Birds in Flight, Dim the Lights!

A few dozen birders, ornithologists, environmentalists, and elected officials rallied midday on the west side of City Hall Park in support of a piece of legislation that could help put an end to the thousands of bird deaths and injurious collisions that occur annually in New York. Bill 1039, better known as the Lights Out legislation, would mandate privately owned commercial and industrial buildings to turn off interior and exterior lights at night during fall and spring migrations. (City-owned or -controlled buildings are already under such mandates.) On a particularly bad day during fall migration, of the Wild Bird Fund noted at the rally, over a hundred injured birds—they had collided with glass building façades—were brought to the facility in bags, boxes, and even jacket pockets. A representative from Council Member ’s office emphasized that the wasteful practice of leaving lights on costs billions of dollars in addition to millions of avian fatalities. “Turn the lights off, it’s not that complicated,” said Council Member ; as he merged with the rallying crowd, …