Support Us Button Widget

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
It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see which stories Fort Worthians tuned into?
Here’s the deal — the flea markets and vintage shopping scene is stellar in Cowtown.
There’s no holiday tradition quite like picking out a fresh, live tree. Here is a roundup of local Christmas tree farms in Fort Worth where you can cut or pick your tree.
These free mini movie stores are a thing, and they’re popping up all over the US.
The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on this Saturday, Nov. 29 — the perfect time to help you add a local sparkle to your holiday shopping.
Taking the train isn’t just for commuters — it’s also a method of leisure travel that’s growing in popularity.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
How has the scene evolved in the last 20 years? What’s an expert’s opinion on the espresso martini? Do Fort Worthians tip well? One FTW bartender tells all.
Mark your calendar for these highly anticipated concerts and music festivals coming to Dallas-Fort Worth throughout the remainder of 2025 and 2026.
Looking for festive fun for the whole family? These two events in town are sure to bring the holiday cheer.