“Lights Out” Program Reduces Bird Deaths in Cities

“Lights Out” Program Reduces Bird Deaths in Cities

Audubon Newsire

Audubon has developed a guide for cities across the country to form partnerships to save birds’ lives. A new website provides tools to replicate Chicago’s “Lights Out” Program—a cooperative venture between Audubon, the City of Chicago, and the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, in which Chicago’s tall buildings all turn off their decorative lights during spring and fall bird migration. The new national effort has the support of the International Building Owners and Managers Association, Audubon, and Partners in Flight, and funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The how-to Web site, http://www.lightsout.audubon.org provides sample communications and recognition ideas, links to partner organizations, and research findings. “This program is a win-win for buildings, cities, and birds,” explained Audubon President John Flicker. “Buildings can keep lights on in the evenings when the city is bustling, then can save energy costs as well as birds’ lives by turning out the lights after 11 p.m.”

In some cities, thousands of birds perish because the lights on tall buildings confuse their navigation systems. These tiny creatures make exhausting all night journeys. Many of them fly hundreds of miles in one night, on their way from Canada to South America. They find their way by a complex set of instincts and signals that can become confused by the lights. When this happens, they may circle the buildings until they weaken and become susceptible to predation or collision.

To view pictures of the “Lights Out” program in other cities visit www.lightsout.audubon.org.