Raleigh's local government will dim lights at all City facilities from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. from March 15 to May 31 to help protect migrating birds traveling over North Carolina. This effort aligns with Raleigh's Community Climate Action Plan to reduce light pollution and conserve energy, as reported by the City of Raleigh.
Raleigh residents and businesses are encouraged to turn off non-essential outdoor lighting through the end of May to help protect migrating birds. Audubon North Carolina recommends switching off exterior lights, drawing curtains, and asking workplaces to minimize unnecessary lighting. According to the City of Raleigh, these actions can help reduce risks for migrating birds.
Raleigh's lights-out effort aligns with a biannual conservation tradition during the fall migration season. Wake Audubon is promoting "Lights Out Wake" activities to reduce light pollution and support bird migration. Residents can visit Wake Audubon's website for updates. The BirdCast website offers migration forecasts and a three-day migration alert for Raleigh to help residents know when turning off lights is most effective. Sustainable Raleigh includes this initiative in its strategic plan to support environmental efforts, as stated by the City of Raleigh.
