World Migratory Bird Day illuminates the dark side of light pollution — Global Issues

The difficulty is the main target for World Migratory Chook Day, noticed this Saturday, 14 April, beneath the theme “Dim the Lights for Birds at Evening.”

Gentle air pollution is rising, with artificially lit outside areas rising by 2.2 per cent per yr from 2012 to 2016, based on one research cited by the Secretariat of the Conference on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN environmental treaty.

Presently, greater than 80 per cent of the world’s inhabitants is estimated to reside beneath a “lit sky”, and the determine is nearer to 99 per cent in Europe and North America. 

Altering pure patterns

“Pure darkness has a conservation worth in the identical manner as clear water, air, and soil. A key aim of World Migratory Chook Day 2022 is to lift consciousness of the difficulty of sunshine air pollution and its unfavorable impacts on migratory birds,” mentioned Amy Fraenkel, the CMS Govt Secretary. 

Synthetic gentle alters pure patterns of sunshine and darkish inside ecosystems, and contributes to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of birds annually.

Gentle air pollution could cause birds to vary their migration patterns, foraging behaviours and vocal communication, leading to disorientation and collisions.  

Disorientation and dying

Migrating birds are drawn to synthetic gentle at evening – notably when there are low cloud situations, fog, rain, or when flying at decrease altitudes –  luring them to risks in cities.

Birds turn out to be disorientated and, in consequence, might find yourself circling in illuminated areas. With their power reserves depleted, they threat exhaustion, or worse.

“Many nocturnally migrating birds comparable to geese, geese, plovers, sandpipers and songbirds are affected by gentle air pollution inflicting disorientation and collisions with deadly penalties,” mentioned Jacques Trouvilliez, Govt Secretary of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Settlement (AEWA), one other UN treaty.

“Seabirds comparable to petrels and shearwaters are attracted by synthetic lights on land and turn out to be prey for rats and cats.” 

Safer skies

Two years in the past, international locations which might be get together to the CMS endorsed pointers on gentle air pollution protecting marine turtles, seabirds, and migratory shorebirds.

The suggestions name for Environmental Affect Assessments to be carried out for initiatives that might lead to gentle air pollution.  

Tasks ought to think about the principle sources of sunshine air pollution at a sure website, the probably wild species to be affected, and information about proximity to vital habitats and migratory pathways.

New pointers centered on migratory landbirds and bats are presently being developed and will probably be introduced for adoption at a CMS convention subsequent yr.

Options to gentle air pollution are available, mentioned Ms. Frankel. An increasing number of cities worldwide are taking measures to dim constructing lights throughout migration phases in spring and autumn, based on the UN Atmosphere Programme (UNEP).

Name to motion

World Migratory Chook Day is widely known twice a yr, on the second Saturday in Might and October, in recognition of the cyclical nature of chicken migration and the completely different peak migration durations within the northern and southern hemispheres.

It’s organized by a collaborative partnership among the many two UN wildlife treaties and the non-profit group, Atmosphere for the Americas (EFTA).

“World Migratory Chook Day is a name to motion for worldwide migratory chicken conservation,” mentioned Susan Bonfield, the EFTA Director. 

“As migratory birds’ journey throughout borders, inspiring and connecting individuals alongside the best way, it’s our intention to make use of the 2 days in 2022 to lift consciousness of the specter of gentle air pollution and the significance of darkish skies to chicken migrations.”