Philadelphia latest city to go dark to help migrating birds
Cheryl Santa Maria
Wednesday, March 31st 2021, 10:56 am - City officials iplemented the initiative in response to a mass collision event that occurred in the city in October 2020.
Last October, as migrating birds navigated city streets on a cloudy night in Philadelphia, an estimated 1,000-1,500 of them collided with skyscrapers in a 3.5-block radius, falling to their deaths. Experts believe thousands of other birds likely died in other parts of the city as well.
Experts say an unfortunate combination of events led to the tragedy.
An abrupt temperature plunge prompted the birds to begin their winter migration. As they flew into Philadelphia in the dark, experts say they were attracted to building lights, as well as illuminated indoor atriums, leading some to think they'd found a safe place to land.