New York to switch off 'non-essential' lights at night in effort help migrating birds across state and curb death by 'fatal light attraction'

Landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, the Rockafeller Center and Time Warner Center have also joined up to the programme

New York will switch off its non-essential lights across state-run buildings to help the birds (Getty Images)

The state of New York will begin switching off non-essential outdoor lights on state-run buildings at night in an effort to help migrating birds.

The state is adopting the Audubon Society’s Lights Out programme, joining the owners of a number of New York City’s landmark building owners, including the Chrysler Building, the Rockafeller Center and the Time Warner Center, by switching off the lights between 11pm and dawn.

New York is along the Atlantic Flyway, one of four major migration routes, and the birds rely on constellations to help them navigate these paths to and from summer breeding grounds.

But excessive outdoor lighting often disorientates the animals, confuses their paths and often leads to death.

Up to a billion birds in the US die each year from this phenomenon, known as “fatal light attraction,” which is exacerbated by bad weather. The birds often die by colliding directly with windows, walls, floodlights or the ground.

“This is a simple step to help protect these migrating birds that make their home in New York’s forests, lakes and rivers,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

New York’s state-run buildings are joining the Lights Out Programme during the peak bird migration season, which ends on 31 May, and will resume again between 15 August and 15 November.