![]() Whenever possible, opt for warm-colored lights that have a shorter reach and fewer negative effects on wildlife. This means more light pollution penetrates the night sky and disturbs not just migratory birds, but other wildlife as well. ![]() LED lights can emit high levels of cool, blue light, which has a relatively far reach and has also been shown to negatively affect wildlife behavior and reproduction. It’s not just the brightness of your light bulbs that you should check, though. ![]() Warm-colored light (left) versus cool-colored light (right). ![]() Light bulbs with lower lumens won't emit as much light into the sky but are still bright enough for many home uses. Pay attention to the level of lumens, which measures how much light is given off, rather than watts, which only tell you how much energy the lamp uses. When choosing light bulbs, be mindful of how much light they’ll put out. Choosing the right lamp, more commonly referred to as a ‘light bulb,’ can help reduce light pollution as well. If you’re unable to replace your unshielded lights with shielded ones, there are still options for making your outdoor lights more bird-friendly. Retroactively fitting a light fixture with non-manufacturer shields can interfere with the light’s inner wiring and cooling processes, posing a fire risk. It’s important to note that purchasing shielded lights as designed by the manufacturer is the only safe and effective way to shield lights. You can find dark sky-friendly and bird-friendly residential lighting options on their website. IDA’s Fixture Seal of Approval program certifies dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting fixtures that reduce light pollution. The International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA) Outdoor Lighting Basics page offers dozens of examples of shielded versus unshielded light designs, many of which can be found at home-improvement stores. By installing shielded light fixtures on and around your home, you can keep light directed downward, where you need it, and away from the night sky, where it contributes to light pollution and threatens birds. Shielded lights, on the other hand, are designed to funnel light downwards, away from the night sky, and minimize glare and sky glow. The design of unshielded lights allows them to shine in all directions, including upwards. Install Shielded LightsĪrtificial light can reach the night sky when light fixtures are unshielded. To help migratory birds travel safely, consider these bird-friendly lighting choices for light fixtures on and around your home. The threat that light pollution poses to migratory birds is a relatively recent discovery and quite an alarming one, but luckily the solution is simple: reduce the amount of light that reaches the night sky. Photo: Noah Reiter/Audubon Photography Awards Some collide with buildings and windows, while most circle buildings, calling out in confusion until they exhaust themselves. These birds can be drawn into the light, where they become trapped in the maze of a brightly lit city. If you’re a migratory bird who uses the stars to navigate, that’s a real problem. The shine of millions of city lights culminates in sky glow, drowning out the stars and seemingly upending the night sky. If you’ve ever tried to stargaze in the haze of a bright city, you know there is little to see. But there’s a relatively new threat in town-literally-and many of us are contributing to it without even knowing. We now know that more than 80 percent of terrestrial migratory birds travel at night, using stars and other factors to navigate through the safety of darkness. It’s only recently that humans have begun to truly understand the marvel and mystery behind these movements. For time untold, migratory birds have embarked on miraculous, treacherous migrations between their breeding and wintering grounds every spring and fall.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |