bird_friendly_buildings_factsheet.pdf
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St Louis Audubon Society

Audubon Center at Riverlands

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Lights Out Heartland

Spring Migration:  May 1st through mid-May is  peak migration period occurs for many bird species in Missouri. Migration begins as early as mid-April

Fall Migration: Fall migration period is more extended,  occurring from mid-August through October. Of those months, September can be most important.

Birds use the moon and stars to navigate and bright artificial lights can cause them to become disoriented, resulting in death from  exhaustion or collisions with buildings.  St. Louis is ranked by Cornell Lab of Ornithology as the 5th most dangerous city for birds during spring migration and the 6th most dangerous during fall migration.  You can help reduce bird deaths by turning off your exterior lights or placing them on motion detectors. 

BirdCast real time bird migration tracking! 

Guidelines for Bird-Safe Lighting

1. Use automatic lighting controls (timers and motion detectors).
2. When possible, turn both interior and exterior lights off by 11pm, especially during spring and fall migration periods.
3. Use task lighting to create small light zones and minimize unnecessary indoor lighting.
4. Utilize light dimmers in atriums and hallways to control indoor light levels.
5. When possible, close interior blinds to protect migrating birds from indoor lighting that must remain on at night.
6. Eliminate/reduce any direct upward exterior lighting. Ensure that all exterior light fixtures are shielded (downward light only).
7. Utilize minimum wattage fixtures to achieve appropriate lighting levels.
8. Avoid use of floodlighting, spotlights, or searchlights. When this cannot be avoided, turn off such lighting during spring and fall migrations