

Publish your commitment and share your success with your community. Use motion detectors and sensors, so lights are only on when you need themĤ. Use lighting shields to direct light downwards and to avoid light shining into the sky or trees

For essential lights (like security lighting), use the following dark skies friendly lighting practices: Close blinds at night to reduce the light emitted from windows.ģ. Don’t use landscape lighting to light up trees or gardens where birds may be resting.Ģ. Tips to Go Lights Outīuilding owners, businesses, developers, and homeowners can help protect migrating birds by turning off all non-essential nighttime lighting on structures from 11:00 p.m. Crows are American Crows can partially migratory depending on their location Turn the Lights OutĪudubon’s Lights Out program is a national effort to reduce this problem.īy educating building owners and managers to turn off excess lighting during the months migrating birds are flying overhead, we provide migrating birds with a safe passage between their nesting and wintering grounds. And there is something you can do to help save our migrating birds. If you’re reading this story, you’re someone who loves birds and is interested in their well-being. For example, one week in 2017, nearly 400 passerines (warblers, grosbeaks, etc.) caught in the floodlights of a 32-story Texas skyscraper died from window collisions. Just one building can cause significant problems for birds in an area. The Audubon Society says dozens of species are affected, such as priority species like the Allen’s Hummingbird, Wood Thrush, and Golden-winged Warbler. The result can be unfortunate, preventable tragedies.


In addition, birds circle structures for an extended time, leading to their accelerated use of energy stores critical for migration. Lights can throw birds off their migration paths, causing confusion, disorientation, and exhaustion and leaving them vulnerable to other urban threats like collisions with buildings and windows. When birds pass over big cities during their journey, they are attracted to artificial light, especially during inclement weather. Turn your lights out to help the billions of migrating birds navigating south in the night sky, so they safely reach their winter destinations.
