Lights Out for Birds

Each night and each light turned out helps save migrating birds!

Most North American migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths, resulting in fatal collisions. The Upper Texas Coast plays a key role on the Central Flyway, an important migratory path for birds. Birds that move along and across the Gulf of Mexico depend on safe passage through the Houston-Galveston area. Throughout migration, and particularly during storm fronts, turning Lights Out for Birds can make a big difference.

We encourage businesses, buildings, and individuals across the state to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout spring and fall migration. 

    Peak Migration:
    April 23 - May 10
    September 6 - October 11

Subscribe to Lights Out Action Alerts

You can also follow Houston Audubon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see Lights Out Action Alerts for our region.

The following organizations have pledged to turn their lights out for birds!

City of HoustonAmegy TowerOffices at Park Ten Phase I
City of GalvestonAmerican National Insurance CompanyOffices at Park Ten Phase II
Downtown HoustonDiscovery GreenOne Allen Center
1100 LouisianaEnergy Transfer BuildingSan Felipe Place
1415 LouisianaFulbright TowerTexas Tower
1600 SmithGeorge ObservatoryThe Highlight at Houston Center
2 Houston CenterGreenStreetThree Allen Center
3050 Post OakHeritage PlazaTotalEnergy Building
4 Houston CenterHess TowerTowers at Westchase I
601 TravisHilcorp EnergyTowers at Westchase II
609 MainJones on MainTwo Allen Center
717 TexasJPMorgan Chase TowerWest Memorial Place I
811 LouisianaKBR TowerWest Memorial Place II
811 MainLyondellBasell TowerWilliams Tower
910 LouisianaLyric Center

Get your organization involved in the Lights Out for Birds program! Email info@houstonaudubon.org for more information or to make a pledge.

Timeline

Houston Audubon’s Lights Out for Birds Program started in 2017 after a large collision event in Galveston. Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University’s BirdCast bird migration forecast maps, Houston Audubon staff were able to track migration predictions for the region and issue alerts to the community when a chance of high migration coincided with weather events. Learn about the history of the Lights Out program.

Resources