Chicago, IL – Illinois joins the nationwide ‘Lights Out’ movement during peak spring bird migration.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, echoing BirdCast’s advisory, requests residents to dim or turn off lights at night to prevent disorienting migratory birds. This year’s forecast anticipates hundreds of millions of birds will pass through Illinois.
According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, light pollution poses a significant risk to migrating birds, leading to potentially fatal building collisions. Residents are urged to reduce non-essential lighting from 11 PM to 6 AM during peak migration nights. This initiative not only protects birds but also contributes to energy conservation, aligning with the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines for reducing light pollution.Â
With nearly half of the U.S. bird migration occurring in a few critical weeks, simple actions by residents could have a substantial impact on bird conservation efforts.
