Migrating birds are dying by the billions as they lose their way and smash into lit buildings at night. Big cities like Philadelphia are turning out the lights to try and help save them.
Lights Out Philly Initiative Will Save Birds From Building Collisions
More than 15 years of advocacy, and one particularly galvanizing bird kill event, have created the momentum necessary for widespread adoption of the Lights Out Philly initiative. April 14, 2021, 6am PDT | James Brasuell |
Nate Berg reports that the city of Philadelphia is finally taking collective action to prevent bird deaths from collisions with buildings. Beginning April 1, and running for the duration of both the spring and autumn bird migration periods, buildings across Philadelphia will be voluntarily turning off their lights at night, writes Berg.
The voluntary effort is the result of advocacy work by Audubon Mid-Atlantic dating back to 2006. But the final straw was a particularly devastating episode in October 2020, when a rare convergence of the semiannual migration period and bad weather, along with lights left on buildings, combined to kill more than 1,000 birds in one night.
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.
Philadelphia told turn off lights to prevent bird strikes energylivenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from energylivenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.