Photo: Hooded Warbler, Adam Brandemihl/Audubon Photography Awards
Tom Blackburn
It’s late summer, and a young Hooded Warbler leaves its breeding grounds in northern Ohio for the first time, headed toward a winter habitat in Cuba. Flying at night with other songbirds, it approaches Reston, Virginia. Many of the flock head for Monticello Park in Alexandria, where they will find food, water, and shelter and can rest before the next leg of their flight. However, some birds, including the Hooded Warbler, are confused by the bright lights of Reston’s newly-constructed, tall buildings and head toward them. Some crash into the buildings and die. The Hooded Warbler escapes this fate, but it flies aimlessly around the lights, squandering the energy that is critical to continue its migration.
Hooded Warbler, Adam Brandemihl/Audubon Photography Awards
The Hooded Warbler’s plight is not unique. All migrating birds are at risk from excessive outdoor lighting each spring and fall. Some cities, including Washington DC, have established programs such as Lights Out DC, which works to convince building owners and managers to adopt light abatement procedures for the sake of migrating birds. The DC program is patterned after similar programs in Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York City, and Baltimore, among others. Areas such as Tysons and Reston don’t have any programs to reduce their lighting to protect migrating birds.
The harm caused by excessive lighting is not confined to migrating birds. The Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) database lists hundreds of scientific articles documenting the harm caused by light pollution on people, other mammals, birds, insects, and plants. Humans affected by light pollution suffer from sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and other problems. Nocturnal birds’ and mammals’ sleep patterns are disrupted, leading to increased stress and lower rates of reproduction. Prey animals are less able to hide from predators when lights are bright at night. Sea turtles turn toward artificial light instead of heading to the sea, causing millions of them to die every year. Nocturnal pollinators are distracted from their normal activities. Even plants are harmed by nighttime lights, which affect when they leaf out and lose their leaves, disrupting photosynthesis.
Light pollution is a year-round and growing problem. The Globe at Night Community Science Project found that light pollution is doubling every ten years. At the current pace, many people in northern Virginia may not be able to see any stars at all within 20 years. So, take action now to fight light pollution, protecting your health, the health of your community, and our natural resources.
Here’s how you can help reduce the harm caused by light pollution:
Follow the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting developed by DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society. Outdoor lights should have a clear purpose; be directed only where needed; be no brighter than necessary; be used only when they are useful; and use warmer color bulbs instead of blue-white bulbs wherever possible.
Let your elected representatives know that light pollution and light trespass are harming our environment. Most of northern Virginia’s jurisdictions issued proclamations for International Dark Sky Week last spring. It’s time to follow up with substantive actions to reduce light pollution. For instance, the Town of Vienna, Virginia, is considering a draft Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance that, among other things, establishes standards for outdoor lighting. ASNV submitted comments on the draft, which you can read here. Other jurisdictions should take similar measures.
Join DarkSky International, the leading organization working to reduce light pollution. DarkSky International has just announced the formation of its DarkSky NOVA chapter.
You can learn more about light pollution at Fairfax County Park Authority’s Dark Sky web page.
Stay alert for threats to dark skies. Light pollution can take many forms, from excessive lighting for local parks to all-night lighting on bike trails through our local woods. ASNV is working to help curb the harm from lighting our natural spaces. Contact us at advocacy@audubonva.org if you know of a light pollution issue we could address or if you’d like to help us.