08/26/2026
🚨 Lights Out Alert 🚨Tonight, an estimated 19 million birds will fly over Wisconsin!
We are urging everyone to turn off or dim non-essential outdoor lights and close window shades from 11 p.m.– 6 a.m. to help birds safely on their journey.
Fall migration is just starting to ramp up in the mid-west! Most birds migrate at night, and light pollution can disorient them, leading to deadly window collisions. Over the next few weeks, it's critical that we reduce outdoor lighting to ensure birds can safely pass through the state.
In addition to turning down the lights, you can also help by treating windows to prevent collisions. If you’re looking for a quick fix, draw lines or dots on the outside of your windows (no more than 2” apart) with a bar of soap, oil-based markers or tempura paint.
A few simple steps can save countless birds, conserve energy, and protect our night skies.
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Sign up for BirdCast alerts through the link in the comments. BirdCast added 4 Wisconsin cities this year: Appleton, La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee. If you don’t live in one of those communities, choose the one closest to you.
BirdCast sends alerts only on the biggest migration nights; about 8–10 nights each season that combined account for roughly half of all migration traffic.
