The
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens,
Duval Audubon Society, and
St. Johns Regional Audubon Society have joined forces to develop a Lights Out program for Northeast Florida.
WHAT IS LIGHTS OUT NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Birds migrate each year along the Atlantic coast. Because many birds migrate at night using natural light cues like the moon and stars, bright lights and sky glow can confuse them. This causes birds to collide with windows and walls while others circle in confusion until exhaustion overcomes them. From our best current scientific understanding, millions of birds die in the U.S. every year because of this.
Fortunately, a simple thing like turning out lights at your home can help birds navigate our environment and protect them from unnecessary harm. A
landmark study conducted by the Field Museum in Chicago showed that by turning the lights off in one building, the number of birds killed there dropped by over 80 percent.
Our program joins those
in other major cities throughout the country to help save migratory birds during their spring and fall migrations.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
HOMEOWNERS ARE ASKED TO PLEDGE TO DO THE FOLLOWING FROM 11 PM UNTIL 6 AM DURING SPRING MIGRATION (MARCH 15 - MAY 15) AND FALL MIGRATION (SEPTEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 15)
- Turn off exterior decorative lighting (leave security lights on as needed for safety)
- Turn off interior lights when leaving a room
- Keep blinds/curtains drawn at night when turning off interior lights isn't feasible
- Direct outdoor lights to point downward, instead of upward into the sky
- Consider putting motion sensors on outdoor security lights so they only come on when needed
Please note: Lights Out Northeast Florida asks for your physical address so that we can map locations that have signed up to participate. We will not publish participants' addresses nor will we share your address or other information with anyone outside of our organization.
