Join our community of residents and businesses that turn off lights to save money, and save birds!
“We are thrilled to participate in the Lights Out program. Turning off non-essential lighting during the bird’s migratory season not only saves us electricity, but we provide a safer passage for night-migrating birds. It’s a win-win for all!”
- Yesenia Felix, Vice President, Operations | Cousins Properties
Why join our program?
Turning off lights and other light-reducing actions can:
cut your spending on energy costs,
increase your well-being,
tackle extreme temperatures in Arizona
save birds.
Business owners/managers:
An APS case study of a Phoenix car dealership found that delamping (i.e. removing unnecessary bulbs and fixtures) resulted in thousands of dollars of savings in energy and maintenance costs. What does lighting have to do with birds? Lighting attracts birds as they migrate, often causing fatal collisions. A study found that by reducing lighting by just half in a commercial waterfront property in Chicago, bird deaths could be reduced by 60% (Doren et al. 2021). From 2021-2023, Audubon chapters in Maricopa County surveyed buildings and found many bird strikes and deaths. As the county and its economy grows, it is imperative that businesses take action to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Residents:
A study of bird-building collisions found that 44% of all bird-and-glass collisions — about 253 million bird deaths annually — occur at residences (Loss et al. 2014). There are simple actions that can be done at home on the exterior of glass windows to reduce bird strikes, including installing insect screens, hanging cords, and/or using patterned dots stickers (we recommend Feather Friendly products).
In the News
2024, March - Maricopa Audubon Society & Desert Rivers Audubon Society join the major wave of Lights Out efforts sweeping the nation - “[Bird] deaths are preventable, and thankfully momentum is growing to reduce bird-building collisions in cities and states across the country. … Audubon’s efforts continue to grow, with more than 50 cities and regions involved in Lights Out Programs, encompassing many of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for migratory birds. The work of chapters and other local groups has been crucial.” NAS article
- Source
2024, February - The death of a beloved owl, Flaco, has garnered much attention in the news
“Flaco, an Eurasian Eagle-Owl, first gained fame when he escaped the Central Park Zoo after an act of vandalism of his enclosure over a year ago. His presence in Central Park drew bird lovers from New York City and beyond eager to catch a glimpse of an enigmatic — and very large — owl. Flaco captured the imaginations of people around the world and brought birds close to home for New Yorkers. Now, millions who were captivated by Flaco are mourning his loss after he died over the weekend, the result of a collision with a building.” — Article by ABC
Wanna help? Support the FLACO Act