Billions of migratory birds will be flying through Texas this spring, and wildlife advocates are asking all of us to do a small part in making sure their passage is as safe as possible.
The “Lights Out, Texas” campaign calls for Texans to turn off any “unnecessary outdoor” lights that might interfere with the birds’ flights, as they most often travel at night.
Zineera Seth of the Houston Audubon told Chron, “The majority of migratory birds fly at night, using cues like the stars and moon for navigation. Light pollution causes birds to get disoriented and leads to collisions, resulting in injuries or death.”
Glowing lights can leave birds “disoriented, confused, and vulnerable” to collisions. According to the Texas Audubon, nearly one billion birds die annually across the U.S. as a result of building collisions.
This year, the peak in the spring migration will take place between April 22 and May 12.
Texans are being asked to turn off all non-essential lights on buildings and other structures from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night from March 1 to June 15.
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