Bird mortality caused by collisions with buildings is a well documented occurrence. It occurs by the millions when birds fly into reflecting glass in the daytime and when lights confuse them in the dark of night. Migrating birds are particularly at risk when they fly by the thousands over our cities at night during exhausting journeys between Latin American and points north. Houston Audubon has long been concerned about how to raise public awareness of these problems and encourage practices that decrease the risk to birds.

In the 90's a group of Houston Audubon members attempted to document the nighttime deaths of birds in downtown Houston by collecting dead birds beneath buildings in the early mornings during migration. Without the cooperation of building managers, they were unable to complete a meaningful study, and no organized effort has been undertaken since. A new and very promising opportunity has now arisen, though, to help decrease bird mortality in Houston through the new Houston Lights Out program.

Begun as an energy conservation measure under the auspices of the City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership, a Lights Out evening in downtown Houston was promoted on Earth Day this spring, and plans are being made for another event this fall. Houston Audubon has written a letter of thanks to Mayor White and has offered its help to the City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership to help promote and broaden the efforts of the Houston Lights Out program. We will be attending monthly Houston Lights Out meetings and will keep you posted about the program and its possibilities. While the program is currently focusing on energy conservation, we will be promoting the exceedingly beneficial effects on bird conservation that a lights out program in Houston can bring.

For more information about bird mortality caused by artificial lighting at night, see the page on the American Bird Conservancy website and the Fatal Light Awareness Program website . The National Audubon Society also has a resource page about Decreasing Lighting Impacts on their website.

For more information about the Houston Lights Out program, see the Lights Out Houston website.