Lights Out for Birds

Each night and each light turned out helps save migrating birds!

Most North American migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths, resulting in fatal collisions. The Upper Texas Coast plays a key role on the Central Flyway, an important migratory path for birds. Birds that move along and across the Gulf of Mexico depend on safe passage through the Houston-Galveston area. Throughout migration, and particularly during storm fronts, turning Lights Out for Birds can make a big difference.

We encourage businesses, buildings, and individuals across the state to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout spring and fall migration. 

    Peak Migration:
    April 23 - May 10
    September 6 - October 11

Subscribe to Lights Out Action Alerts

You can also follow Houston Audubon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see Lights Out Action Alerts for our region.

The following organizations have pledged to turn their lights out for birds!

City of Houston Amegy Tower Offices at Park Ten Phase I
City of Galveston American National Insurance Company Offices at Park Ten Phase II
Downtown Houston Discovery Green One Allen Center
1100 Louisiana Energy Transfer Building San Felipe Place
1415 Louisiana Fulbright Tower Texas Tower
1600 Smith George Observatory The Highlight at Houston Center
2 Houston Center GreenStreet Three Allen Center
3050 Post Oak Heritage Plaza TotalEnergy Building
4 Houston Center Hess Tower Towers at Westchase I
601 Travis Hilcorp Energy Towers at Westchase II
609 Main Jones on Main Two Allen Center
717 Texas JPMorgan Chase Tower West Memorial Place I
811 Louisiana KBR Tower West Memorial Place II
811 Main LyondellBasell Tower Williams Tower
910 Louisiana Lyric Center

Get your organization involved in the Lights Out for Birds program! Email  for more information or to make a pledge.

Timeline

Houston Audubon’s Lights Out for Birds Program started in 2017 after a large collision event in Galveston. Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University’s BirdCast bird migration forecast maps, Houston Audubon staff were able to track migration predictions for the region and issue alerts to the community when a chance of high migration coincided with weather events. Learn about the history of the Lights Out program.

  • Spring 2017: Houston Audubon starts Lights Out for Birds program after a large collision event
  • Spring 2018: American National Bank pledges to participate in Lights Out for Birds
  • April 1, 2019: Houston named second-most dangerous city for migratory birds by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • January 2020: Cornell Lab of Ornithology approaches Houston Audubon to establish a partnership and expand the program into Lights Out Texas
  • April 16, 2020: Cornell Lab of Ornithology and local partners announces Lights Out Texas program
  • March 14, 2021: Laura Bush's Op-ed about the importance of the Lights Out Texas program
  • April 9, 2021: City of Houston proclaims "Lights Out Nights" in Houston

Resources

  • Informational Flyer
  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Lights Out Texas Webpage
  • National Lights Out programs