On April 11, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Office of General Services (OGS) reminded New Yorkers to take motion to guard migrating birds as they navigate evening skies by collaborating within the ‘Lights Out’ initiative. Joining nationwide and worldwide efforts, State buildings collaborating in Lights Out will maintain non-essential out of doors lighting from affecting the flexibility of birds emigrate efficiently all through New York.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos mentioned, “We all play a role in protecting the environment and wildlife and the national Lights Out initiative is a simple way to help a variety of bird species survive and thrive during the busy migration season. DEC is proud to join our New York State partners to lead by example and take actions to reduce bird collisions.”
New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner Jeanette Moy mentioned, “Reducing excessive outdoor lighting is an easy and practical step we can take to minimize one of the many dangerous obstacles birds face during their long annual migrations. OGS is proud to join with DEC and our other partners in state government to help our avian friends safely navigate to their spring nesting sites and wintering grounds.”
Many species of shorebirds and songbirds depend on constellations to assist them navigate to and from their summer time breeding grounds via the state. Excessive out of doors lighting, particularly in opposed climate circumstances, may cause migrating birds to change into disoriented, a phenomenon generally known as deadly mild attraction. According to the National Zoological Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, deadly mild attraction has led to collisions with home windows, partitions, floodlights, or the bottom and the demise of an estimated 365 to 988 million birds yearly within the United States.
Lights Out directs State-owned and managed buildings to show off non-essential out of doors lighting from 11 p.m. to daybreak throughout the spring migration April 15 via May 31, and in addition throughout the peak fall migration, Aug. 15 via Nov. 15. State businesses are additionally inspired to attract blinds, when attainable, and switch off non-essential indoor lighting throughout Lights Out instances. In addition to benefiting migrating birds, Lights Out promotes sustainability and supplies a cost-savings to the state.
Mike Burger, Executive Director of Audubon Connecticut and New York mentioned, “Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, and most of them travel at night. Unfortunately, artificial lights and sky glow can confuse them, causing some to collide with windows and walls while others circle in confusion until exhaustion overcomes them. This migration season, you can help by turning off lights when they’re not in use, making sure that outside lights aim down and are well-shielded, closing blinds to reduce light-spill, and building awareness with building owners and managers.”
Jessica Wilson, Executive Director of NYC Audubon mentioned, “Birds are a critical part of a healthy ecosystem, but bird populations are in steep decline due to threats including climate change, habitat loss, and collisions with buildings. Fortunately, there are easy solutions to collisions including reducing artificial light at night – which also improves human health. When buildings turn off unnecessary lights at night, they help make the environment better for birds and for people.”
DEC encourages birding lovers to go to I BIRD NY for extra data on the place and find out how to observe birds, upcoming chook walks, a downloadable Beginner’s Guide to Birding (available in Spanish), data on the annual I BIRD NY Challenge, and extra academic assets. The New York State Birding Trail map can be available on-line and supplies invaluable data on every website equivalent to location, available facilities, species more likely to be seen, instructions, and extra. Digital data on the Birding Trail will likely be up to date periodically, so budding out of doors lovers are inspired to verify again typically.
DEC manages and oversees 5 million acres of public lands and conservation easements and performs an important position in each defending New York’s pure assets and offering alternatives for individuals to benefit from the open air. From fishing on scenic streams, mountain climbing and mountaineering, swimming and boating, birding, and nature research, or just enjoyable in a tent underneath the celebrities, there are limitless adventures to be discovered. Visit things to do in NYS, join with us on Facebook, or comply with us on Instagram and X.
Photo at high: Gray catbird. Photo by Jeffrey Werner, supplied by the NYS DEC.
