Lights Out Texas & World Migratory Bird Day

Help Protect Migrating Birds in Sunset Valley

Each spring and fall, millions of birds migrate through Texas, and many species make their journeys at night. Central Texas provides important habitat where migrating birds can rest, feed, and replenish their energy before continuing their journeys.

Artificial lighting from homes, businesses, parking lots, signs, and other buildings can attract and disorient migrating birds, increasing their risk of collisions with windows and structures.

The City of Sunset Valley encourages residents and businesses to participate in Lights Out Texas by reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting during spring and fall migration.

When Should You Turn Lights Out?

Bird migration occurs over several months each spring and fall. Residents and businesses are encouraged to reduce unnecessary nighttime lighting throughout these migration periods:

Spring Migration

March 1 – June 15

Birds move north through Texas toward their breeding grounds, with particularly high migration activity typically occurring during April and May.

Fall Migration

August 15 – November 30

Birds travel south through Texas toward their wintering grounds, with particularly high migration activity typically occurring during September and October.

Because migration intensity varies from night to night depending on weather and other conditions, reducing unnecessary lighting throughout the migration season provides the greatest benefit.

During migration, residents and businesses are encouraged to turn off or reduce unnecessary lighting from approximately 11:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m., when many migratory birds are traveling.

What You Can Do

Residents and businesses can help protect migrating birds by:

• Turning off unnecessary interior and exterior lights at night.
• Turning off decorative, landscape, and nonessential building lighting.
• Closing blinds and curtains to reduce light escaping from buildings.
• Using timers, dimmers, and motion sensors where appropriate.
• Directing outdoor lighting downward and only toward areas that need illumination.
• Avoiding excessive lighting of trees and landscaping at night.
• Encouraging employees, neighbors, tenants, and property managers to participate.
• Paying particular attention to reducing lighting during nights of high migration activity.

These actions can make buildings safer for birds while also reducing energy use and unnecessary light pollution.

Why Does Artificial Light Affect Migrating Birds?

Many migratory birds travel at night and use natural environmental cues to navigate. Artificial nighttime lighting can attract or disorient birds and draw them away from their normal migration routes.

Once birds enter brightly illuminated developed areas, they may expend valuable energy, become exhausted, or encounter windows and other structures. Reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting helps birds move more safely through developed areas.

Why It Matters in Sunset Valley

Sunset Valley contains more than 270 acres of parks, greenspace, and natural areas, representing nearly one-third of the City's land area. These natural areas provide important habitat for resident and migratory birds.

Reducing artificial light at night complements the City's ongoing efforts to protect natural habitat, restore native prairie, promote native plants, and reduce bird-window collisions.

World Migratory Bird Day

The City of Sunset Valley also recognizes World Migratory Bird Day, an international conservation initiative that celebrates migratory birds and raises awareness about the need to protect birds and their habitats throughout their migration routes.

World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in May and the second Saturday in October, corresponding with spring and fall bird migration.

Sunset Valley recognizes the second Saturday in May each year as World Migratory Bird Day and uses the occasion to promote awareness of migratory birds, the challenges they face, and actions residents can take to help protect them.

World Migratory Bird Day provides an opportunity for residents to learn more about birds that live in or migrate through Sunset Valley and the importance of providing safe habitat throughout their journeys.

Help Migratory Birds

World Migratory Bird Day is also a great time to consider actions you can take at home or work:

• Plant native plants that provide food and shelter for birds.
• Keep cats indoors or provide safe, enclosed outdoor spaces.
• Make windows bird-friendly by using effective exterior window treatments.
• Turn off unnecessary lights at night during migration.
• Avoid or reduce pesticide use that can affect birds and their insect food sources.
• Provide clean water for birds.
• Support and participate in local habitat restoration and conservation projects.

Businesses Can Make a Difference

Sunset Valley businesses play an important role in making the community safer for migrating birds. Businesses can participate in Lights Out Texas by turning off nonessential lighting after employees and customers leave, reducing overnight illumination, closing blinds, and using timers or motion sensors for exterior lighting.

Building owners and property managers can also review exterior lighting to determine whether fixtures are necessary, appropriately shielded, and directed downward.

Join Sunset Valley in Protecting Migratory Birds

During March 1–June 15 and August 15–November 30, residents and businesses can help make Sunset Valley safer for migrating birds by participating in Lights Out Texas.

Residents are also encouraged to join the City each May in recognizing World Migratory Bird Day and learning about the many ways we can protect birds throughout the year.

Turn off unnecessary lights

Close the blinds

Plant native

Make windows bird-friendly

Keep cats indoors

Help birds migrate safely through Sunset Valley