Lights Out, Fort Worth! Migratory bird season is here

Published on February 27, 2026

What is Lights Out, Fort Worth?

The Lights Out initiative is an educational campaign of awareness and action focused on encouraging residents and organizations to switch off lights at night to protect migrating birds. Each year, hundreds of millions of birds migrate through our great state of Texas and are subject to light pollution.

How can you help?

All Texans are encouraged to turn off non-essential lights, at home and at work, at night between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. During spring migration period, March 1-June 15, particularly during peak migration, April 22-May 12, it is critical to reduce the use of lights - at the very least dimming them - so migrating birds do not get disoriented.

• Spring migration: March 1-June 15

• Critical peak migration: April 22-May 12

Fort Worth is taking action

Businesses and residents in downtown Fort Worth, including City of Fort Worth's City Hall, have already joined the mission to help save the lives of birds as they begin their spring migration. The decorative lighting on City Hall is dimmed year-round during late-night hours, not just during peak bird migration.

The City of Fort Worth is committed to protecting birds and to saving energy as well. Participating in this initiative is a great way to do both. Residents and businesses, not just downtown, can reduce light pollution at night for a few hours to support this effort.

Why does it matter?

The goal is to protect billions of birds as they migrate across the United States - one of the largest migrations on the planet and one that occurs primarily at night. Lights from buildings, especially in urban areas, attract and disorient migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them and making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings. Turning off lights dramatically reduces hazards and disorientation by light, allowing birds to safely proceed with their migratory journeys.

Learn more!

These actions are taken to support the Lights Out initiative, headed by the National Audubon Society and Texan by Nature. Learn more from the National Audubon Society website. Bird lovers can also monitor how many migrators will be traveling through the area using the BirdCast website.

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.

• Community Updates
• Environment