Every spring and fall, billions of birds migrate through the United States and Canada, mostly under the cover of darkness. This mass movement of birds must contend with a dramatically increasing, but still largely unrecognized threat: Light Pollution. Why is light pollution dangerous for migrating birds? Light pollution attracts and disorients migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them as well as making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings, and other urban and suburban threats. Each year, an estimated 1/3 billion to 1 billion birds die in collisions with buildings!

Be aware and participate at home and work in the growing Lights Out programs. Supported and promoted in more than 50 cities in the United States and Canada that have established Lights Out programs – plus 10 state-wide Lights Out programs – it’s easy to do your part.

What can you do to help? It’s simple, and important: 1) Start by turning off indoor lights at night on unoccupied floors and in unused spaces; 2) Close curtains and blinds at night if you have lights on; 3) Turn off exterior floodlights during bird migration season – now; 4) Opt for shielded outdoor lighting that directs lights downward; 5) Try using task lighting at your workstation instead of overhead lights if you’re working at night, and close the shades. Sounds easy; it is, and these simple flips of a switch will help birds stay on course this spring!

Lights Out has an especially strong base of supporters that includes the National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, BirdCast, and many more. To learn more about the Lights Out campaign and to participate during this spring migration, refer to Lights Out Program | Audubon And for more information, see Lights Out - BirdCast and Misguiding Lights: American Bird Conservancy Highlights Artificial Light’s Link to Bird-Glass Collisions - American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org)

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Caption:

Photo 1 – Light pollution attracts and disorients migrating birds, especially songbirds, and makes them vulnerable to collisions with buildings (Blue-gray Gnatcatcher photo by Paul Konrad).