Bird Safe Harrisburg
Lights Out
Lights Out Harrisburg is an annual initiative during peak spring and fall migration, running April 1st -May 31st and August 15th - November 15th. Anyone can participate, including building owners, residents, and municipalities!
THe Issue
Most migratory birds travel at night, relying on specific sensory cues to navigate. These cues work by using the light emitted by stars or reflected by the moon. Light pollution reduces or eliminates these celestial light sources and can cause birds to be confused or otherwise attracted to brightly lit areas, steering them off migratory routes, causing premature landings or collisions, and wasting energy. Unfortunately, when birds are attracted to brightly lit urban and suburban areas, they face a variety of human threats that may impact their survival, particularly window strikes, which kill billions of birds in the United States each year. The good news is that we can facilitate safe passage for birds by reducing artificial light at night.
Lights Out began in Pennsylvania in Philadelphia after a bird mass casualty event, learn more: Philadelphia has dimmed its skyline after a 'mass collision' killed thousands of migrating birds | CNN
The SOlution
Lights Out is a voluntary program that involves turning off and minimizing external and internal building lights at night as well as following responsible outdoor lighting principles, during spring and fall migration, to reduce the risk of bird collisions.
Committed partners of the Lights Out Harrisburg Coalition will be turning off (and/or dimming) exterior and interior lights during the migratory season's overnight hours (12 a.m. - 6 a.m.). Using lighting controls, education, and manually ensuring lights are dimmed and turned off will help reduce bird collisions and save countless migratory bird lives each year.
Help minimize light pollution during peak migration to help birds navigate as the make the trek to their breeding or wintering grounds.
What Can You do?
Contribute to Lights Out
Turn off exterior decorative lighting
Extinguish spot and flood-lights
Substitute strobe lighting wherever possible
Reduce atrium lighting wherever possible
Turn off interior lighting, especially on upper floors
Substitute area lighting with task lighting for workers staying late and/or pull window coverings
Down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and all light directed upward
Install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible
When converting to new lighting, assess quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology. Look for LED fixtures with a color temperature of 2700 Kelvin or less. This is a pleasant, warm light that is easy on the eyes, reduces glare, and enhances visibility
Responsible outdoor lighting is: 1. Useful, 2. Targeted, 3. Low Level, 4. Controlled, and 5. Warm-Colored
From April 1 - May 31 and August 15 - November 15 (but ideally, year-round!), consider turning off unnecessary lights between at least midnight and 6 a.m. Your enthusiastic support of Lights Out Harrisburg will be much appreciated.
Anyone can participate: building owners, residents, or municipalities!
Photo by Michael Yatsko
Lights Out Helps Other Wildlife
Light pollution is a driver of insect declines - ScienceDirect
Lights Out Harrisburg is the result of a collaborative effort led by PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Department of General Services, PA Game Commission, Harristown, Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, Appalachian Audubon Society, National Audubon Society, Wyncote Audubon Society (Liberty Bird Alliance) & West Shore Wildlife Center.
Learn more about Lights Out Programs across the nation here