Please Turn Down Outdoor Lights During Fall Migration Season and Take the “Lights Out DC” Pledge

Each fall, millions of birds migrate through our region, with many traveling at night. Artificial light can interfere with this journey, drawing birds toward brightly lit buildings and other developed areas and increasing the risk of collisions. That’s why DarkSky DC is proud to co-sponsor the Lights Out DC campaign, which is asking residents and businesses across the District to reduce nighttime lighting during the fall migration season. From August 15 through November 15, the campaign encourages everyone to turn off or reduce unnecessary lights between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

For residents and small businesses, participating is easy. Turn off non-essential outdoor lights and make sure necessary exterior lighting is directed downward and used primarily for wayfinding. Dim lights that must remain on, and choose warmer-colored light with more yellow and less blue. Timers and motion sensors can help ensure that outdoor lights are used only when needed, while decorative lighting should be used sparingly, or turned off altogether. Indoors, drawing blinds and shades after dark can help prevent light from spilling outside.

Commercial building owners and property managers can make an especially important contribution. In addition to turning off non-essential outdoor lighting and using shielded, downward-directed, warmer-colored lights, managers can turn off roof lighting and extinguish spotlights, floodlights, and strobe lights. Lobby and atrium lighting can be reduced, and unnecessary interior lighting can be turned off. For employees working after hours, task and area lighting can provide the illumination they need without lighting an entire floor or building. Timers and motion sensors can further reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting, and blinds and shades can limit light escaping from occupied spaces.

Reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting benefits more than migrating birds. It saves energy, reduces light pollution, supports human health, and helps restore the natural darkness that wildlife depends on. The Lights Out DC campaign is also a reminder that responsible lighting doesn’t mean eliminating light — it means using light thoughtfully: only where it is needed, when it is needed, and at no greater brightness than necessary.

Ready to help? Take the Lights Out DC Pledge. Residents, businesses, building owners, and property managers can pledge to reduce unnecessary lighting during fall migration season by visiting the Take the Lights Out DC Pledge website.

Together, we can make Washington, DC, a safer place for migrating birds—and a better place to experience the night.

For more information about the Lights Out DC campaign, contact lodc.cw@gmail.com.