Turn Off Your Lights — A Billion Birds Are Flying Through

Every spring, millions of migratory songbirds pass through South Florida on their way north to breed. Many never arrive. Up to a billion birds die annually in the US from window collisions, according to the National Audubon Society, with artificial light a leading culprit — drawing birds into urban areas where glass becomes a fatal trap. Miami’s Tropical Audubon Society is asking residents to turn off unnecessary lights from 11 p.m. until sunrise through May 15. Closing blinds and using motion sensors can make a significant difference. The initiative, active in 50 US cities, aims to protect what organizers call “tiny travelers” crossing a continent.