Every spring, a silent, massive, and truly spectacular journey takes place right above our heads. As dusk falls over the Blue Ridge Mountains, millions of birds take to the night skies over Western North Carolina, embarking on a remarkable northward migration to their breeding grounds.
From March through May, waves of songbirds—including vibrant warblers, tanagers, and orioles—pass directly over the Asheville area. Incredibly, the vast majority of these species migrate at night, navigating by the stars and the moon.
However, a growing threat on the ground is making this journey increasingly dangerous. The very lights that illuminate our city, businesses, and homes create a modern-day hazard, contributing to the loss of nearly 3 billion birds in North America since 1970.
Fortunately, Asheville is already stepping up to help. Through a partnership between the city and local organizations like Blue Ridge Audubon and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville, our community has launched a voluntary "Lights Out Asheville" initiative to protect these vulnerable travelers.
The Problem: When City Lights Disorient
For millions of years, birds have used the natural, steady light of the night sky to guide them. Artificial light at night is a relatively recent phenomenon that breaks this ancient guidance system.
Bright city lights can completely disorient migrating birds. Drawn away from the safety of their high-altitude, migratory pathways, they are lured into dangerous, low-altitude urban areas.
Once trapped in this maze of light, birds are faced with another, even more deadly obstacle: glass. These exhausted birds often fatally collide with windows, which can either reflect the enticing sky and trees or appear to be an open pathway if interior lights are left on.
While tall skyscrapers often make headlines, conservation experts say residential homes collectively pose a significant risk because of their sheer number. By taking simple actions at home, every Asheville resident can make a real difference.
Tips to Save Our Feathered Friends This Spring
The official "Lights Out Asheville" program encourages everyone—residents, business owners, and building managers—to reduce unnecessary lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during peak migration season, which runs from March 15 to May 31, according to organizers.
Here are the most effective tips from the National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, and local experts to make your property bird-friendly.
1. Implement a Personal "Lights Out" Policy
The simplest and most direct solution is to turn off all nonessential lighting during the peak migration window.
Off at 11 p.m.: Make a habit of turning off all exterior lights and any nonessential interior lights before you go to bed.
Draw the Blinds: If you must keep interior lights on, use curtains, blinds, or shades to prevent light from spilling out and attracting birds. This is especially important on upper floors and in rooms with large windows.
2. Make Your Outdoor Lighting Bird-Friendly
For essential lights that must stay on, small changes can have a big impact.
Shield Your Lights: Unshielded lights allow light to shine upward into the sky. Install fully shielded fixtures that funnel all light downward to the ground, where you need it.
Go for Warmth: Studies suggest birds are less disoriented by warm-colored lights. Choose light bulbs with a warm color temperature (around 2200 Kelvin), rather than cool, blue tones.
Use Sensors and Timers: Use motion sensors for security lighting and timers to ensure lights are only on when absolutely necessary.
Assess "Lumen" Output: Focus on the light's brightness (lumens) rather than power usage (watts). Lower-lumen bulbs are often bright enough for home use while reducing light pollution.
3. Treat Your Windows to Prevent Collisions
Bird deaths from window strikes are often mistaken for light pollution issues, but they are directly related. Lights draw birds in, and glass kills them.
Exterior is Best: All window treatments should be applied to the outside of the glass to break up external reflections effectively.
Follow the 2-Inch Rule: To be effective, patterns on your windows should have spaces of two inches or less between them, horizontally or vertically.
DIY Solutions:
Apply visible decals, film, or tape (like ABC BirdTape or Feather Friendly markers) in a tight pattern.
Use tempera paint or even a white bar of soap to create patterns or streaks on the glass.
Install mosquito screens that cover the entire surface.
Make or install Acopian BirdSavers (also known as "Zen Curtains")—closely spaced hanging cords that break up the reflection.
Relocate Feeders and Baths: Place bird feeders and birdbaths either very close (within 3 feet) or far away (more than 30 feet) from untreated windows to prevent critical injury from a collision.
Move Indoor Plants: Move large indoor plants back from windows so they aren't visible from the outside.
4. Advocate and Volunteer
You can help beyond your own property lines.
Encourage Your Workplace: Talk to your building manager or employer about participating in the voluntary "Lights Out Asheville" program.
Support Bird-Friendly Design: Advocate for the requirement of bird-safe glass and lighting principles in new construction.
Join a Local Effort: Volunteer with the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville (birdsafeavl@gmail.com) to help survey for bird strikes and promote educational materials.
By flipping the switch and dimming our lights this spring, we can honor Asheville's commitment to nature, save energy and costs, and give millions of beautiful birds a fighting chance to complete their epic journey.