Texas is globally important for birds. Approximately 1 of every 3 birds migrating through the U.S. in spring, and 1 of every 4 birds migrating through the U.S. in the fall, or nearly two billion birds, pass through Texas. Protecting birds in Texas promotes conservation of bird populations across the Americas.
U.S. bird populations are declining rapidly, with 1 out of every 4 birds lost since 1970. Light pollution in metro areas attracts and disorients birds, creating hazardous conditions for migrating birds. Lights Out Texas estimates one billion U.S. bird deaths occur annually from collisions with buildings and structures.
The City of Cedar Hill joins the Lights Out Texas initiative, a partnership led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Texas Conservation Alliance, Dallas Zoo, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Houston Audubon, Texan by Nature, and many others in declaring critical migratory periods as 'Lights Out Night' in Cedar Hill.
Building owners, businesses, developers, and homeowners can help protect migrating birds by turning off all nonessential nighttime lighting on buildings and other structures from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night between April 22 and May 12, 2023.