Simple solutions like addressing the shielding, color, intensity, and timing of lights decrease light pollution significantly.Īustin is home to 950,000 people and is growing rapidly. The Dark Skies initiative, led by the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, works with businesses and local communities to keep lights on the ground and out of the skies. This campaign is gaining critical community support, but additional outreach and awareness efforts are needed to influence the design stages of future commercial and residential development in Austin.Īccording to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which supports the Dark Skies program, natural darkness is disappearing due to the increase of artificial light used by businesses and residents. The campaign is part of a statewide Lights Out led by Audubon Texas in collaboration with Cornell University. Lights Out, Austin! is coordinated by Travis Audubon, a coalition of city, county, and nonprofit leaders, such as Defenders of Wildlife. These small steps can make a big difference for birds by reducing the likelihood of collisions with buildings. Residents can also turn off landscape lighting to avoid disturbing birds nesting in trees or gardens. From 11pm to 6am, residents and businesses are encouraged to turn off nonessential lights throughout the season. Most outdoor lighting is designed in a way that produces too much light upward into the sky. Lights Out, Austin! aims to lower the use of extra outdoor lighting throughout the city to reduce migratory bird deaths from now until mid-April (or the end of spring migration).
Spring migration is underway as millions of birds prepare to fly through Texas. That is why initiatives like Lights Out, Austin! are so critical. Experts estimate that 1 billion birds die from building collisions each year. Deep in the heart of Texas, the stars at night burn big and bright, but if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way over Austin, you are probably out of luck.Īs the region continues to experience rapid growth, Austinites are robbed of the spectacular night sky – but none are as harmed as birds.Įxcessive artificial light causes birds to shift migratory and communication patterns, which leads to disorientation and more collisions with buildings.
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