The Lights Out Philly program runs from mid-March through mid-June and mid-August through mid-November, which is the peak migration season. But with your help, we can reduce the number of bird deaths caused by lights. During peak migration, over 100,000 birds per night pass through the city. This problem is particularly severe in Philadelphia, which sits on a major migration route.

These birds become disoriented and fly toward the light, which leads to collisions with buildings.

The Problem with Bright Lights for Birdsīirds use stars to navigate during their migration, but bright lights from buildings disrupt their path. One Center City building (Atrium building in the courtyard of the BNY Mellon Center, 1735 Market St) saw bird collisions decline 70% since their participation in the program in 2020. This program, run by the Audubon Mid-Atlantic and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, asks residential and commercial buildings to turn off their lights during migration season to reduce bird deaths. Luckily, there is an easy solution: Lights Out Philly. Unfortunately, many of them collide with buildings and die due to the bright lights that confuse them. With a simple flick of the switch, you can help protect birds from the urban environment.Įvery year, millions of birds migrate through Philadelphia.

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