Almost two million birds migrated over Cook County Sunday night. Here's how to help them on their journey
Sep 24, 2024 09:35AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Eduardo Sánchez on Unsplash.com
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - September 24, 2024
While most of us are tucking in for the night or sleeping, an impressive feat is happening around 1500 ft+ above the earth's surface. Peak bird migration season is here and typically lasts from September 6 through October 6. Impressive may not be the appropriate word. In fact, there might not even be a word that can describe trying to imagine almost two million birds flying over Cook County in one single night (which was the count from Sunset to Sunrise Sunday night).
According to Birdcast, a tool that uses radar-based measurements to determine the approximate number of birds migrating, almost 180,000 birds were estimated to be migrating over Cook County around 9:20 pm last night (at peak for the evening).
As the days get shorter and the nights longer, many of us rely on artificial lighting to help us see at night. While some lighting is necessary, much is not. When there is excess, it's considered "light pollution," and it can have harmful effects on birds, pollinators, and even humans (research has begun to show a link between Alzheimer's and light pollution, as well as other health impacts due to the disruption in our Circadian rhythm). According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), "Artificial light pollution is caused by any kind of outdoor lighting including streetlamps, porch lighting and even homes and office buildings that leave the lights on throughout the night without the use of shades or blinds."
When it comes to migrating birds, Mark Morgen, a Grand Marais resident and member of the Minnesota-based organization Starry Skies North (a chapter of Dark Sky International), told Boreal Community Media, "It’s well known that birds need a clear view of the stars to migrate south in the fall and north in the spring. Light pollution obstructs this view as it does for humans, and distracts the birds from their migration path." When a bird is migrating hundreds or thousands of miles, any distraction can lead to "fatigue, hunger, or possible death," he added.
But artificial lighting doesn't just affect the view of the stars for navigating. The FWS estimates that artificial lights can attract birds up to 5km away from where they are flying. "Birds can become entrapped in these areas of bright lights, circling endlessly, depleting energy stores needed for migration, and even colliding with buildings and infrastructure."
Unfortunately, this is particularly true when there is low cloud cover or fog, which many of us in Cook County often experience, as light reflecting off clouds or fog can disorient birds. UFS states, "Multiple mass-mortality events, each involving hundreds of birds, have been documented on foggy nights during migration."
Over 80% of migrating bird species migrate at night, so responsible outdoor lighting use is important. The good news is that there are easy steps we can take to help our migrating friends on their journey.
In a 2010 study on bird behavior around the 9/11 Memorial in New York City (which consists of two beams of light shining into the sky), Morgen shared that the researchers found that "birds tended to concentrate around the twin beams of light. When the lights were turned off for 20 minutes, the birds dispersed. The lights continue to be extinguished when high migration concentrations of birds are detected."
Dark Sky International created Five Principles for Outdoor Lighting, which acts as a guide for what we can do to responsibly light the outdoors. The five principles are as follows:
Morgen shared that "Selecting the right fixtures (shaded, pointing down), bulbs (color temperature at or below 2700), and accessories (motion sensors, timers) help keep the city and county dark."
Plenty of resources are available, such as from the FWS, Dark Sky International, BirdCast, and, of course, local organizations like Starry Skies North and its local chapter, Starry Skies Cook County, to learn about ways to light the outdoors responsibly.
According to Morgen, "Starry Skies Cook County is a group of like-minded people that love the dark skies and would like to preserve the skies for everyone." Currently, the group is working with the City of Grand Marais and the Cook County HRA to "educate and try to influence some of the lighting in town, particularly any new developments, but also help people make good choices on outdoor lighting." Additionally, they work with Visit Cook County during the Dark Sky Festival (in December) and with Chik-Wauk Nature Center with some of their astronomy programs.
"Anyone and everyone who is interested in preserving the night skies is welcome to join us," he added.
To learn more about Starry Skies North (and Starry Skies Cook County, a chapter of Starry Skies North), visit their website here.
