NEWS RELEASE Oct. 9, 2025
Lights Out Wisconsin for Friday night, Oct. 10, to save birds
Contacts: Lisa Gaumnitz, Lights Out Wisconsin, lisa.gaumnitz@sossaveoursongbirds.org, 608-235-2201; and Brenna Marsicek, Lights Out Wisconsin, bmarsicek@swibirds.org, 608-255-2473
Extremely high levels of migrating birds are expected over Wisconsin Friday night, Oct. 10, according to Purdue AeroEco Lab. Lights Out Wisconsin will post, and send this graphic in an email alert to subscribers.
Graphic: Kelsey Bell
MADISON – With forecasts calling for another massive wave of birds migrating over Wisconsin Friday night, Oct. 10, Lights Out Wisconsin urges people to turn off nonessential lights and close shades and sign up for emails to warn of future high-risk mass migration events.
Email alerts are sent the same day to subscribers to remind them to turn off nonessential outdoor lights and close shades that night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sign up for free alerts: https://www.lightsoutwi.org/
Most migratory birds fly at night, and artificial light can disorient them, drawing them into developed areas where they face greater risks, especially from window collisions. Even one night of darker skies can save thousands of birds by spurring them to fly on to less developed areas with fewer windows and other hazards to encounter in daytime.
The email alerts are based on Wisconsin forecasts generated by the Purdue AeroEco Lab. Forecasting ends Nov. 15, 2025, for the year.
Lights Out Wisconsin is a new campaign coordinated by many Wisconsin bird conservation and dark sky preservation organizations. Lights Out Wisconsin is working to protect birds, reduce light pollution, and protect the night sky in Wisconsin.
Learn more at lightsoutwi.org.
