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Did you know that one of the largest migration events in the United States happens over our heads while we sleep at night? Millions of birds travel through Ohio during the spring and fall as they journey between breeding and overwintering grounds. Yet they face a growing threat that is having increasingly negative impacts on people and wildlife alike: light pollution.

Artificial light interferes with birds’ ability to navigate night skies, which depends on the positioning of the moon and stars. Bright lights pull birds off their migratory course, disorienting them and even causing them to collide with buildings. Light pollution has also been shown to have major impacts on human health, energy usage, and crime. Limiting the amount of light we use at night is not only good for our eyes, our wallets, and our ability to stargaze—it also helps our feathered friends have a safer cross-continental journey!

One of the most impactful actions you can take is reducing light between midnight and dawn during peak migration periods.

In the Ohio River Valley, this typically means from August 15 to October 31 for fall migration and from March 15 to June 1 for spring migration. You can use BirdCast for more specific migration “forecasts” to find out when birds are most likely going to be traveling over your area!

If you don’t want to go completely dark, there are still simple steps you can take to make your building or home more bird-friendly:

• Use automatic dimmers, motion sensors, or timers so that lights are only on when needed
• Switch out bright white and blue LED lightbulbs with warmer colors like amber, orange, or red, which are less attractive to birds and other wildlife
• Use shielded lights or aim light beams towards the ground
• Draw curtains and close blinds at night to prevent light from spilling out of buildings
• Remove or turn off decorative exterior lighting

For more ways to help songbirds and get involved, check out Lights Out Cincinnati and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative!