Millions of neotropical migrant birds like this Scarlet Tanager will benefit from businesses and individuals turning lights out after 11pm during migration periods. Leading the charge are more than 45 major cities that have committed to Lights Out programs. NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens showing city lights across the Lower 48 States.

Every spring and fall, billions of birds migrate through the United States, mostly under the cover of darkness. This mass movement of birds must contend with a dramatically increasing but still largely unrecognized threat: Light pollution. Night light attracts and disorients migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them as well as making them vulnerable to colliding with buildings, along with other urban threats like cats and toxins. Each year an estimated 365 to 988 million birds die by colliding with buildings!

The BirdCast team has joined a growing international Lights Out effort already underway, which includes more than 45 cities in North America, in proposing and implementing a simple solution that is as easy as flipping a switch – a light switch; many, many of them each night during spring and fall migrations.

On average, 43 percent of energy consumption in office buildings is used to the keep lights on. By turning office lights off during after work hours, each company saves cash – and saves the lives of millions of birds during each migration! Lights Out is a win-win for birds and cities, and the people who love both. By working together toward a dark sky every spring and fall, we will keep birds safely on course and out of harm’s way. Each light matters, and your personal commitment makes a difference.

Now through June 15, please:

– Turn off non-essential lights from 11pm until 6am during critical migration periods.

– Turn off or dim lobby and atrium lights.

– Turn off or dim interior home lighting, or draw blinds to prevent light from showing.

– Turn off decorative landscape lighting.

– Turn off lights before leaving your home or office.

– Be sure outside lights are aimed downward and shielded from above, so they don’t show above the lights.

– Install motion sensors on outside lights to minimize their use.

During fall migration, the same “Lights Off” conditions apply, during the period from August 15 through November 30. Thanks to everyone for your consideration and help in this most important bird conservation matter. It’s easy, it saves money and energy, and it saves millions of birds! Spread the word.

In addition, during the spring and fall migration periods, please keep pet cats indoors, if you don’t already keep them indoors year-round. Domestic and feral cats are by far the number one direct cause of death for birds.

To refer to the original article published by BirdCast, see Lights Out - BirdCast and to see the impressive list of cities, states, and regional Lights Out programs, refer to Existing Lights Out Programs | Audubon