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Fairfax County residents are being asked to switch off unnecessary outdoor lights during International Dark Sky Week, April 13-19, to help protect birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.
The county’s recent “Turn Lights Out for Birds” proclamation says dimming nonessential lights can reduce fatal bird-window collisions by as much as 80%.
Artificial lighting and the glow above cities can draw migrating birds toward buildings, disrupting their journeys. Birds may strike windows or become exhausted while circling illuminated structures.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is highlighting the effects of light pollution through programs at local parks, including Observatory Park at Turner Farm.
A Sponsored Night Sky Viewing is scheduled for Saturday, April 18. Space often fills quickly, so residents should check the Turner Farm Activity Search in advance.
Residents can also borrow Dark Sky Kits from the Fairfax County Public Library system. Each kit contains a red-light flashlight, a Sky Quality Meter for measuring sky brightness, and English- and Spanish-language planispheres.
Red light helps people navigate while preserving their night vision and causing less disruption to migrating birds than white light. Library cardholders can reserve a kit through the online catalog, collect it from any of the county’s 23 branches and keep it for up to three weeks.