While this is a sad reality, it is a situation that can be mitigated by commercial facility operators, city building managers, colleges and universities – and each of us. Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, Colorado State University and UMass Amherst’s BirdCast website reports that an estimated 365 million to 988 million birds die in collisions with buildings annually.

Excessive, poorly controlled light can attract and disorient birds –causing them to collide with illuminated buildings or circle lit-up structures to the point of exhaustion or simply draw them into areas where they face further risks during daylight hours. Unlike humans who rely on light at night for safety and navigation, migrating birds are confused and distracted by artificial light, making it hazard. They face many perils along the way – including one we can all mitigate: light pollution.

Covering thousands of miles across states, countries and continents, birds such as warblers, orioles, wrens, herons and tanagers make these age-old journeys in the dark of night. During September and October, billions of birds are migrating to their wintering grounds (find information for specific regions here).

Download lights out bird migration