Lights Out, Fort Worth, for spring bird migration
Published on February 25, 2024
The Lights Out initiative is an educational campaign of awareness and action focused on protecting migratory birds by turning off lights at night. Each year, hundreds of millions of birds migrate through Texas and are subject to light pollution.
How you can help: All Texans are encouraged to turn off nonessential lights, both business and residential, at night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring migration, March 1-June 15, especially during the peak migration period, April 19-May 7.
Why it matters: The goal is to protect billions of birds as they migrate across the United States — one of the largest migrations on the planet and one that occurs primarily at night. Lights from buildings, especially in urban areas, attract and disorient migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them and making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings. Turning off lights dramatically reduces hazards and disorientation by light, allowing birds to safely proceed with their migratory journeys.
Fort Worth is already taking action: Downtown Fort Worth’s high-rise buildings and the City of Fort Worth’s Future City Hall have already joined the mission to help save the lives of birds as they begin their spring migration. The decorative lighting on Future City Hall is dimmed year-round during late-night hours, not just during peak bird migration.
The City of Fort Worth is committed to protecting birds and to saving energy. Participating in this initiative is a great way do to both. Residents and businesses, not just downtown, can reduce light pollution at night for a few hours to support this effort.
Learn more:
- These actions are taken to support the Lights Out initiative, headed by the National Audubon Society and Texan by Nature. Learn more from the National Audubon Society website.
- Bird-lovers can monitor how many migrants will be traveling through the area using the BirdCast website.
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