Millions of Migrating Birds Crossing Indiana Tonight: Simple Steps Can Save Lives

Look up into the Indiana night sky during peak migration weeks, and you probably will not notice anything out of the ordinary. High above the treetops, however, millions of winged travelers are passing overhead on their journey south.

A vast majority of North American landbirds make their seasonal migrations under cover of darkness. Songbirds like warblers, thrushes, and sparrows take flight overnight to avoid daytime predators and take advantage of cooler, calmer winds. To navigate across entire continents, they rely on ancient navigational tools: the position of the stars, moonlight, and the natural magnetic field of the earth.

Unfortunately, our modern ground lighting creates a serious hazard along their flight paths.

Artificial glow from streetlights, floodlights, commercial signs, and porch lamps disorients nocturnal migrants. Instead of keeping a steady course, birds are frequently pulled downward toward brightly lit areas. Once trapped down low in neighborhoods and town centers, they face fatal collisions with reflective window glass or become utterly exhausted trying to find their way back to safety.

A common myth is that window collisions only happen on towering skyscrapers in massive downtown districts. In reality, national research reveals that over forty percent of fatal bird strikes occur right at home, involving standard houses, farm buildings, and low-rise commercial structures.

Taking action to keep birds safe does not require living in total darkness. Simple, mindful choices with nighttime lighting make an immediate difference:

Turn off unneeded exterior illumination before heading to bed, including porch lights, landscaping spotlights, and decorative fixtures.
Pull interior curtains and window shades shut in the evening so inside lighting does not leak out into the night.
For exterior fixtures that must remain lit for safety, point the shields downward and swap out harsh blue or white bulbs for soft amber or warm yellow alternatives.

Local conservation groups and nature sanctuaries across our region continue working to raise awareness about the impact of nighttime light pollution. By dimming the lights when migration activity runs high, local communities can help ensure millions of weary travelers make it safely through the state to their winter homes.