Lights Out initiative encourages residents and businesses to reduce nighttime lighting during peak spring and fall bird migration
CHARLOTTE, N.C. September 14, 2026 — The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County haveproclaimed March through May and September through November as Bird Safe Awareness Months,encouraging residents and businesses to reduce unnecessary nighttime lighting during peak birdmigration seasons.
As part of the Bird Safe Charlotte/Lights Out initiative, residents and businesses are encouraged to turnoff non-essential lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and use responsible outdoor lighting practices to helpprotect migrating birds.
The local effort was initiated by Wing Haven volunteer Mary Claire Wall in collaboration with Wing Haven staff, Mecklenburg Audubon Society, UNC Charlotte, Discovery Place and Charlotte Wildlife Stewards, to join a national movement encouraging communities to reduce artificial light during spring and fall birdmigration.
Millions of birds migrate through North Carolina each year, with many species traveling at night and using the night sky to navigate. Artificial city lights can interfere with these natural signals, disorienting migrating birds and increasing their risk of collisions with buildings and other urban hazards.
“Many birds migrate thousands of miles twice a year from their wintering grounds in Central and SouthAmerica to their nesting grounds in the U.S. and Canada,” said Mary Claire Wall, a Wing Haven volunteer. “Reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting is one simple way our community can help make that extraordinary journey safer.”
According to The American Bird Conservancy, an estimated 365 million to 1 billion birds die each year from building collisions in the U.S. alone. A 2019 study in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment,found Charlotte to be the 19th riskiest city for birds migrating at night among the nation’s 125 largestcities. With bird populations continuing to decline and tens of millions of birds migrating across Mecklenburg County each year, local action can make an important difference.
Bird Safe Charlotte/Lights Out is part of a growing national movement to reduce bird deaths associated with artificial light and building collisions. Communities across the United States have adopted similar initiatives, including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Denver, New York Raleigh, Nashville, Asheville and Austin.
“It has been a privilege to honor Elizabeth and Eddie Clarkson’s legacy by working with Mecklenburg Audubon and other community partners to raise awareness about the challenges facing migrating birds. I am particularly grateful to Charlotte City Council Member Kimberly Owens for helping get this proclamation issued,” Wall said. “We can all do our part to protect birds with just a few simple steps.”
How Charlotte Residents Can Help
• Turn off decorative and non-essential outdoor lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Use motion sensors or timers where security lighting is necessary.
• Close blinds or curtains at night to reduce indoor light spilling outside.
• Choose warm-colored, shielded fixtures when outdoor lighting is necessary.
Interviews are available with Mary Claire Wall and representatives from Wing Haven and Mecklenburg Audubon Society.
Media inquiries may be directed to Stefanie Myer at 704.331.0664 ext. 109 orstefanie@winghavengardens.org.
About Wing Haven
Located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wing Haven provides a natural oasis for reflection and study through its three public gardens: Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary, the Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden, and the SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden. Together, the gardens welcome visitors of all ages to discover and learn while advancing Wing Haven’s mission of cultivating sanctuary in nature, environmental stewardship, and the legacy of Southern horticulture. Learn more about Wing Havenwinghavengardens.org.
About Mecklenburg Audubon Society
Originally established as a Mecklenburg Audubon Club in 1937 by Charlie Sellers, Elizabeth Clarkson and Beatrice Potter, the Mecklenburg Audubon Society became the first official North Carolina chapter of the National Audubon Society in 1970. Mecklenburg Audubon Society is dedicated to promoting theappreciation, protection, and preservation of birds and other wildlife through inclusive,community-based education and conservation activities. For updates on walks and talks supportingthis effort, please visit https://www.meckbirds.org.
