The Chicago skyline may look darker than usual as a seasonal “lights out” guideline now in effect, with people encouraged to turn their lights off after 11 p.m. each evening through the summer.
And it all has to do with birds.
The guidelines are part of an annual program called “Lights Out Chicago,” which encourages residents and the managers of tall buildings in the city to turn their lights out as millions of birds fly through.
“During their migratory season, millions of birds representing hundreds of species fly through our city on their way to their summer or winter homes,” a post from the City of Chicago about the program said. “Lights from tall buildings can disrupt these migratory paths, causing birds to circle buildings repeatedly. As a result, many of them die from exhaustion or after colliding with a building.”
The Chicago Audubon Society manages the program along with the city, which has saved thousands of birds lives, according to officials.
“It is thought that the lights on tall buildings confuse the navigation systems of birds unlucky enough to have these buildings in their flight path,” the society said.
While the program is primarily meant for buildings in The Loop, buildings along the lakefront and riverfront are encouraged to participate.
How to participate
The program recommends tall buildings turn off decorative lights, especially on upper stories, after 11 p.m. each night, leaving lights off until daylight March 15 through June 15 for spring migration.
The same is recommended during fall migration, between Aug. 15 and Nov. 15, the society said.
“Tenants on the upper floors are encouraged to turn out lights or draw blinds after 11 p.m.,” the society said. “These recommendations apply to all buildings of 40 or more stories and to buildings of 20 or more stories that are isolated from other buildings.”
Shorter buildings along the lakefront, especially those with glass windows and walls, are advised to turn off lightings or close blinds overnight and leave lights off until daylight.
“Buildings with lighted atria can save birds by reducing atrium lighting in the early morning hours,” the society said.
All office spaces and apartment units along a building’s perimeter are also encouraged to turn off lights overnight, the society said, as “birds that are decreasing their elevation to settle in to rest after their long migratory journey will have reduced risk of colliding with windows.”
How many birds will pass through during migration season?
Millions.
According to officials, over 250 species migrate through Chicago, about 8 million individuals in all. Many birds killed by Chicago buildings are small migrants from the tropics – warblers, thrushes, tanagers and others, officials said.
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