Why Texas Birds Need You To Turn Off Your Lights Right Now

It’s that time of year again, y’all! Birds are migrating through Texas and need our help traveling.

Audubon Texas is urging building owners, businesses, developers, and homeowners to turn off all non-essential nighttime lighting on buildings and other structures from 11 p.m. to 6 p.m. during bird migration season.

Migration season started March 1 and runs through June 15, according to Audubon Texas. Peak migration happens between April 22 and May 12. During these times, birds often fly south where temperatures are more mild, daylight hours are longer, and food is more abundant.

One in three migrating birds will move through Texas during that peak migration time Audubon Texas says.

Most North American birds do their traveling at nighttime. That’s where we come in. Lights from buildings, your porch, or even your living room, can confuse birds.

“In fact, between 100 million and 1 billion birds die every year in collisions with manmade structures – one of the biggest killers of migratory birds,” Audubon Texas says.

So, what can you do? Turn off all your outside lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., close your curtains and blinds, turn off exterior floodlights, and avoid using overhead lighting when working late, Travis Audubon says. Use warm lightbulbs when possible, and direct the light you use to fall only where needed.

You can also help the birds’ cause by getting a free “Lights Out Texas” sign! Signs are currently available for free at the following Austin libraries:

Signs are only available in March.