WHAT: Spring migration is upon us and millions of birds will be flying through Philadelphia along the Atlantic Flyway on their journey north to their breeding grounds. Bird Safe Philly is once again asking community members to participate in Lights Out Philly to minimize unnecessary lights by turning off, blocking or dimming artificial lights from midnight to 6 am during peak spring migration period, April 1–May 31. Learn more about Lights Out Philly and sign up to participate here: https://www.birdsafephilly.org/lights-out. 

Audubon Mid-Atlantic’s Urban Conservation Program Manager Keith Russell shares seven simple and inexpensive ways you can make any home or building more bird-friendly: https://pa.audubon.org/news/seven-ways-bird-collisions-buildings-can-be-prevented.  

WHO: Lights Out Philly is an initiative of Bird Safe Philly, a coalition led by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and two local Audubon Society chapters, Valley Forge and Wyncote. The collaborative joined forces following a mass collision event in October 2020 where more than 1,000 migrating birds collided with buildings within a small area in downtown Philadelphia. 

WHY: Up to one billion birds die each year across the United States when they collide with buildings and windows, attracted by their bright artificial lights at night. Locally, tens of millions of birds pass through Philadelphia each year during spring and fall while migrating between their breeding and wintering grounds. Many never complete their epic journey because they are killed when they fly into buildings and windows, confused by the bright artificial lights and glass.  

WHEN: Midnight to 6 a.m. during peak spring migration period, April 1–May 31. 

WEBSITE: https://www.birdsafephilly.org/lights-out  

PRESS KIT: Downloadable video and images of birds and Philadelphia skyline  

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

About Bird Safe Philly 

The Bird Safe Philly partnership aims to create safe spaces for birds by developing awareness of the issue of bird collisions and implementing solutions, working in partnership with the Philadelphia community. 

About Audubon 

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.  

About The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University 

Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is a leading natural history museum dedicated to understanding the natural world and inspiring everyone to care for it. www.ansp.org