Minnesotans Asked To Turn Off Lights Tonight: Here's Why

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minnesotans are being asked to turn off or dim unnecessary lights Wednesday night as a major spring bird migration push moves through the state.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis said Wednesday that tonight is expected to be one of the most significant nights of the spring for bird migration through Minnesota, including the Twin Cities.

The sanctuary said an estimated 364 million birds will be migrating through North American skies, with some of the heaviest activity expected through Minnesota.

Residents are being encouraged to follow "Lights Out" guidance from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. by dimming or turning off non-essential outdoor lighting and closing shades.

The goal is to reduce skyglow, which can draw birds toward brightly lit urban areas and increase the risk of building and window collisions.

BirdCast, a project that uses weather radar to track and forecast bird migration, says birds usually begin migrating 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, with the greatest number in flight two to three hours later.

Nearly 700,000 birds crossed Minnesota last night alone.

BirdCast recommends turning off non-essential lights during critical migration periods. The full spring migration period runs from March 1 through June 15.

People can help by:

• Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights
• Closing curtains and shades
• Turning off or dimming lobby and atrium lights
• Using motion sensors or timers when possible
• Avoiding decorative landscape lighting overnight

Minnesotans can check BirdCast.org for local migration forecasts and alerts.