Lights Out Alert For Migrating Birds

I just received this email and am passing it on to all our Driftless friends, not just in Wisconsin but in Minnesota and Iowa as well. Please help our migrating songbirds as they arrive for nesting or pass through to nesting grounds further north.

Lights Out Alert issued statewide in Wisconsin for the night of Thursday, May 14 and next 2 weeks!

Another massive wave of migrating birds is on its way to Wisconsin, bringing calls from scientists to turn off non-essential outdoor lights on the night of May 14 and other nights over the next two weeks when Lights Out Alerts are forecast in some or all of the state.

Lights Out Wisconsin is urging everyone to turn off or dim non-essential outdoor lights and close window shades from 11 p.m.–6 a.m. to help birds safely migrate.

Most migratory birds fly at night, and artificial light can disorient them, drawing them into developed areas where they face greater risks, especially from window collisions. Even one night of darker skies can save thousands of birds.

How to help in coming days:

🪟 Put up a window treatment on your worst window(s) for birds (the window/s they hit).

🌙 Put exterior lights on motion sensors, timers, or dimmers so they’re only on when needed.

💡 If lights must be on, use warm/amber outdoor lights: aim for ~2200 K or lower when possible (lower Kelvin = less blue light).

✨ Choose fully shielded, downward-facing fixtures and aim light only where required to avoid trespass and skyglow.

Thank you very much for helping make migration safer for birds!

Learn more on the Lights Out Wisconsin website

Lights Out Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin conservation groups and dark sky organizations working together to reduce the impacts of light pollution on people, wildlife and the night sky.