Fw: "Safe Passage Great Lakes Days"

[Russell Emmons]

TO ALL MEDIA,  August 7, 2006   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    "SAFE PASSAGE GREAT LAKES DAYS"  Proclamation Encourages Lights Off in Tall Buildings 
      To Protect Migratory Birds


  LANSING MI- Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed a proclamation designating dates in the spring and fall as "Safe Passage Days".  The proclamation, signed on August 2, 2006, calls attention to the threat posed by the lights of tall buildings to migratory birds flying at night, and urges building owners/operators to turn off those lights at night.

The proclamation acknowledges that "millions of birds use the skies over Michigan" during migration and that "by turning lights off at night, we could save money, reduce pollution, save energy, and save the lives of many of the birds that fly over our skies at night."

Research indicates that millions of migratory birds die each year during night migration. When tall buildings are in the flight path of birds, the lights interfere with their navigation system. The birds die by crashing into windows or by circling a building repeatedly before succumbing to exhaustion. Most of the victims are small birds.

The "Safe Passage Great Lakes" dates are March 15 through May 31 and August 15 through October 31.  Building organizations, government agencys, and property owners are encouraged to turn off building lights (or draw blinds/curtains) between 11:00 pm and daylight every night.

The Detroit Audubon Society is spearheading the "Safe Passage" effort in Michigan, which is patterned after Chicago Audubon's "Lights Out" campaign. Chicago became the first U.S. city to dim tall building lights during spring and fall bird migrations, an effort that saves more than 10,000 birds each year.  Michigan could become the first state to demonstrate its civic concern and responsibility on a city-by-city basis.

The proclomation notes that over 250 species--including warblers, thrushes, and tanagers--fly over Michigan during migrations. Some of these species are seeing steep declines in their numbers, and the simple act of turning off the lights in tall buildings at night can help protect them. 

The Detroit Audubon Society is creating an Honor Roll to recognize those buildings throughout the state that participate in Project Safe Passage.


   FOR MORE INFORMATION---- Detroit Audubon Society  248 545-2929  www.detroitaudubon.org  
    

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