Millions of birds will benefit from “Lights Out Nights” in Houston, including migrating songbirds like this Swainson’s Thrush (photo by Paul Konrad). A night image of lights across Texas (image by Lights Out Texas).

Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed April 19 through May 7 as “Lights Out Nights” in Houston, encouraging all businesses, building managers, and residents to turn off non-essential exterior lighting from 11pm to 6am during the period of peak migration for birds through Texas. Most North American migratory birds travel at night, and lights on buildings can attract and disorient these birds, sometimes resulting in fatal collisions with buildings.

“Houston Audubon applauds the city’s leadership in encouraging Houstonians to turn off or dim their lights during the peak critical bird migration period,” said Helen Drummond, executive director of Houston Audubon. “We are proud that our city is joining Texas businesses, other city leaders, and conservation partners in this important statewide effort to help give migrating birds a greater chance surviving their arduous migrations to and from North and South America each spring and fall.”

“Lights Out Texas” is a statewide initiative started in Houston to raise awareness about bird migration, led by a coalition of conservation groups, universities, government organizations, and other Texans dedicated to the conservation of birds. While “Lights Out Nights” runs April 19 through May 7 in Houston, everyone is encouraged to turn building lights out nightly if possible, throughout the spring until migration in Texas ends June 15. The Lights Out Texas initiative is possible thanks to a partnership led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Houston Audubon, Texas Conservation Alliance, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Texan by Nature, and many others.

“While Houston’s bright lights can present a risk to migratory birds that cross Texas each year, that also means that Houston has the ability and opportunity to make a tremendous impact to save wildlife just by turning lights out,” explained Julia Wang, BirdCast project leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “We’re so excited to see Houston seizing this opportunity to join the cities participating in Lights Out across Texas this spring, and hopefully during migration seasons to come. The environmental stewardship of caring Texans can not only trim energy bills but also make all the difference for our birds.”

You can review the mayor’s news release at https://mailchi.mp/houstontx/lights-out-nights-city-encourages-public-to-help-migrating-birds-traveling-through-the-region

To learn more about “Lights Out Texas” and to sign up to receive Lights Out Alerts for the Houston region, visit https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/