Experts urge ‘lights out’ to protect migrating birds

GREENE COUNTY―Excessive outdoor lighting, especially in adverse weather conditions, can disorient migrating birds. It’s a phenomenon known as fatal light attraction.

To protect these flying travelers as they navigate the night skies, state officials are asking New Yorkers to partake in the ‘Lights Out’ initiative. Joining national and international efforts, State buildings participating in Lights Out will keep non-essential outdoor lighting from affecting the ability of birds to migrate successfully throughout New York.

“The national Lights Out initiative is a simple way we can help make the spring migration more successful in caring for the long-term well-being of our avian visitors and the important roles all birds play in healthy ecosystems,” said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

Reducing excessive outdoor lighting helps reduce the number of birds that die each year in the United States from collisions related to fatal light attraction with windows, walls, floodlights, and the ground.

In New York alone, the Office of General Services maintains more than 20 million square feet of State office space.

In addition, many species of shorebirds and songbirds rely on constellations to help them navigate to and from their summer breeding grounds throughout the state.

“Every spring, an incredible phenomenon unfolds above us — millions of birds navigating invisible flyways through New York's night skies. Yet for many, that journey ends tragically due to something all-too visible: light pollution,” said Michael Burger, vice president of the National Audubon Society in New York.

“A single building can disorient and kill hundreds of birds in one night, but the fix is remarkably straightforward. By turning off lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., we can dramatically reduce the number of birds lost to collisions each year,” Burger added.

Lights Out directs State-owned and managed buildings to turn off non-essential outdoor lighting from 11 p.m. to dawn during the spring migration, April 15 through May 31, and during the peak fall migration, August 15 through November 15. State agencies are also encouraged to draw blinds, when possible, and turn off non-essential indoor lighting during Lights Out times.

Residents are urged to assist with this effort by minimizing overnight lighting at their homes or on their properties, in addition to making windows more visible to birds to minimize bird collisions.