Environmental Justice

Reduce Artificial Lights at Night to Help Migrating Birds
Every spring and fall, the night sky becomes a superhighway for billions of migrating birds. They navigate by the stars, but lights from our homes and businesses can throw them off course. Artificial lighting can attract and disorient birds, pulling them into dangerous urban areas and increasing the risk of fatal building collisions. It’s an invisible problem with a very visible impact.

The good news is that helping birds can be as easy as flipping a switch. Turning off non-essential lights gives migrating birds a clearer path and helps them stay oriented on their long journey. That simple action is at the heart of the growing global “Lights Out” movement, which protects birds while also saving energy and cutting utility costs.

Small changes like these add up fast:
– Turn off lights when you’re not using them
– Dim indoor lighting at night or close your blinds
– Skip decorative landscape lighting after dark
– Aim outdoor lights downward or use lighting shields
Use motion sensors to activate lights only when they’re actually needed

Protecting migratory birds doesn’t require special gear or big commitments, just a little awareness and a habit change. By choosing darker nights, you’re helping birds travel safely, conserving energy and doing something genuinely good for the planet. That’s a pretty powerful move for something that starts with a light switch.

(Taken from Wild Birds Unlimited of S. Yarmouth eNewsletter)

Help Migrating & Local Birds Feed

Fall migration turns your backyard into a potential pit stop for birds on the move, and a few smart tweaks can make it irresistible. As nesting season wraps up, birds shift from raising families to finding food and safety for the months ahead.

Many begin traveling in flocks, teaming up with their own species or joining mixed groups that forage together, share alarm calls and learn new ways to find food. Your yard can become part of that daily route.

A slightly messy, more natural landscape is a big win in fall. Leave seed-producing plants standing, add a brush pile or two, and create low-lying feeding areas where ground-feeding birds feel comfortable. Feeders placed closer to the ground, especially those offering millet-rich blends, attract sparrows, juncos and finches that prefer to forage low. These natural elements give birds places to hide, rest and socialize between meals.

Fall is also prime time to refresh your feeding setup. Clean and repair feeders, and make sure they are easy to refill during the winter months. Keep food fresh and consistent, even in small amounts, so passing birds remember your yard as a reliable stop. When colder weather hits, they’ll come back looking for what they know. High-energy foods like quality seed blends, Bark Butter® and mealworms are especially helpful during migration, when birds need extra fuel.

Finally, don’t underestimate water. A moving water source is one of the strongest bird magnets there is. The sound alone can pull migrating birds down to investigate, giving them a place to drink, bathe and maintain their feathers for flight.

(Taken from Wild Birds Unlimited of S. Yarmouth eNewsletter)

We are pleased to share this list of Advocacy Actions from FCEN (Faith Communities Environmental Network): https://nausetinterfaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Handout-on-FCEN-for-2024.docx-1.pdf

Check ideas for Plastic Free July here: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/resources/assets/?utm_source=Plastic+Free+July+Challenge+List&utm_campaign=548d80d150-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_06_18_02_43&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-548d80d150-155770865&mc_cid=548d80d150&mc_eid=e028fe6c4b

Past Events

Helping Migratory Birds

Sep 26, 2026

Reduce Artificial Lights at Night to Help Migrating Birds Every spring and fall, the night sky becomes a superhighway for billions of migrating birds. They navigate by the stars, but lights from our homes and businesses can throw them off course. Artificial lighting...

Welcome Spring Birds

May 20, 2026

Looking for some environmental inspiration to go natural with your lawn this year? Look no further than this column "Spare the Spray" from Andrew Goetlieb, Executive Director, Association to Preserve Cape Cod: I spent some time the other day watching a pair of birds...