It's that time of the year folks. That's right, pumpkin spice lattes are in full swing, trees are going from green to brown, and of course the fall bird migration.

Each year during the spring and fall, nearly two billion birds travel through the Texas night sky. As our feathered friends pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright, artificial lights and sky glow, often causing them to crash into buildings + windows.

Let's lend a helping hand with Lights Out, Texas.

What is Lights Out, Texas?

The initiative started in 2017 by the bird conservation organization, Audubon Texas and has since expanded state-wide with the help of Texan by Nature. The goal of Lights Out is to reduce migratory bird deaths by increasing awareness and participation of cities to turn off non-essential lights.

How to participate

San Antonians can help the birds in a variety of ways:

Turning off non-essential lights nightly between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Not using landscape lighting in trees or gardens
Using light shields on home security systems
Closing the blinds to reduce light emission to the outdoors

Do you or know someone who owns a non-residential building? They can get involved too with this kit of resources for businesses and structures taller than three stories.

General fall migration is between the months of August and November. | Graphic by Lights Out, Texas

When is fall migration?

Fall migration began on Thursday, Aug. 15 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 30. Peak migration takes place on Thursday, Sept. 5 through Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Ready to learn more? The Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on San Antonio's south side offers a wide range of community programs and activities such as guided bird tours and paint nights.