17 Apr Why Turning Off Your Lights Could Save a Bird’s Life
It’s that time of year when our skies are full of travelers—songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl—millions of them flying under the cover of night as they migrate north for spring. And as magical as that sounds, there’s a very real problem they face along the way: light pollution.
If you’ve ever driven through Escondido or Valley Center and noticed the glow of lights stretching far beyond the horizon, that’s what we’re talking about. That glow might seem harmless to us, but for migrating birds navigating by moonlight and starlight, it’s like flying through a visual minefield.
Birds migrate at night for a reason. It’s cooler, it’s calmer, and—when it’s dark—they can actually orient using the stars and the Earth’s magnetic field. But when we flood the sky with artificial light, it disorients them. They lose track of where they’re going, circle confused, and sometimes collide with buildings or exhaust themselves before they can land.
And I know—it’s tempting to think, “Well, what can I do?” But here’s the good news: this is a problem we can do something about.
Here’s what we do at the ranch, and what you can do, too:
- Turn off exterior lights overnight during peak migration (April through May and again in September through November).
- Switch to motion sensors instead of leaving lights on all night.
- Use downward-facing fixtures that don’t spill light into the sky.
- Close curtains and blinds at night if you’re leaving lights on inside.
Even small changes make a difference when you’ve got hundreds of birds flying overhead.
I always say: our role as conservation educators doesn’t stop at what happens in the aviary. It’s about helping people understand how the choices we make ripple outward—sometimes literally into the night sky.
Animals of all kinds influence the movements of other life forms, whether they are pushing or pulling them in certain direction. As humans, we have a disproportionate impact on all life around us, whether intentional or not. Even leaving a light on attracts insects which can pull birds towards us, which increases their risk.
Come visit us at the dark skies event at the Rancho Penasquitos ranch house on April 19, 2025 to celebrate Dark Skies week!
So next time you flip a switch, just think: who’s flying overhead?