State-owned buildings will turn off non-essential outdoor lighting during peak bird migration periods.
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that state buildings will participate in the New York State Lights Out Initiative, joining the Audubon Society in the charge to reduce sources of light pollution that disrupt and disorient birds during migration.
State-owned and managed buildings will turn off non-essential outdoor lighting from 11:00 p.m. to dawn during the times of peak bird migration: from April 15 through May 31 and August 15 through November 15. The Governor also launched the new I Love NY Birding website, which will provide visitors with information on bird watching and how to participate in the Lights Out initiative, among other tools.
“This is a simple step to help protect these migrating birds that make their home in New York's forests, lakes and rivers,†Governor Cuomo said.
“I encourage anyone interested in learning more about New York's birds and their migrations to visit the new I Love NY Birding website."
Many species of shore birds and songbirds rely on constellations to help them navigate to and from their summer breeding grounds throughout the state. Excessive outdoor lighting, especially in adverse weather conditions, can cause these migrating birds to become disoriented, a phenomenon known as fatal light attraction.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture this phenomenon has led to the death of an estimated 500 million to a billion birds annually in the United States through collisions with windows, walls, floodlights or the ground.
By adopting Audubon Society's Lights Out program, the state is joining with a number of iconic New York properties that were enlisted by New York City Audubon such as Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building and the Time Warner Center to minimize factors that can lead to fatal light attraction. As part of this initiative, state agencies will also be encouraged to draw blinds-when possible and turn off non-essential indoor lighting during Lights Out times.
Additionally, as part of a greater statewide effort to promote New York's great outdoors and make access to outdoor recreation information more available, the Governor launched the I Love New York Birding website, http://www.iloveny.com/birding, an online resource to learn more about bird watching and to discover premier birding destinations throughout New York State.
The website features a destination search tool, state birding events, tips and guides for a successful birding trip. It also provides resources such as birding checklists, citizen science monitoring, atlases and online tools (apps). Visitors to the webpage will also find tips on what to do if an injured or orphaned bird is found, how to fish responsibly, how to make gardens bird-friendly, and information on how you can participate in Lights Out New York.
Lights Out New York will strengthen the state's ongoing efforts to reduce light pollution. New York has already enacted new Public Building Law regulations, to take effect in December, that will limit the installation of new outdoor lighting on state managed lands and put restrictions on the brightness, glare and direction of outdoor lighting fixtures.
New York's Lights Out Initiative will precede the implementation of these regulations and help take immediate action to improve the state's energy efficiency and nighttime environment not only for wildlife but for those looking to enjoy the beauty the nighttime sky. ■