Lights Out At Night For New York State? Why You Should Go Dark

Do you leave your outdoor lights on all night? If you do, you are being asked to turn them off to help birds all across Western New York.

Light Out Program Western New York

If you are like me, chances are you have one or more of your outdoor lights on at night and overnight. We usually keep one of our lights on our garage on, but now bird experts are asking you to turn that light off.

The Lights Out Program encourages everyone to turn off any non-essential lighting in their homes, farms, and businesses between 11 pm and 6 am to help with bird migration. With the weather changing, birds are coming back to Western New York, and those lights can interfere with their migration.

How Do Artificial Lights Impact Bird Migration?

Birds that are returning to Western New York use stars and moonlight to find their way back. The artificial light that comes from cities and buildings can confuse them, pulling them off course.

READ MORE: GET YOUR SPRING PLANTS AND HELP OUT FEEDMORE WNY

Bird migration hits its peak between March and June, with most birds migrating at night between 11 pm and 6 am. Turning off non-essential lights will help them make it to where they are going.

You can learn more about the Lights Out Program HERE.

Bird Migration Pattern Across Western New York

Right now, with the weather warming up, it is peak bird migration in Western New York. Most birds return to Western New York between March and June, but peak migration is  April 15th through May 31st.

On the flip side, most birds leave Western New York for warmer climates between August 15th and November 15th. You should also leave your lights off overnight during this period too.