Horton says light pollution adds a relatively new layer of threat to migratory birds.

There’s also the risk of colliding with structures, as they don’t perceive reflective building windows or tall structures the way we do. Bird populations, particularly migratory birds, are threatened globally by habitat loss due to land clearing or converting forests to some other cover type.Ĭat predation is a significant threat for birds, with billions lost annually to feral and domestic cats. Whether temporarily overhead or resident species tucking in for the season, these birds face challenges brought on by human activity. This can all be made worse by weather patterns that force birds lower and in a more direct line with our buildings.Why you turn off lights to help migrating birds in Colorado Close Once on the ground, brightly lit building lobbies, reflective glass showing trees and shrubs, transparent facades, or even indoor plants near windows can lead to more collisions. These birds may collide with structures or become trapped in beams of light where they circle until they are exhausted. However, urbanization has wreaked havoc on these birds as the ever-present glow of artificial light turns the normally safe nighttime sky into a perilous pathway.īright lights confuse and disorient resident and migrating birds as they pass over brightly lit cities, like metro A tlanta. For generations, populations of warbler, thrush, and vireo have taken advantage of the darkened environment on their epic twice-yearly journey. Predators are less active at night, skies are often less turbulent, temperatures are cooler, and landing at daybreak allows for optimal foraging conditions. Generally, the evening hours are calmer and safer for migrants. Most migrating birds pass through Georgia during the nighttime hours.

Click here to read more about Project Safe Flight. Project Safe Flight volunteers patrol selected routes during peak bird migration periods collecting birds that have died or been injured after colliding with buildings. Georgia Audubon has been studying collision-related bird deaths through our Project Safe Flight Program since 2015.

Download lights out for bird migration