Lights Out Asheville
The City of Asheville commits to a Lights Out initiative to help protect migratory birds!
Asheville’s Mayor and City Council made a huge commitment to protect migratory birds by issuing a Bird Migration Awareness Proclamation and sponsoring a new Lights Out initiative. The program is designed to increase awareness of migratory bird collisions with buildings and to promote practices that help prevent bird mortalities.
As part of the Lights Out campaign, the city pledges to turn off unnecessary lighting during spring and fall migration, and encourages residents, business owners and building managers to do the same. Bright city lights can disorient migrating birds, often leading to fatal building collisions. A 2014 study put the estimate of bird-collision deaths at up to 1 billion per year, but a 2024 follow-up study Klem, et al. puts the number even higher: bird deaths from collisions with windows are at a minimum of 1 billion every year.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer announced the Proclamation and Lights Out initiative in a press release on February 10, 2022.
Please take a moment to thank our city officials
for their commitment to protecting birds.
Our Start - Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville
In 2021, Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the UNCA Audubon Club formed the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville and teamed up with other community organizations. They vowed to advocate for the protection of birds through implementing safety measures, primarily with bird-safe window treatments, and through a lights-out commitment during migration months. Inspired by Lights Out programs in cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and more, the Coalition united community members and worked with city officials to implement a Lights Out program for Asheville.
Their efforts were a success: in February 2022, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer proclaimed the months of March through May and September through November as “Bird Migration Awareness Month.” This proclamation encourages Asheville residents, businesses, and building managers to turn off non-essential lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m, saving the lives of birds and reducing energy costs.
The proclamation and announcement of the Lights Out initiative can be read in this press release.
How It Helps
Lights Out Successes
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New York City - Inaugurated their Lights Out program in 2005. Iconic buildings like the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, and the Worldwide Plaza are participating.
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The 9/11 Memorial began turning their lights off when needed during the Tribute in Light, where thousands of birds can become disoriented during their migration.
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Chicago - Since 2000, various buildings downtown have turned their exterior lights off at night. This saves an estimated 10,000 birds each year.
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Austin - Began their Lights Out program in 2021 as part of a broader Lights Out Texas initiative.
What You Can Do To Help
Here are some tips for getting started on making your home or business more bird-friendly!
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Turn off exterior decorative lighting.
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Replace blue-toned lighting (6,000 K+) with warmer, yellow lighting (3,000 K).
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Down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and upward illumination.
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Install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible.
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Extinguish pot and flood-lights.
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Substitute strobe lighting wherever possible.
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Reduce atrium lighting wherever possible.
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Turn off interior lighting, especially on higher stories.
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Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late, or pulldown window coverings.
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When converting to new lighting assess quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology.
If you are interested in learning more, the Audubon North Carolina website has lots of useful information and resources!
Sign the Pledge and receive your certificate!
Click below to sign the pledge and join Lights Out Asheville’s efforts to reduce the effects of light pollution at night by turning off the lights in your residence or business between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Signing the pledge and joining this national effort will help birds migrate safely, reduce your energy costs, and help us keep a good view of the night sky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are lights on tall buildings dangerous for migrating birds at night?
The lights on tall buildings in the flight paths of migratory birds confuse the birds’ navigation system. The lights on tall buildings in the flight paths of migratory birds confuse the birds’ navigation system. The birds circle the building repeatedly, thinking they are following stars, and die from colliding with windows or of exhaustion.
Migratory birds aren’t the only ones to collide with buildings.
Why are lights in corner rooms a trap for migrating birds in the early morning?
Migrating birds settle in the early hours of the morning, seeking shelter and food after a long journey at night. They can collide with lighted glass as they try to enter the space behind it; research has shown that birds do not see glass.
How can turning lights off at my home/small business/apartment help if big buildings don’t?
Small efforts can make a big difference. Turning your lights off at night helps to reduce overall light pollution and reduce energy bill costs.
Is this a year-round effort, or for parts of the year?
The migration seasons, from March through May and September through November, is when the Lights Out program encourages turning exterior lighting off. Though it is needed much less outside of the migration season, artificial light at night also disrupts nocturnal animals. You can learn more about the effects of artificial light at night from DarkSky International.