The Dallas-Fort Worth area is gearing up for fall bird migration, which runs from August 15 through November 30, with the high-flying peak period from September 5 to October 29.
During this window, millions of birds traverse North Texas on their nocturnal journey - and DFW ranks among the nation’s most dangerous urban corridors for these fragile travelers, thanks to blinding city lights and reflective glass.
Artificial lighting pulls migrating birds off course, leading them to collide with buildings, and it’s not just skyscrapers at fault - even homes and low-rise buildings contribute heavily to bird deaths.
In fact, collisions kill more birds annually than nearly any other human-caused threat, with some estimates suggesting well over a billion birds perish this way across the U.S. each year.
Enter Lights Out, Texas!, a statewide conservation campaign led by Audubon Texas. For DFW, that means a call to switch off nonessential lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the migration season. It’s a small step that volunteers - along with partners like the Dallas Zoo, Perot Museum, and Texas Conservation Alliance - have supported with dramatic results, monitoring fewer bird-building collisions and even saving distressed birds during predawn surveys.
Bottom line for KRLD listeners: This fall, keeping the lights off after dark isn’t just energy-saving - it’s lifesaving. Dimming our city isn’t just symbolic; it's a simple, powerful action that can help protect our night-flying feathered friends.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube