Millions of birds are migrating through Miami. But they need you to turn out the lights

Black-throated blue warblers. Ovenbirds. Common Yellowthroats. Prairie warblers.

These are just some of the species of songbirds—small, vocal and often colorful little creatures—that migrate through South Florida every spring to nest in the north.

“These birds aren’t just passing through—they link our communities to places far beyond Miami,” Communications Director Ana Lima, of Tropical Audubon Society in South Florida, says.

But on that journey to breed, many of them won’t make it.

These migratory birds instinctively know to fly at night to avoid predators, take advantage of cooler temperatures and calmer winds. They know how to follow magnetic fields to their breeding grounds. And they can even use the stars to navigate.

Megumi Aita, Gary Robinette via Tropical Audubon Society

LEFT: Overnbird photographed by Megumi Aita, via Tropical Audubon Society
RIGHT: Praire Warbler photographed by Gary Robinette, via Tropical Audubon Society.

But there’s one thing they haven’t adapted to: windows and bright lights at night.

“According to the National Audubon Society, up to a billion birds die each year in the U.S. from window collisions, many during migration,” Lima says. “Artificial light at night disorients these birds, drawing them into urban areas where glass becomes a deadly obstacle.”

Big cities with tall buildings are particularly high-risk zones, and South Florida—a crucial stop on their path for resting and refueling—is no exception.

But there is good news!

“Preventing bird collisions is incredibly accessible,” Lima says. “It starts with simply turning off unnecessary lights at night, closing blinds, putting lights on timers, using motion sensors at night and other small actions.”

That’s where the Lights Out Miami initiative comes in.

The Tropical Audubon Society is asking you to turn off your lights from 11 p.m. through sunrise to help give these birds a better chance at a safe migration until May 15, and again in the fall.

“Lights Out Miami is about protecting what I like to call our ‘tiny travelers’ — millions of migratory birds that pass through South Florida each spring and fall on journeys that span continents,” Lima says. “We hope people understand that this is a problem we can solve together.”

The program also operates in 50 other cities around the United States, and is just one way people can make their impact on the environment a little more “feather-friendly.”

Other way to help birds

If you witness a bird collision, report it here.
Birds also struggle with windows during the daytime. You can check out decals that help birds distinguish between a reflection and a real tree here.
Homeowners and commercial buildings can join the campaign here.
If you see an injured bird, don’t feed it or give it water, as it could aspirate. Instead, you can put it in a box or move it somewhere safe from predators until it regains consciousness.

Source link