Center for Wildlife Health Research
Advancing protection of wildlife through innovative research and community engagement.

(The following was excerpted in part from https://www.fws.gov/story/threats-birds-collisions-nighttime-lighting)

 

Light pollution is increasing worldwide at a rate of 10% per year. Why is this harmful to birds? Lighting can attract large numbers of night-migrating birds from as far as 5 kilometers away. Birds drawn into lights often become entrapped and circle the lit area, which can deplete their energy stores needed for migration and put them more at risk of colliding with glass and buildings. The good news is that there are simple and easy actions we can all take to help keep the night skies dark.

 

What Can We Do?

 

You can help solve this problem with the flip of a switch! Turning off lights at night or taking simple actions to limit lighting.

 

Birds are at greater risk from lighting during spring and fall migration. Consider if lighting can be temporarily turned off April-May and August-October for migration. Most of our Maine species migrate at night!

 

• Use automatic controls such as timers, dimmers, or motion sensors to use only what light is needed.

• Turn off lights that face up into the sky or outwardly,

• Keep lighting as low to the ground as possible, and focused.

• Prevent indoor light spill by closing blinds or curtains at night.

• Use "warmer", light. Avoid using blue, white, or "cooler" light.