Lights Out Connecticut

Join us on August 15th for the launch of Lights Out Connecticut’s new lesson plan on the Science of Bird Migration and Light Pollution in Connecticut. Thursday, August 15 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Webinar | **ONLINE ONLY** Register for the Zoom link at: bit.ly/46yu8tf Our five-part learning module, created by Catherine Ferreri, sixth-grade science teacher at Coleytown Middle School, in Westport, CT, will equip students with age-appropriate information and critical thinking skills to answer questions like—why do birds migrate, what species of birds migrate near me, how does light pollution affect bird migration, and how can we reduce the harms on migratory birds? The module meets Next Generation Science Standards. The webinar, hosted by Lights Out Connecticut, MENUNKATUCK AUDUBON SOCIETY INC, and HARTFORD AUDUBON SOCIETY INC, will feature an in-depth discussion with Catherine Ferreri, creator of the lesson plan, and Meredith Barges, lesson plan co-collaborator and Co-Chair of Lights Out Connecticut. The launch is timed for the start of peak fall bird migration on August 15, when Lights Out Connecticut asks residents and businesses to start turn off nonessential lights at night for migratory birds. **This project was generously funded by the Hartford Audubon Society and individual donations to Lights Out Connecticut.**

CT Towns and cities now have a model law to follow to help limit light pollution and increase energy efficiency in their jurisdictions, thanks to a new model policy developed by Lights Out Connecticut. If adopted, the policy would help local governments set comprehensive, up-to-the-minute standards to reduce unnecessary lighting across zones and protect the night sky. Read more at https://lnkd.in/e9V_8qCp

*Help us celebrate World Migratory Bird Day!* Dive into the miraculous world of spring bird migration in the Northeast with Lights Out Connecticut and the MENUNKATUCK AUDUBON SOCIETY INC with this free webinar. Discover the incredible diversity of species that grace our skies during this magical season. You will gain insights into the behaviors, routes, and challenges faced by migrating birds as they embark on their remarkable journeys. Learn how to identify common species and understand the crucial role of safe stopover sites in their migration routes. AND find out why so many songbirds migrate at night! Whether you're a seasoned birder or a nature enthusiast, this webinar offers something for everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of spring bird migration and connect with fellow bird lovers. Register now to secure your spot and embark on a virtual adventure through the skies:  https://lnkd.in/eFHfbUAa Free & open to the public.

🌎CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH US! 🌎 Learn all about "Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard," Tuesday, April 23, 2:00-3:00 PM at the Stratford Public Library. Pick up tips on how to attract birds to your yard as pollinators, nutrient spreaders, seed dispersers, and year-round singers. 🐦 Learn the basics of natural gardening methods, including choosing native plants and shrubs that local birds love, bird-friendly approaches to managing pests, and light fixtures that limit light pollution at your home. More details at >> https://lnkd.in/eeu5mFSv

Could there be a better combo than dinner, friends, & environmental conservation? Join us this Wednesday for an awesome panel of local environmental activists and a free, locally made dinner. Register at: https://lnkd.in/e_sYKBcw #BreakBreadTogether #HealTheEarth

Bird-friendly is the new green! Join us on April 18th to learn more about bird-safe building design, because a building isn't sustainable until it's bird-friendly. 📆 APR. 18, 12–1:30pm: Join our virtual program Bird-Friendly Building: Designing Safer Buildings for Birds, featuring the co-leads of the Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative and the co-authors of "Building Safer Cities for Birds." Learn more and register >> https://lnkd.in/gYHcMZCw Presenters: - Meredith Barges, Lights Out Connecticut - Viveca Morris, Yale Law School - Kristof Zyskowski, Yale Peabody Museum Tickets: $10 Member, $20 Non-member Sponsored by: Guardian Glass North America Newman Architects, PC #BuildGreenCT #BirdFriendlyDesign #ConnecticutSustainability #BuiltEnvironment #BirdFriendlyBuilding #birdfriendly #design4thefuture

We hope to you see you this weekend at the Living Bird-Friendly series! There will be experts on-hand explaining how to make our spaces safer for birds, from our partners, including Connecticut Audubon Society, MENUNKATUCK AUDUBON SOCIETY INC, WILDLIFE IN CRISIS INC. Register at https://lnkd.in/ejvaRYAz

A great article in the @Connecticut Post on the draft model lighting ordinance that Lights Out Connecticut is creating for CT cities and towns, with input from a DarkSky CT expert. It covers everything from light trespass to athletic field lighting. Once the draft is finalized in April, "any activist, township, town official, resident, or anybody who wants to be active on light pollution can send the model ordinance to their local government and encourage them to adopt it." #LightsOutForBirds

It's been a hard few months for birds in cities. First the mass mortality event at Chicago's McCormick Place in October and now Flaco colliding with a building on 89th Street in Manhattan. These spectacular birds deserved the chance to live out their lives, migrating through and inhabiting our urban spaces. We have a responsibility and a role to play in helping to make things easier for them, with bird-friendly glass, turning off unnecessary lights at night and avoiding the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. We have the solutions. We just need to use them. #RIPflaco #lightsoutforbirds

A new study found that skyglow over cities and urban outskirts can powerfully attract migratory birds, drawing them into areas where food is scarcer and they face threats like colliding with glassy buildings. This article in The Conversation US sums up how light pollution is a human-induced change to the environment that may act as an ecological trap for migrating birds. #lightsoutct #lightsoutforbirds https://lnkd.in/ez6H8yYb