Lights Out to Save Birds

Help us create bird-friendly communities to create
safe passage for birds during migration.

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Image provided courtesy of the National Audubon Society

Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. The majority of the birds fly at night, navigating using the Moon, stars and night sky. As they pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and sky glow. An estimated 600 million birds in the U.S. die each year from collisions with buildings. A study published by Cornell Lab of Ornithology ranked metropolitan areas in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois where, due to a combination of light pollution and geography, birds are at the greatest risk of becoming attracted to and disoriented by lights and crash into buildings.   

We hope that you will learn more about our program by reviewing our website and join our initiative to create bird-friendly communities.

Overview

Learn about our growing list of organizations working together to help birds migrate 
safely, see results of work, and learn how you can become involved.

About Us

See our progress toward collaboratiing with organizations in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Our Partners

Check our progress as expand our effort to turn out lights during peak migration times.

Get Involved

Whether you are an organization, government entity, or an interested citizen, there are many ways to get involved to make a difference.

"Lights Out" in May and September

Lights Out Heartland encourages the use of responsible outdoor lighting throughout the year but especially in May and September when bird migration is particularly intense. 

Turn off outdoor lights if they are not useful.  If lights are necessary, refer to the "Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting" for guidance on how to minimize lighting during bird migration periods.

Our Goal

Turn lights out during bird migration to help birds travel safe.

LEARN MORE: Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants. Learn more at DarkSkyMissouri.org or DarkSky.org.