According to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, an estimated 10.7 million birds are migrating through Pennsylvania as part of their spring migration - An estimated 5.1 million birds are flying over Pennsylvania today. This includes many songbirds like warblers, thrushes, and vireos, as well as shorebirds, waterbirds, and other species.
Light pollution disorients and attracts birds migrating at night, according to Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP). This leads to an increase in exhaustion and vulnerability to window collision mortality and other threats.
Building owners, businesses, developers, and homeowners can help protect migrating birds by turning off all non-essential nighttime lighting on structures from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night, according to BirdCast. This is especially important on nights of HIGH bird migration.
Turning off non-essential nighttime lighting will help birds have a higher chance of successful migration to their breeding areas, according to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.
Courtesy BirdCast
Lighting Guidelines for EVERYONE:
Turn off all non-essential lights from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night during migration season.
Do not use landscape lighting to light up trees or gardens where birds may be resting.
Close blinds at night to reduce the amount of light being emitted from windows.
For essential lights (like security lighting) use the following dark skies friendly lighting practices:
Aim lights down
Use lighting shields to direct light downwards and to avoid light shining into the sky or trees
Use motion detectors and sensors so lights are only on when you need them
Share your support for the cause via social media and with local media, your commitment to go lights out to save birds is newsworthy.
Additional Guidelines for Buildings Taller Than 3 Stories:
Extinguish or dim: Exterior and decorative lighting (i.e. spotlights, logos, clock faces, greenhouses, and antenna lighting); lobby/atrium lighting; and lighting in perimeter rooms on all levels of the building.
Avoid: Floodlights; illuminating interior plants or fountains, and unoccupied floors; scheduling cleaning crews after dark; and blue-rich white light emissions (lighting with a color temperature of over 3000 Kelvin).
Use: Desk lamps or task lighting rather than overhead lights; blinking lighting in place of continuously burning lights; and warm light sources (less than 3000 Kelvin) for outdoor lighting.
Additional ideas for building owners and managers include:
Motivate and inform your staff and tenants
Explain that adopting this new practice is a win-win; saving both birds and money.
Clearly identify what lights need to be turned out, and how to go about shutting them off.
Designate staff member(s) responsible for turning off lights and make sure they know when to do so.
With all the ecosystem services birds provide, keeping birds safe is better for everyone!
Learn more about how to go "Lights Out":
Sign up for local Bird Migration Alerts here:
Courtesy BirdCast
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