Wildlife

Wild Bird Welfare and Light Pollution Effects

Artificial light at night disrupts bird migration, reproduction, and behaviour, causing welfare harm to billions of birds annually.

Key Facts

Light pollution affects an estimated 3 billion migratory birds annually in North America
Songbirds attracted to lit buildings and structures face collision and disorientation risks
Artificial light advances egg-laying by weeks, causing phenological mismatch with food peaks
Nocturnal species including owls and nightjars face habitat degradation from light pollution
Turning off unnecessary lights during migration season saves millions of birds annually

Welfare Considerations

Light pollution causes widespread, poorly-recognised bird welfare harm. Simple behaviour changes like turning off unnecessary lights during migration can have enormous impact.

What You Can Do

Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights during spring and autumn migration
Advocate for Lights Out programs in your city
Support dark sky conservation initiatives