Lights Out Salt Lake
A majority of migratory birds travel at night. Light pollution can draw these birds into bright cities. Finding themselves in a dense urban environment, and unable to perceive most types of glass, many of these birds collide with buildings and structures before finding their way back out of the city.
Luckily, there are some simple solutions to help out our feathered friends. If we turn out lights at night – especially during peak migration – we will not draw as many birds into our dangerous cities. There are also many solutions to make windows visible to birds, from installing acopian curtains and bird tape to using bird-friendly glass.
In 2017, Tracy Aviary launched the Lights Out Salt Lake initiative. Join us to make our city safer for birds!
TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS WHEN BIRDS NEED IT MOST AND ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DO SO, TOO!
Turn off the lights!
Turn off lights and draw blinds at 11 p.m.-6 a.m.
Brag about it!
Get a free sign to post in your yard or window.
Take Action
Homeowners and renters
- Turn off outdoor lights, like porch lights and path lighting, from 11 p.m. – 6 a.m.
- Install motion-sensors on outdoor lights
- Use warm/white blubs (x < 2300K)
- Draw the blinds to keep indoor light from flooding outside
Businesses and buildings
- Evaluate your lighting needs in parking lots, pathways, stairwells and for safety.
- Identify lights that can be turned off, including indoor lights that shine through windows. It saves money too!
- Research easy-to-make fixtures to the necessary lights
Project Partners
Lights Out Salt Lake is a collaboration started by Tracy Aviary and the Utah Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. Other partners and collaborators include National Audubon, Great Salt Lake Audubon, and Clark Planetarium.
