Every night, whether you are lying in bed or watching a movie on your couch, above your head millions are on the move. I’m talking about BIRDS. Every spring and fall, millions of birds are traveling through the night sky, right over our heads. They are on an amazing journey that will take them across the country to their nesting grounds. However, many don’t survive this journey. Flying through the sky at night leads to a high number of collisions with illuminated buildings, towers, and other tall structures across the nation. The numbers? An estimated 1 billion birds are killed yearly. Even though it might seem impossible to help, there is still something you can do for migrators.
Turn off your lights! Although this might seem unimportant, light pollution is a big factor in bird casualties. Birds are drawn to the lights as they fly by and often end up crashing into buildings due to their confusion. The National Audubon Society recommends that you:
Turn off spotlights and/or decorative lighting
Turn off interior lights when leaving a room or drawing blinds/shades
Using down-shielded lighting outdoors
Adding timers and/or motion sensors to outdoor lighting, where possible
Lights out/blinds drawn from 11pm to 6am
Remember: Every night this fall, birds are migrating right above your head, not realizing some of the dangers on their journey. Birds are an important part of our ecosystem, and it's our duty to protect them. Do your part and turn out the lights!