Pittsburgh, PA – About one hundred thousand birds pass over the Pittsburgh region each year during migration, and a new initiative is encouraging businesses and residents to join in making birds’ journeys safer. A group of organizations that includes the Building Owners and Managers Association of Pittsburgh, BNY Mellon, BirdSafe Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and the National Aviary have joined forces to inspire participation in a movement to mitigate bird window collisions and disorientation of birds caused by bright artificial light in the city at night.
The organizations today announced that Pittsburgh is joining a national movement, the Lights Out initiative. Lights Out is a voluntary program that encourages building owners and tenants to turn off as much internal and external building lighting as possible at night, particularly lights on upper floors and lobbies. Households can also participate in Pittsburgh’s first Lights Out program. This initiative is timed strategically to coincide with the peak of bird migration, which occurs in the fall and spring.
The first Lights Out Pittsburgh launched September 1, when migratory birds are heading south to their wintering grounds. BNY Mellon, Carnegie Science Center, Eleven Stanwix, House Building, Law & Finance Building, Point Park University, Union Trust Building, United Steelworkers’ Building, 100 Ross, 20 Stanwix, 600 Waterfront and other buildings will be participating by turning off unnecessary lighting from midnight to 6 a.m. This initiative runs through November 15, and businesses and households can take the pledge to turn their lights out at any point during the migration season.
“I am proud that BNY Mellon initiated this movement in the city of Pittsburgh. Each year it becomes increasingly important that we use our reach, market influence, and resources to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. As one of the largest building owners in the city this is a topic we felt passionate about moving forward,” says Christina Bencho with BNY Mellon.
Migration is a rigorous journey for birds. Bright lighting at night can disorient a bird’s natural sense of navigation, drawing the bird toward the light and often causing window collisions. This is especially challenging when visibility is low or when inclement weather forces them to come down quickly from flight.
“BOMA Pittsburgh is pleased to be a supporter of the Lights Out Pittsburgh initiative. Turning down the lights in our member buildings will not only protect countless birds, but also save energy and reduce carbon emissions to help meet the City’s goal of a 50% reduction in energy use in Pittsburgh by 2030,” says Amanda Schaub, Executive Director for BOMA Pittsburgh.
For years, volunteers with BirdSafe Pittsburgh have conducted monitoring in the downtown area during the migration seasons, collecting data to document bird fatalities, and to provide care for birds with injuries sustained from window collisions. BirdSafe Pittsburgh will document the progress made on reducing bird mortality resulting from the Lights Out initiative. Information on volunteering is available at birdsafepgh.org.
“This exciting initiative will further the research of BirdSafe Pittsburgh, and save numerous migrating birds as they make their journey south for the fall and winter months,” says Jonathan Rice, Urban Bird Conservation Coordinator, BirdSafe Pittsburgh and Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
The collaborative effort to save birds on their migratory journeys continues to grow as businesses and residents join the pledge to turn off unnecessary lights from midnight to 6 a.m. during peak seasonal migration periods. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
“The National Aviary is thrilled by the enthusiastic support of the downtown business community for this important initiative that will make the night skies safer for birds as they journey over our city,” says Robert Mulvihill, Ornithologist for the National Aviary. “Our simple actions like turning off lights at night have the potential to help save birds, and are even more effective when we act collectively.”
For more information about the Pittsburgh area Lights Out initiative, visit birdsafepgh.org.
