Cooler Nights Spark An Incredible Bird Migration Spectacle

Have you had an unusual visitor to your property in the past week? Keep looking because overnight millions of birds flew over your head as you were sleeping, and you didn't even notice it.

We're into the first week of September in New England, and the first hints of Fall weather are just starting to creep in. After a long, dry Summer 45 degree overnight temps signal that we're just a few weeks away from the weather truly changing. According to birdcast, nearly 500,000,000 birds that have been fattening up and mating in Northern New England and Canada are starting to make their way South again.

Here in Connecticut just over 5,000 birds per hour flew over the greater Danbury area last night, but activity is predicted to increase almost three times by Wednesday when over 12,000 per hour will pass by during the overnight hours.

How Can You Help These Weary Travelers During the Overnight Hours?

Turn any unnecessary lights out around your home or business during the overnight hours. According to lightsoutct.org, over the last century light pollution has artificially lit up our nighttime skies, so much so that these millions of lights can confuse or disorient birds to the point of their death. One to Two Billion birds are estimated to be lost to light pollution each year in the US.

It's dipping into the 40's, the kids are back at school, the pool sits unused at this point. Turn off your lights and save that extra dollar in energy tonight, you may just save a bird's life.