Yellow Warbler - August 27, 2023 Photo: courtesy Betsy Cross

FALL MIGRATION IS HERE!
August 15 —November 30

Mimi Cavender

Did you know that millions of birds migrate through Texas each spring and fall—mostly at night?

Our artificial lights disorient them and cause them to crash into buildings and towers, where they die or fall stunned to the ground, easy prey for predators. Birds need to migrate—they don’t need to die.

Are you strong enough to see one night’s toll on multiple species of night migrating birds crashing into an overlit building? Are you ready to see how we can easily—so easily—help stop the death of our songbirds? Watch this powerful short video.

It previews the new Lights Out Texas film produced by Cornell Conservation Media in partnership with Audubon Texas and the statewide Lights Out Texas alliance of nonprofit partners.

In central Texas’ Hill Country, Lights Out Hays County is part of the Lights Out Texas program, a statewide initiative to raise awareness of the risk light pollution poses to birds. During fall migration, we ask residents, businesses, and governments to turn off non-essential lights at night, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., August 15 – November 30. Do this now, and again during Spring Migration, March 1 – June 15. Minimum light, sunset to sunrise. Easy!

Think about it this way: in your home and business, use minimum light, warm light, only when you really need it, from sunset to sunrise during bird migration seasons. But to keep things simple, just do it to be LIGHT SMART like this all year round! Millions of birds—and your pocketbook—will thank you.

Lights Out Texas is led by Audubon Texas. The effort is strongly supported throughout Texas because our Texas Hill Country is smack in the middle of the bird-rich North American Central Flyway. Open that flyway link to see the vast numbers of bird species migrating above us twice yearly! While we dither about the warming climate, we can at least do something easy to protect those millions of birds from the effects of too much night lighting. We proud Texans know how to step up.

As of fall 2024, these Hays County / Austin area communities and organizations are on board:

City of Austin, Office of Sustainability
City of Buda
City of Dripping Sptrings
City of Fredericksburg
City of Kyle
City of San Marcos
City of Wimberley
City of Woodcreek
Hays County
Travis County

Hays County Friends of the Night Sky leader **Cindy Luongo Cassidy** reiterated that seeking the Proclamation for Hays County was a collaborative effort and asked that the Lights Out Project consider the County a partner and advocate (April 2022). **HCMNs were there!** Back Row: Stephen Ramirez, Laura Legett, Joe Doherty. Front Row: Betsy Cross, Cindy Luongo Cassidy, Cindy Hobson.

August 28-29, 2024 BirdCast Dashboard for Hays County: https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-TX-209

You, your family, can easily join this Lights Out effort. There’s a simple way to dramatically reduce light hazards for night flying birds, allowing them to safely continue their journey during each critical migration period. https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/

The glare of excessive night lighting is actually not safe--and is unhealthy for all wildlife. Photo: courtesy Rui Cavender

HOW TO GO LIGHTS OUT

Get Started in 3 Easy Steps

Turn off all non-essential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night during migration season.
Do not use landscape lighting to light up trees or gardens where birds may be resting.
For essential lights (security and safety lighting) use Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.

An overlit home destroys essential healthy darkness in the hills above Wimberley. Photo: courtesy Rui Cavender

THE 5 PRINCIPLES AT A GLANCE

All lights should have a clear purpose. We and all of nature need dark nights for health.
Light should be directed only to where needed and preferably directed downward.
Light should be no brighter than necessary. Use the lowest light level possible.
Light should be used only when useful, then turned off. Use motion detectors or timers.
Use warmer color light. We don’t need bright white light!

Rest Stop

Betsy Cross

Fall migrating birds stop over in Central Texas to rest, refuel, and rehydrate on their journey south. During the first 2 weeks of September 2023, a variety of migrating warblers and orioles visited my bird bath and fed on the American Beautyberry in my backyard. They also foraged on insects that were living in my pollinator garden.

These migrating birds are such a treasure. Invite them into your yard by furnishing fresh water every day and by providing a variety of native fall fruiting plants, such as this beautyberry. And please remember to follow the 5 Principles of Lights Out.