Across the U.S., cities are death traps for migratory birds. Once safe migration pathways have become a minefield of outdoor cats and reflective windows. And on cloudy, moonless nights, one factor contributes to more mortalities than any other: light. Artificial light at night (also known as ALAN) disorientates birds, entrapping them in areas where they are at a much higher risk for collisions, as well as contributing indirectly to increased rates of other common causes of mortality amongst migratory birds. However, there is a solution in the blackout programs which have been created in various cities across the world. By reducing ALAN, these programs have demonstrable effects on avian mortality rates by reducing a major contributor to mortality.

Indianapolis is at the center of the largest migration route in North America, the Mississippi Flyway, used by some 285 species during annual migrations, including 32 species of warblers and several birds of prey, among many others.

We call on Indianapolis city leaders to introduce and enforce blackout programs during peak migration seasons in April, May, September, and October. Implementing such programs would involve dimming or turning off non-essential lights during these times and requiring upward-facing essential lighting to be turned off for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours, which has be shown to significantly reduce ALAN-related deaths. Not only would this help to protect bird populations, but it would also contribute to reduced energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. 

Join us in urging Indianapolis to take immediate action to protect these essential, yet vulnerable, members of our ecosystem. By working together, we can reduce the hazards that our urban environments pose to migratory birds. Please sign this petition to demand citywide participation in blackout programs to safeguard our migratory birds..