Attention Whitewater Valley Residents: Help Migrating Birds Navigate Darker Skies expect 20 Million over Indiana.

A significant natural spectacle is unfolding above the Whitewater Valley – a massive bird migration event is underway! According to data, starting tonight and continuing through the next two nights, an estimated nearly 20 million birds are expected to be moving into and across Indiana.

These incredible travelers include species like thrushes (Gray-cheeked, Wood, Swainson’s, etc.), warblers (American Redstarts, Northern Parula, etc.), Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Scarlet Tanagers. Most of these birds undertake their arduous journeys under the cover of darkness.

However, bright outdoor lights pose a serious threat to migrating birds. They can become disoriented by artificial light, circling endlessly, depleting their energy reserves, and making them vulnerable to collisions and predation. This adds considerable risk to an already exhausting passage.

It’s simple! To provide these feathered navigators with a safer path, please turn off or dim your outdoor lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during these peak migration nights. Your action can make a life-saving difference.

Learn More and Track Migration:

• You can see real-time migration forecasts and understand the intensity of bird movement, including for your region (US-IN-047), by visiting the BirdCast dashboard: https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-IN-047
• For more details on the “Lights Out Indiana” initiative and how artificial light affects birds, visit indianaaudubon.org/lights-out-indiana.
• If you’re interested in exploring local avian wonders, consider reaching out to the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, one of our area’s Audubon areas.

The migration graphics used in this alert are based on data from the Echoes of the Night Sky project and provided by Colorado State University’s AeroEcoLab, in collaboration with partners like BirdCast.