Help Songbirds Successfully Migrate This Season!

During the migration period of songbirds in the United States, turning off exterior lights plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of these birds. Many species of songbirds migrate at night, using natural cues from the stars and moon to navigate their long journeys. However, artificial lights from homes, businesses, and urban areas can disorient them, leading to exhaustion, collisions with buildings, and increased vulnerability to predators. By simply turning off exterior lights, individuals and communities can reduce the risks posed to migrating birds, helping them reach their destinations safely.

The negative impact of light pollution on migratory birds is well-documented, and turning off exterior lights during peak migration times is a simple yet effective conservation measure. Communities across the U.S. have begun to adopt “lights out” initiatives, which encourage property owners to dim or turn off non-essential lighting at night, particularly in high-risk areas. This small action can have a large impact, helping to preserve biodiversity and protect these species that are critical to ecosystems and food chains. Taking part in these efforts is an important step in fostering coexistence with wildlife and protecting the natural rhythms of migration.