There are subtle signs that spring is in the air. The clocks have moved forward, temperatures are slowly rising, snow is finally starting to melt and in some areas of the country, birds are making their way up north.
To help birds migrate safely, the Chicago Bird Alliance is urging building managers to participate in Lights Out Chicago. The program, which first started in 1995, encourages tall buildings to turn off or dim decorative lighting or draw blinds on upper stories after 11 p.m. every night from March 15 to June 15, Chicago WGN 9 reports. The program is strongly recommended to buildings with over 40 stories or isolated buildings with more than 20 stories.
Over 5 million birds migrate through the greater Chicago area during migration periods, WGN 9 reports. Back in 2023, 1,000 birds died after crashing into the windows of the McCormick Place – the largest convention center in North America. The event prompted facility managers to install bird-safe film on the building’s windows, NBC 5 Chicago reports. Since the installation in 2024, collisions have dropped over 95 percent.
Birds rely on the moon and stars to travel at night. Glass windows are nearly invisible for birds to see through as they reflect light, mimicking foliage or the night sky causing them to fly straight into them.
Besides turning off the lights, facility managers can use the following approaches to aid in bird migration:
Mackenna Moralez is the managing editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
