A gentle reminder that as we reach for cozy blankets with cooler temperatures, birds start their migration south. Lights on at night can confuse them, making their journey more difficult and dangerous. You can see who and how many are migrating at a website called Birdcast, which has wonderful graphics.

It is easy to not be aware of lights on outside, but they impact our neighbors, the wildlife that share our environment, as well as the people who live nearby. Technology such as motion sensing lights can help with safety, and warmer, dimmer bulbs can mitigate the damage, but turning off the lights, especially during spring and fall migration, saves lives.

Christina White

Florence