Lights Out: Turn off your lights for spring bird migration

Check out resources from Audubon Texas to learn more about how we can protect our feathered friends on their journeys north.

Photo of the sun setting over the Fort Worth skyline

We’ll let the sun and the stars light our skyline for the next few weeks.

Photo by @jrh79_

Lights Out, a nationwide initiative to protect migrating birds, already kicked off on Friday, March 1. Keep Fort Worth Beautiful is encouraging residents to turn off nonessential outdoor lights everyday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. through the end of spring migration on Saturday, June 15.

In case you didn’t know, every year nearly 2 billion birds migrate through the skies of the Lone Star State — primarily at night. Lights and skyglow attract and disorient the birds and put them at risk of colliding with buildings.

Species like purple martins and barn swallows migrate in early March, yellow-billed cuckoos and golden-winged warblers come through in April + olive-sided flycatchers and blackburnian warblers bring up the tail end in May.

Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdCast for live data about migrating birds in your area.

Want to help our feathered friends stay fueled on their journeys? Check out these tips for feeding backyard birds.

More from FTWtoday
Dining in Fort Worth is always a fresh experience with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Here’s everything to expect at the 34-day-long festival coming to Dallas’ Fair Park during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
Three college friends-turned-founders made the list with their honey-based performance gel, which is made with organic honey and clean ingredients.
In 1976, Arlington Stadium became the first MLB stadium to sell “ballpark nachos.” Fast forward to today, and the cheesy, golden snack is one of the most popular food items sold inside stands.
Keep the kiddos busy with these events around the 817 — most of them free.
Looking to add something living to your living quarters? Check out these stores in Fort Worth where you can find household plants, pots, and more.
During daylight saving time, the clocks “spring forward,” allowing Fort Worthians to make the most of their evenings.
The professional bull riding team plans to hold three signature events in Texas, solidifying their presence in one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.
Get a bang for your buck with three homes currently on the market for ~$500,000 in Fort Worth.