Lighting the Way to a Brighter Future: The Lights Out Texas Campaign for Birds and Beyond
Spring migration is in full swing across Texas. As many of our feathered friends risk their lives to fly north, one remarkable conservation effort is leading the charge to protect them during their long journey home. The Lights Out Texas Campaign is a conservation effort that encourages individuals and businesses alike to turn off non-essential lighting during peak migration seasons.
A Beacon of Hope: The Lights Out Campaign
Started in 2017, the Lights Out Texas campaign was launched by the Houston Audubon Society to address the tragic loss of migrators in the area. A major collision event involving 400 birds in Galveston caught their attention and sparked the need to educate the public about the harms of light pollution.
With far-reaching benefits for migratory birds and the environment, this campaign has taken the state by storm. Since 2017, 10 Texas cities have joined Lights Out Texas to not only conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprint but also to protect vulnerable migratory birds from one of their biggest threats.
A Challenge to Overcome: Why You Should Care.
Migratory birds face countless obstacles during their long flight home, with light pollution being one of their most significant challenges. An estimated 365-988 million birds die each year in the United States due to collisions with buildings. Many of these fatalities are linked to disorientation from artificial lighting.
As a key location within the Central Flyway, Texas is a major stop for migrators, with approximately 2 billion birds passing through each year during spring and fall migrations. The Lone Star State's commitment to the Lights Out Initiative aims to lead the nation into action and show how effective collective action can be when communities work together.
Leading the Charge: A Nationwide Problem with Light Pollution
As one of the largest states in the U.S, Texas has a big problem with excessive energy consumption and light pollution. Though Texas accounts for nearly 13 percent of the energy consumed in the U.S, many local communities are making strides to reduce light pollution to mitigate the negative effects on migratory birds.
For instance, Houston, one of Texas' largest cities, was the first to join the Lights Out Texas Campaign and is actively working to reduce bird-building collisions by reducing their light pollution and creating sanctuaries for migrators.
Houston’s leadership shows that with continued collaborative efforts, Texans can work together to make a lasting impact on bird conservation in Texas.
How You Can Make a Difference?
You can play a vital role in supporting the Lights Out Texas Campaign. Here's how to get involved and make a positive impact:
Turn off non-essential lights during peak migration periods.
Join the movement by turning off all unnecessary outdoor and indoor lights from 11 P.M. to 6 A.M. between April 19 and May 7, and August 20 and October 10. This includes decorative lighting, landscape lighting, and lights in unoccupied rooms.
Spread the word.
Share information about the Lights Out Campaign with your colleagues, friends, and community members. The Audubon Society provides phenomenal resources to help educate others about the importance of this campaign.
Support bird-friendly building design and materials.
Promote the use of bird-friendly building materials and design features that minimize collisions, such as patterned or opaque glass and shielded lighting fixtures.
The Texas Lights Out Campaign is a shining example of how we can work together as a community to protect our migratory birds while also conserving energy for a brighter future in the process. By taking action and raising awareness, Texan’s can ensure that the wild spirits and wild places that make our world so remarkable continue to thrive for generations to come.
For more information please visit https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/ or https://texanbynature.org/2021/04/lights-out-texas-how-it-all-started/
