Last updated on January 11, 2024.
Texans love our wildlife and abundant natural heritage. Unfortunately, Texas birds are declining largely due to collisions with brightly lit businesses, homes, and other buildings. Certify your business or residence with Lights Out for Wildlife. You will receive a certificate to celebrate your commitment to conservation and you'll inspire others to join in. With the simple flip of a switch, each of us can do our part to protect millions of migrating birds soaring across our Lone Star sky.
Schools, businesses big and small, homes of all sizes, and many other buildings can be certified. Visit the link to pledge what your next steps will be to help birds this season. It's free!
"With a flick of a switch, you can be part of a nationwide effort to dramatically reduce the hundreds of millions of birds killed by collisions
with brightly lit buildings. Not only can you save birds - our most beautiful and accessible wildlife - you can reduce your energy costs. It's a no-brainer!"
Garrett Boone, Co-Founder
The Container Store
The Problem
Many birds migrate at night. Every spring and fall, they soar across Texas in flocks by the hundreds of millions. Our night sky becomes a super highway of birds! Unfortunately, birds are attracted to light, so brightly-lit homes and buildings can confuse and disorient them. They often collide with windows and walls. It's hard to believe, but we lose up to one billion birds to collisions in the US every year. If by chance they survive, hazards in the city abound, like busy streets, food scarcity, and feral cats. To keep Texas birds flying high, it’s as easy as flipping a switch – go Lights Out for Wildlife during peak spring and fall migration from 11 PM to 6 AM (Sep, Oct, & Nov / Mar, Apr, & May).
Take Action. Go Lights Out for Wildlife!
The Solution
Texans can solve this problem; we know how to get things done. By working together toward a dark sky every spring and fall, we will keep birds safely on course and out of harm’s way. Go Lights Out for Wildlife during peak spring and fall migration from 11 PM to 6 AM (Sep, Oct, & Nov / Mar, Apr, & May) to save millions of Texas birds.
Take Action
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Certify your home, business, or building with Lights Out for Wildlife and inspire others with your commitment to conservation. It’s free!
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Turn off non-essential lights from 11 PM to 6 AM during peak spring and fall migration (Sept, Oct, & Nov / Mar, Apr, & May).
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Turn off or dim lobby and atrium lights.
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Turn off or dim interior home lighting.
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Turn off decorative landscape lighting.
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Turn off lights before leaving the home or office.
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Draw blinds and close curtains.
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Be sure outside lights are aimed down and well shielded.
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Install motion sensors on outside lights to minimize use.
Lights Out for Wildlife Certification
Every person and every business, school, hotel, home, high rise, restaurant, municipal building, and place of worship can receive Lights Out for Wildlife certification. Certification comes with a certificate to celebrate your pledge to save wildlife and lets you share your commitment publicly with colleagues, coworkers, customers, family, and friends. It provides a public way to show off your commitment to conservation while inspiring others to take action and join in. Certification is a source of pride for all involved and it's free, so sign up today!
