Dark Skies for Bird Safety
Dark Skies Help Bird Migration
Port Arthur’s Upper Texas Gulf Coast positioning puts us in both the Central and Mississippi Flyway. That’s billions of birds passing through the Lone Star state each spring and fall. They travel at night and light can disorient them. Read on to see how you can help keep dark skies for safe passage.
Audubon Texas reports that about one of every three birds migrate through the U.S. in spring and one of every four birds migrating through the U.S. in the fall. That’s nearly two billion birds, passing through Texas! They’re night travelers and light from cities can leave them confused and vulnerable to urban threats such as collisions with buildings. Between one hundred million and one billion birds die yearly in collisions with manmade structures – one of the biggest killers of migratory birds, Audubon Texas reports. #lightsouttexas
Here’s when they’re coming and how you can help:
Spring Migration:
- Full Migration: March 1 – June 15
- Peak Migration: April 22 – May 12
Fall Migration
- Full Migration: August 15 – November 30
- Peak period: September 5 – October 29
By the Numbers
It’s a good thing we can spot colorful painted bunting, yellow-rumped warblers and Baltimore orioles in the day time. That’s when they are resting and feeding. Many do all the hard work at night.
Artificial Lights Confuse Birds
Confused birds can collide or circle until dawn. Exhausted birds are vulnerable. Here’s the scoop from International Dark-Sky Association. Read it here.
For more information, look to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dark Skies Program, here.
How Can You Help?
A few easy things can greatly help birds find their way. Here are a few:
#birdportarthur
We love our birds so much. Have you read up on the amazing spring migration views at Sabine Woods? We are working hard to protect them. Read more bird-friendly tips here.
