Join “Lights Out” Program To Protect Birds

The National Audubon Society is calling on residents, businesses, and building managers to participate in its “Lights Out” program, an initiative aimed at protecting migratory birds from fatal building collisions.

The program encourages turning off non-essential lighting during peak migration periods, as bright lights can disorient birds flying through the night.

“About 80% of bird species in North America are migratory, and 70% of them migrate at night, using the stars to navigate,” said Javier Gonzalez, a naturalist educator at the South Padre Island Birding Center. “With growing cities and increased artificial lighting, birds are getting disoriented and running into trouble.”

In Cameron County alone, more than 300,000 birds pass through during migration season. Residents are encouraged to turn off landscape and porch lights overnight between mid-August and mid-November, with October being the peak migration period in the Rio Grande Valley.

“This is the time to help out by turning off lights, providing water for birds, and keeping cats indoors,” Gonzalez added. “These simple actions can make a big difference.”

Experts also recommend closing blinds at night and using motion sensor lights to minimize bright indoor lighting that may confuse birds. Additionally, visual markers like tape or stickers on windows and physical barriers such as screens can help prevent birds from colliding with glass, which they often fail to recognize as a barrier.

For more information on bird migrations and how to help, visit Birdcast.info.