$1 for 3 months. Save 97%.
$1 for 3 months. Save 97%.

Thumbs up: Turning off the lights is for the birds

From the editorial board

Of the signs of spring, the return of birds to their northern nesting grounds is one of most extraordinary.

Thumbs Up

This season, the birds get a break in their seasonal migration — at least when they fly through New York, where the lights in state buildings will be dimmed.

Many birds rely on stars to navigate, and artificial lights confuse them. The bright lights of tall buildings disrupt the ancient migratory routes and millions of birds die.

Earlier this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered that state buildings turn off excess lighting from midnight until dawn through the end of May, when migratory birds are winging to their northern nesting grounds.

Later this summer, the lights will dim from Aug. 15 through Nov. 15 as the migration heads south for the winter.

To be sure, dimming the lights is a small act that acknowledges we share a niche in the world's web of life. And, making a safe path for the birds is more than some vague altruism. That is made clear while watching swallows snag mosquitoes in mid-air swoops and bluebirds nab caterpillars for their nestlings.

With agriculture generating just over $500 million in the six counties of the eastern Southern Tier, when insect-eating birds thrive, our region prospers.

Dimming the night lights during the annual avian migrations is a smart move for New York and one owners of other buildings should duplicate.