Vashon Bird Alliance
Lights out for birds!
Fall peak migration is here, when millions of birds use the stars, the moon, and natural light as guides and cues, enabling them to travel thousands of miles to their over-wintering homes further south. It’s a perilous journey, and we can help them by keeping our lights off at night.
Artificial light is disorienting to birds, pulling them off course and into areas where they are vulnerable to predation and deadly collisions. Here’s how you can help.
Turn off outdoor lighting. The most important hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Use warmer-colored lights, with a color temperature of around 2100-2200 Kelvins. Avoid blue-rich white light.
Direct outdoor light so that it falls only where it is needed.
Manage indoor lights. Turn off all lights when not in use, and close blinds and shades to keep indoor light indoors.
Find real-time migration and forecasts at Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab. Learn more about the importance of keeping your lights out during the fall migration at Audubon Washington and the Cornell Lab.
The Vashon Bird Alliance is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that was founded in 1989. Our mission is to enjoy, learn about, and preserve birds and the diverse natural habitats of Vashon Island and beyond.
Learn more about Vashon Bird Alliance →
Vashon Island is a haven for birds and birders. Its diverse habitats, including surrounding saltwater, shorelines, forests, freshwater ponds and streams, fields and farmlands, attract a variety of birds. More than 250 species have been identified on Vashon over the years. Regularly seen species include about 60 on the island year round and about 100 more that spend breeding season or winter on the island. A few rarities show up every year.
Learn more about birding on Vashon →
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Photographers featured:
Dark-eyed junco & European starling, Chris Smith
White-crowned sparrow, Ray Pfortner