LWF Lights Out Louisiana Aims to Protect Billions of Migrating Birds

BATON ROUGE – As peak spring bird migration begins along the Gulf Coast and bird populations continue to decline, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is urging residents and businesses statewide to take part in its Lights Out Louisiana initiative to help protect migratory birds.

About the Migratory Birds

According to the LFW, more than 2 billion birds will pass through the Gulf Coast this spring on their journey north. Many birds rely on the moon and stars to navigate, but artificial light from homes and buildings can disorient them, often leading to fatal collisions.

Species like the wood thrush, Henslow’s sparrow, bobolink, prothonotary warbler and Kentucky warbler are already experiencing concerning population declines.

Louisiana sits within the Mississippi Flyway migratory path, with the state’s vast wetlands, forests and coastline serving as critical stops along the birds’ migration routes.

Twice a year, 325 bird species travel the Mississippi Flyway, including 40% of shorebirds. During the 2023 fall migration, an estimated 500 million birds migrated through the state of Louisiana. The majority of those birds migrate at night and typically start their nightly migration about 30 to 45 minutes post-sunset, with peak flights between 10 and 11 p.m.

While the dark skies allow the migratory birds to avoid predators, take advantage of calmer air and utilize the moon and stars for navigation, it also brings with it other dangers such as bright artificial lights and the skyglow from larger cities that can confuse the birds, often causing them to fatally collide into buildings or windows.

LWF calls on residents and businesses throughout the state to join others in turning off bright or excess lighting from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day during the peak spring (April 1 – May 31) and fall (August 15 – October 31) migrations to help protect the billions of migratory birds that fly through Louisiana at night during this period.

With just a few simple changes, the LWF shares that Louisianians can play a meaningful role in protecting these birds during one of the most critical times of year.

From LWF Lights Out Louisiana

Lights Out Louisiana Guidelines

• Turn off non-essential lights nightly from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the migration period
• Avoid using landscape lighting on trees or gardens where birds may be resting
• For essential security and safety lighting, use these dark sky-friendly lighting adjustments:
  • Aim lights downward
  • Use light shields to direct light downward and prevent upward glare
  • Use motion detectors and sensors so lights turn on when needed
  • Close blinds at night to limit the amount of light seen through windows

For building owners/managers:

• Adjust custodial schedules to be completed by 11 p.m.
• Ensure lights are turned off after custodial cleaning.

Additional Guidelines for Buildings Over 3 Stories

Dim or turn off:

• • Exterior/decorative lighting
  • Lobby/atrium lights
  • Perimeter room lights on all levels
  • Floodlights
  • Lighting on interior plants/fountains
  • Lights on vacant floors
  • Lights with blue-rich white light emissions (over 3000 K in color temperature)
• Instead use:
  • Desk lamps or task lights instead of overhead lights
  • Warm-white or filtered LEDs outdoors (less than 3000 K in color temperature)

In addition, LWF will be monitoring BirdCast, a migration forecasting tool, throughout the season. When heavy migration is predicted over Louisiana, the LWF can provide timely alerts for inclusion in weather or environmental coverage.