A growing number of communities across the country are issuing Lights Out Alerts when AeroEco Lab scientists forecast the risk to birds is highest, and changing their lighting practices to reduce inefficient and unnecessary lighting.

Several Wisconsin bird groups and chapters of Dark Skies International met earlier this month to talk about collaborating on issuing Lights Out Alerts, to create a shared web page with resources about light pollution, how to reduce it and how to treat problem windows, and to work on other ways to help reduce light pollution and window collisions.

 In addition to Driftless Birds, the DarkSky Wisconsin chapter, Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, SOS Save Our Songbirds, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership participated in this initial meeting sparked by Carol Wesley of Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative.

Already, many Wisconsin bird groups promote ways people can fix problem home windows to reduce bird collisions. Putting up external insect screens, adding markers to the outside of windows so birds see the glass, and installing a curtain of parachute cord to the outside of windows are among many effective solutions.

Turning off lights when high migration is forecast offers added protection as well as conserves energy, saves money and can benefit people and wildlife as well as preserve the night skies.   

Light pollution worldwide has been growing by 10% a year due to urbanization and electrification, and a growing body of research shows that light pollution -- the overuse and inefficient use of artificial light -- significantly impacts wildlife and people.

Light pollution can confuse the migratory paths of birds, interfere with the reproductive cycles of amphibians, and disorient nocturnal animals, sending sea turtle hatchlings toward artificial lights instead of the ocean and affecting bats’ feeding patterns.

In humans, high levels of artificial light has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer and possibly prostate as well as other cancers, increased risk of sleep disturbances, diabetes, obesity and depression, mood disorders and cognitive impairment.