This week could be your last chance to catch huge bird migration over Kansas, Missouri
Over 100 million birds are expected to make their migration across the Midwest — including Kansas and Missouri — this week, and you might want to keep the lights off when they arrive.
BirdCast, a real-time prediction model showing the migration of birds, predicts high-intensity migration in the Kansas City area on Thursday night, and activity could continue Friday. Their experts recommend turning off all nonessential lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on nights when the birds are flying overhead.
The full spring migration period runs from March 1 to June 15, according to BirdCast. The peak times for migration in the Kansas City area run from April 28 to May 17, which is why you will see so many birds this time of year.
The migration will continue over the weekend. Colorado State University’s AeroEco lab predicts around 350 million birds will be heading north in the United States. Around 100 million to 200 million of these birds will fly over the Midwest.
.jpg "day1 (1).jpg")
.jpg "day2 (1).jpg")
When the birds arrive, BirdCast recommends doing this to limit the amount of lighting that could distract migrating birds:
- Turn off or dim any nonessential exterior building lighting.
- Close curtains or blinds to reduce the escape of interior lighting.
- Avoid illuminating public spaces like lobbies or atriums.
- Turn off lights on plants or fountains that may attract birds.
An estimated 365 million-988 million birds die in collisions with buildings annually, according to a study published by The Smithsonian. Those who own homes or businesses with large windows can take steps to prevent collisions.
This story was originally published May 15, 2024 at 4:22 PM.
