04/16/2025
We are just approaching peak migration for the Central Flyway. WildcareOklahoma has some great information below on how we can all do our part. It’s as easy as flipping a light switch off at night. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for those migrating during the day!
Each spring hundreds of millions of birds migrate. There are four flyways in the United States: Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic. Flyways are like bird superhighways, and Oklahoma is part of the central flyway with hundreds of species of birds making their way from, through, or to the state.
Most birds migrate at night using the stars and moon to navigate. Light pollution from cities, stadiums, businesses, and homes creates confusion. Often a city or suburb at night can be mistaken for the rising or setting sun. The result can be birds losing their way. They often find their way into hazardous environments crashing into power lines, buildings, and windows. They also waste energy flying around in confusion and crying out to their mates, offspring, and other members of their flocks. This excess, unnecessary calorie use can leave birds in a weakened state making them more vulnerable to all of the hazards in human environments.
With billions of birds on the move, there are specific actions YOU CAN TAKE STARTING TODAY to ensure they are more successful on these arduous, danger-filled journeys.
LIGHTS OUT, OKLAHOMA!
Turn off all non-essential lights from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night during migration season (until the end of May).
Do not use landscape lighting to light up trees or gardens where birds may be resting.
Close blinds at night to reduce the amount of light being emitted from windows.
Avoid floodlights and blue-rich white light emissions (lighting with a color temperature of over 3000 Kelvin). Use warm light sources—they appear soft yellow to orange (less than 3000 Kelvin) for outdoor lighting.
For essential lights (like security lighting) aim lights down or use lighting shields to direct light downwards; use motion detectors and sensors so lights are only on when you need them.
Many people keep lights on at night out of concerns for their safety. First, most home break-ins occur during the day between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when people are commonly not at home. Secondly, lights on at night both create shadows to hide in and provide light for potential perpetrators to see by.
In addition to saving migrating birds, there are other great benefits to turning off non-essential lights at night!
• SAVE MONEY – Turning out lights also means saving money through lower, unnecessary energy consumption.
• LESSEN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT – By reducing your energy consumption, you lessen the need for energy that may be sourced in ways that negatively impact the environment.
• SEE THE STARS – 80% of North Americans can no longer see the stars at night because of light pollution. By reducing exterior lights at night, more Oklahomans can see stars, planets, comets and more!
Pictured: Purple martin, which travels to Oklahoma in late February and throughout March from South America.
Photo credit: Kenzie Tyson, WildCareOklahoma
