2026 - Lights Out Elm Grove
Author: Tyler Beckley
Every spring and fall, billions of birds make a remarkable journey, as they fly north to nesting grounds and south to wintering habitats. Most travel under the cover of night, using the stars to help them navigate. But when they pass over brightly lit cities, artificial light can lead them astray, sometimes with unfortunately deadly consequences.
Skyglow and building lights can disorient birds, causing them to circle endlessly, call out in distress, and waste precious energy. That exhaustion makes them more vulnerable to collisions, predators, and other urban dangers. The toll can be staggering; dozens of species are affected, including priority species like the Allen’s Hummingbird, Wood Thrush, and Golden-winged Warbler. In one week in 2017, nearly 400 migrating songbirds died after being trapped in the floodlights of a 32-story Texas skyscraper, ultimately colliding with its windows.
The Audubon Society’s Lights Out program offers a simple but powerful solution: encourage landlords and residents to switch off any unnecessary light fixtures during peak migration months. It is recommended that one should turn off any exterior decorative lights, extinguish pots and floodlights, reduce atrium and high-story interior lighting, use task lighting or window coverings for late-night workers, and install motion sensors and down-shielding lights to limit upward glare.
Elm Grove residents can participate in the local Lights Out effort with a one-time, no-renewal sign-up available through the village website. Participants receive seasonal reminders about peak migration and join a growing community supporting not only birds but also fireflies and nighttime pollinators. Scientists state that by protecting these nighttime migrants we are actually benefiting the entire ecosystem. Many birds depend on caterpillars, larvae of both moths and butterflies, to feed their young. While most pollinator research focuses on daytime species, the U.S. has nearly 11,000 species of moths, compared to just 750 butterflies.
By dimming our lights, communities like Elm Grove can save energy, reduce costs, and give our feathered travelers safe passage on their long and perilous journeys. To sign up and be a part of this effort, sign up now here: https://elmgrovewi.org/746/Birds-Lights.
