Starry Starry Night: Lights out for Bird Migration!
Fall is my absolute favorite season, and I don’t even like pumpkin spice! But I do love the crisp fall air, the leaves changing color, the stars being out earlier and witnessing the presence of migrating visitors from far off lands (yes, birds!).
During the fall season, millions of birds migrate, flying thousands of miles to reach their winter homes. Tomorrow, Saturday, October 12, marks World Migratory Bird Day (there are two, one in the spring and one in the fall) designed to raise awareness of the flocks’ amazing journeys. But this trip is also perilous and made more dangerous by artificial lights. By reducing or turning off your outdoor lights in the fall, you can help protect migrating birds and get the benefit of enjoying the beauty of a star-lit sky.
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Birds on the Move
Many bird species migrate at night, using the stars to navigate. However, artificial lights from homes, buildings, and cities can disorient them. This causes birds to become confused, leading to collisions with buildings or exhaustion from flying in circles.
Studies show that bright, white lights are particularly hazardous. Birds are drawn to these lights, becoming trapped in urbanized areas with little natural navigation guidance, which can result in fatal outcomes. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, millions of birds die every year due to collisions with illuminated buildings during migration seasons.
Reducing lights during migration, particularly from September to November, when fall migration peaks, can save countless of our feathered friends' lives. Just as I am writing this, 800 birds have passed through DuPage County. Check out Birdcast to learn migration stats and to see if the Black Throated Green Warbler is migrating tonight!
Starry Starry Night (once again!)
Diminished light spillover doesn’t only benefit migrating birds—it can also restore the night sky to a higher visibility. Fall is a great time for stargazing with longer nights and not-yet-cold weather. But artificial light blurs the view, making it harder to see stars, planets, and meteor showers, and currently, due to a solar storm, the Northern Lights --tonight!
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Even small actions can make a big difference. Here are a few simple ways to help birds on their journey and help us see the night sky:
Turn off non-essential outdoor lights: Porch lights, garden lighting, and unnecessary security lights can all be turned off during migration season. Use motion sensors or timers for essential lighting.
Change your lighting to be night sky friendly:
Use bird-safe lighting: Warm, dim lights (yellow or orange hues) are less attractive to birds. Switching to these can reduce the risk of disorienting them. Avoid red and LED lights.
Shield outdoor lights: Install fixtures that direct light downward, reducing the amount of light that escapes upward into the sky. Learn more about dark-sky friendly lighting (you need less light than you think!)
If you are in an apartment or condo, ask the management to reduce lighting and join the Lights Out, Curtains Closed Program. Indoor lights can also be a problem if they're visible from outside.
Spread the word: Many people are unaware of the impact of light pollution on birds. So go ahead and forward this newsletter!
Get involved with dark sky initiatives: Many communities are part of the International Dark-Sky Association, which works to reduce light pollution. Check for local events or efforts aimed at protecting the night sky. For example, Dark Sky is hosting Under One Sky November 8-9 to spread awareness!
Look up! Get outside and look up to appreciate the all that is going on in our galaxy.
Let’s take back the fall night sky! So, as you enjoy the crisp fall nights with a pumpkin spice latte, remember: Turn off the lights, save the birds, and rediscover the stars.