Related: The State of Minnesota and Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa proclaimed April 2-8, 2024, as International Dark Sky Week. Here are five things to know about light pollution at night
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - September 24, 2024
While most of us are tucking in for the night or sleeping, an impressive feat is happening around 1500 ft+ above the earth's surface. Peak bird migration season is here and typically lasts from September 6 through October 6. Impressive may not be the appropriate word. In fact, there might not even be a word that can describe trying to imagine almost two million birds flying over Cook County in one single night (which was the count from Sunset to Sunrise Sunday night).
According to Birdcast, a tool that uses radar-based measurements to determine the approximate number of birds migrating, almost 180,000 birds were estimated to be migrating over Cook County around 9:20 pm last night (at peak for the evening).
As the days get shorter and the nights longer, many of us rely on artificial lighting to help us see at night. While some lighting is necessary, much is not. When there is excess, it's considered "light pollution," and it can have harmful effects on birds, pollinators, and even humans (research has begun to show a link between Alzheimer's and light pollution, as well as other health impacts due to the disruption in our Circadian rhythm). According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), "Artificial light pollution is caused by any kind of outdoor lighting including streetlamps, porch lighting and even homes and office buildings that leave the lights on throughout the night without the use of shades or blinds."
When it comes to migrating birds, Mark Morgen, a Grand Marais resident and member of the Minnesota-based organization Starry Skies North (a chapter of Dark Sky International), told Boreal Community Media, "It’s well known that birds need a clear view of the stars to migrate south in the fall and north in the spring. Light pollution obstructs this view as it does for humans, and distracts the birds from their migration path." When a bird is migrating hundreds or thousands of miles, any distraction can lead to "fatigue, hunger, or possible death," he added.
But artificial lighting doesn't just affect the view of the stars for navigating. The FWS estimates that artificial lights can attract birds up to 5km away from where they are flying. "Birds can become entrapped in these areas of bright lights, circling endlessly, depleting energy stores needed for migration, and even colliding with buildings and infrastructure."
Unfortunately, this is particularly true when there is low cloud cover or fog, which many of us in Cook County often experience, as light reflecting off clouds or fog can disorient birds. UFS states, "Multiple mass-mortality events, each involving hundreds of birds, have been documented on foggy nights during migration."
Over 80% of migrating bird species migrate at night, so responsible outdoor lighting use is important. The good news is that there are easy steps we can take to help our migrating friends on their journey.
In a 2010 study on bird behavior around the 9/11 Memorial in New York City (which consists of two beams of light shining into the sky), Morgen shared that the researchers found that "birds tended to concentrate around the twin beams of light. When the lights were turned off for 20 minutes, the birds dispersed. The lights continue to be extinguished when high migration concentrations of birds are detected."
Dark Sky International created Five Principles for Outdoor Lighting, which acts as a guide for what we can do to responsibly light the outdoors. The five principles are as follows:
- Useful: Use light only if it is needed
- Targeted: Direct light so it falls only where it is needed
- Low level: Light should be no brighter than necessary
- Controlled: Use light only when it is needed
- Warm-colored: Use warmer-color lights where possible
Morgen shared that "Selecting the right fixtures (shaded, pointing down), bulbs (color temperature at or below 2700), and accessories (motion sensors, timers) help keep the city and county dark."
Plenty of resources are available, such as from the FWS, Dark Sky International, BirdCast, and, of course, local organizations like Starry Skies North and its local chapter, Starry Skies Cook County, to learn about ways to light the outdoors responsibly.
According to Morgen, "Starry Skies Cook County is a group of like-minded people that love the dark skies and would like to preserve the skies for everyone." Currently, the group is working with the City of Grand Marais and the Cook County HRA to "educate and try to influence some of the lighting in town, particularly any new developments, but also help people make good choices on outdoor lighting." Additionally, they work with Visit Cook County during the Dark Sky Festival (in December) and with Chik-Wauk Nature Center with some of their astronomy programs.
"Anyone and everyone who is interested in preserving the night skies is welcome to join us," he added.
To learn more about Starry Skies North (and Starry Skies Cook County, a chapter of Starry Skies North), visit their website here.
Related: The State of Minnesota and Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa proclaimed April 2-8, 2024, as International Dark Sky Week. Here are five things to know about light pollution at night