Mecklenburg Audubon Contact for Lights Out:John Hillery (704) 905-5530 or meckaudubon@gmail.com
Learn more about Lights Out winghavengardens.org/lights-out or https://www.meckbirds.org/lights-out
If you are interested in following how many birds are migrating over Charlotte each night duringmigration, check out CornellLab BirdCast, a tool that showcases live migration maps.https://dashboard.birdcast.org/region/US-NC-119
As part of the Bird Safe Charlotte/Lights Out initiative, residents and businesses are encouraged to turnoff non-essential lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and use responsible outdoor lighting practices to helpprotect migrating birds.
The local effort was initiated by Wing Haven volunteer Mary Claire Wall in collaboration with Wing Haven staff, Mecklenburg Audubon Society, UNC Charlotte, Discovery Place and Charlotte Wildlife Stewards, to join a national movement encouraging communities to reduce artificial light during spring and fall birdmigration.
Millions of birds migrate through North Carolina each year, with many species traveling at night and using the night sky to navigate. Artificial city lights can interfere with these natural signals, disorienting migrating birds and increasing their risk of collisions with buildings and other urban hazards.
“Many birds migrate thousands of miles twice a year from their wintering grounds in Central and SouthAmerica to their nesting grounds in the U.S. and Canada,” said Mary Claire Wall, a Wing Haven volunteer. “Reducing unnecessary nighttime lighting is one simple way our community can help make that extraordinary journey safer.”
According to The American Bird Conservancy, an estimated 365 million to 1 billion birds die each year from building collisions in the U.S. alone. A 2019 study in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment,found Charlotte to be the 19th riskiest city for birds migrating at night among the nation’s 125 largestcities. With bird populations continuing to decline and tens of millions of birds migrating across Mecklenburg County each year, local action can make an important difference.
Bird Safe Charlotte/Lights Out is part of a growing national movement to reduce bird deaths associated with artificial light and building collisions. Communities across the United States have adopted similar initiatives, including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Denver, New York Raleigh, Nashville, Asheville and Austin.
“It has been a privilege to honor Elizabeth and Eddie Clarkson’s legacy by working with Mecklenburg Audubon and other community partners to raise awareness about the challenges facing migrating birds. I am particularly grateful to Charlotte City Council Member Kimberly Owens for helping get this proclamation issued,” Wall said. “We can all do our part to protect birds with just a few simple steps.”
How Charlotte Residents Can Help
• Turn off decorative and non-essential outdoor lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Use motion sensors or timers where security lighting is necessary.
• Close blinds or curtains at night to reduce indoor light spilling outside.
• Choose warm-colored, shielded fixtures when outdoor lighting is necessary.
Interviews are available with Mary Claire Wall and representatives from Wing Haven and Mecklenburg Audubon Society.
Media inquiries may be directed to Stefanie Myer at 704.331.0664 ext. 109 orstefanie@winghavengardens.org.
About Wing Haven
Located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wing Haven provides a natural oasis for reflection and study through its three public gardens: Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary, the Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden, and the SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden. Together, the gardens welcome visitors of all ages to discover and learn while advancing Wing Haven’s mission of cultivating sanctuary in nature, environmental stewardship, and the legacy of Southern horticulture. Learn more about Wing Havenwinghavengardens.org.
About Mecklenburg Audubon Society
Originally established as a Mecklenburg Audubon Club in 1937 by Charlie Sellers, Elizabeth Clarkson and Beatrice Potter, the Mecklenburg Audubon Society became the first official North Carolina chapter of the National Audubon Society in 1970. Mecklenburg Audubon Society is dedicated to promoting theappreciation, protection, and preservation of birds and other wildlife through inclusive,community-based education and conservation activities. For updates on walks and talks supportingthis effort, please visit https://www.meckbirds.org.
Mecklenburg Audubon Contact for Lights Out:John Hillery (704) 905-5530 or meckaudubon@gmail.com
Learn more about Lights Out winghavengardens.org/lights-out or https://www.meckbirds.org/lights-out
If you are interested in following how many birds are migrating over Charlotte each night duringmigration, check out CornellLab BirdCast, a tool that showcases live migration maps.https://dashboard.birdcast.org/region/US-NC-119