bird-safe schools

Each year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. The majority of these birds fly at night, navigating using the Moon, stars, and night sky. As they pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and sky glow. A building’s artificial lights attract birds, often leading to window strikes. An estimated one billion birds are killed every year due to building collisions. Initiatives such as adding decals or window art to a building’s windows, reducing or redesigning the building’s outdoor lighting, and using blinds or curtains while indoor lights are on at night can measurably reduce bird deaths due to window collisions. Join OKAGE, National Geographic, and Lights Out Heartland to transform your school into a thriving bird-friendly campus with the 2024-25 Slingshot Challenge.

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