Billions of birds migrate south in the fall, flying over Nashville skies mainly at night. It’s estimated that a million of these birds will die while migrating, becoming disoriented by the artificial lights in cities like Nashville and crashing into windows or buildings, or using up their energy resources as they attempt to navigate around the confusing lights. Here’s everything you need to know about helping migrating birds in Nashville.
💡 Lights Out Nashville
Audubon’s Lights Out program is part of a nationwide effort to help migrating birds by encouraging people and organizations in cities to turn off their lights at night. Nashville is one of many cities participating in the initiative, led by Bird Safe Nashville.
🏙️ How To Participate in Lights Out Nashville
Birds migrate over Nashville in the fall from August through October, and in the spring from March through May. During these months, you can help our bird friends by doing the following from dusk to dawn:
- Turn off exterior decorative lighting, including flood lights.
- Limit interior lighting.
- Use window coverings in night-time work areas.
- Sign up your home or business and receive a Lights Out yard sign to spread awareness.
🐦 The Birds Migrating Over Nashville
- Use BirdCast’s Migration Dashboard to see how many birds flew over Davidson County the previous night.
- Purple martins temporarily roost in Nashville before making their journey to South America for the winter.
- Other fall migrating birds: Several types of warblers, hummingbirds, thrushes, flycatchers, and tanagers.
- Spot these migratory birds by putting out different types of birdseed in your yard. You can also visit local parks and greenways with your binoculars. My favorite local green spaces for bird watching include Radnor Lake, the Warner Parks, Bells Bend, and the Harpeth River Greenway.
