Modify your behavior during the migratory and nesting season. Light pollution disorients migratory birds.

Background: light pollution, bird mortality, windows, precautions

I have noticed that rural residents in Ontario habitually turn off their lights at night. Conversely, newcomers from the city leave flood lights and decorative lights on throughout the night.

This unnecessary light pollution not only reduces our ability to stargaze, but disorients migratory birds at this time of year. During the summer it attracts insects which become disoriented . It also represents a huge waste of energy when conservation should be practiced to reduce global warming.

I have yet to determine the cause of this cultural bias towards lighting. It could be people from the city fear darkness or they have the expendable income to waste it when it is not needed.

The Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker and the Eastern Phoebe have arrived this week and commenced their repetitive and often irritating mating rituals.

We must commence to ensure our windows do not inadvertently create a death trap. Hanging vertical strips of material and other means to break up the otherwise reflective surface saves lives.

If we intend to live in harmony with the natural world then we must modify how we live. This includes preventing light pollution, wasting energy, and reducing the probability of impacts from birds flying into windows.

Needless to say the most important priority is not to disturb early migrants during the nesting season by outdoor activities using machinery such as chainsaws and wood chippers.