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All across America, birds will soon be migrating to their winter homes. To help in the fall migration, the City of Dripping Springs is once again launching Lights Out Dripping Springs, asking residents and businesses to turn off exterior lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the window of Aug. 15 to Nov. 30, and especially during the peak migration months of September and October.
During fall migration, millions of birds - from hummingbirds and warblers to sparrows and geese - will migrate across North America, covering hundreds to thousands of miles. And 1 of every 4 will pass throughTexas.
Most of these birds make their journey at night. Unfortunately, light emanating from our cities can disorient birds, leaving them confused and vulnerable to threats like collisions with buildings - which is one of the biggest killers of migratory birds. By taking part in Lights Out Dripping Springs and reducing skyglow over Dripping Springs, residents and businesses can help them make it to their destinations safely.
Lights Out Dripping Springs is part of Audubon’s national initiative. The strategy is simple: by turning off excess lighting during the months migrating birds are flying overhead, communities can help provide them safe passage between their nesting and wintering grounds.
Lights Out Dripping Springs is asking residents and businesses to take the pledge and follow some of these guidelines to help from September through November:
Turn off exterior decorative lighting
Use light only when and where needed
Use only as much light as needed
Aim needed lights down
Extinguish pot and floodlights
Minimize blue light emissions
Use energy efficient lighting sources and fixtures
Use timers, dimmers, and motion sensors
Select warm LED bulbs that are under a 3,000 Kelvin rating
Draw blinds or curtains to reduce light spill that contributes to sky glow
Turn off interior lighting, especially on higher stories
