by Jade Greene
Every fall, millions of birds cross the skies to reach their overwintering grounds. One way we can help these incredible birds on their journey is to turn off non-essential outdoor lights and close blinds from 11pm-6am.
Most of the migrating birds travel under cover of darkness, lights can distract and disorient birds, turning out outdoor lighting allows the birds to travel safely. Shutting off lights also saves you energy and money, it also helps other outdoor nocturnal animals avoid confusion and stress.
Peak fall migration window will be September 6 through October 29. Check out bird migration forecast maps.
Guidelines to Reduce Outdoor Light Pollution:
- Turn off all non-essential outdoor lighting (including landscaping and decorative lights)
- Close your blinds to prevent light being emitted from windows
- Set up motion detectors so lights are not constantly on all night
- Use warm colored outdoor lights, avoid blue lights
- Use lighting shields to direct light downwards
- Encourage local businesses and companies to reduce their light pollution
Source: https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/
0 Comments