Bird Migration is Just Beginning
Jane Ellison
Audubon’s Lights Out program is a national effort to reduce this problem.
Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, the majority of them flying at night, navigating with the night sky. However, as they pass over big cities on their way, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and skyglow, often causing them to collide with buildings or windows.
The strategy is simple: by convincing homeowners, building owners and managers to turn off excess lighting during the months migrating birds are flying overhead, we help to provide them safe passage between their nesting and wintering grounds.
Contribute to Lights Out Cleveland
Turn off exterior decorative lighting
Extinguish post and flood-lights
Turn off interior lighting especially on higher stories
Substitute task and area lighting when staying up late, or pull window coverings
Down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and all light directed upward
Install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible
When converting to new lighting assess quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology
Resources
Looking for more information on the risk of glass and artificial light at night to birds?
Download a two-page fact sheet that has an overview of the issues and what people can do to help.
Reach out to local elected officials or building managers can help raise awareness of the risk artificial light at night poses to birds and can spur them to action!