I’ve always found that autumn brings a certain heaviness to the air. It’s not just the rain or the falling leaves; it’s a sense of transition. We tend to look down as we walk this time of year, watching our step on slick sidewalks, hurrying to get out of the cold.
But lately, I’ve been trying to remind myself to look up.
Because right now, under the cover of darkness, one of the planet’s most magnificent events is taking place directly above our rooftops. An invisible river of life is flowing southward. Millions of birds—from the tiniest warblers to majestic raptors—are undertaking journeys that seem almost impossible for creatures so small. They are navigating by the stars and the earth’s magnetic field, driven by an ancient, genetic promise to return to warmer lands.
It is a journey of incredible courage. But for many of them, our cities are becoming a labyrinth of confusion.
When the Stars Disappear
Imagine trying to navigate a dark ocean using a lighthouse, only to find yourself surrounded by thousands of false beacons. That is what our city lights look like to migrating birds. The “sky glow” from office buildings, streetlamps, and even our own porch lights can disorient them, drawing them off course and trapping them in urban canyons where they risk exhaustion or colliding with glass.
It breaks my heart to think that a bird might fly thousands of kilometers, weathering storms and predators, only to end its journey against a windowpane just a few blocks from where I sleep.
A Small Act of Hospitality
We often think of “helping wildlife” as something that requires boots on the ground or a donation. But in this season, one of the kindest things we can do requires nothing more than a flick of a switch.
I’m inviting you to join me in a practice called “Lights Out.”
- Dim the Glow: If you aren’t using a room, turn off the light. It sounds simple, but collectively, a darker city is a safer city for migrants.
- Check Your Porch: Consider putting your outdoor lights on a motion sensor, or simply keeping them off before you go to bed.
- Close the Curtains: Even drawing the blinds in the evening keeps the light inside your home, where you need it, and out of the sky, where they don’t.
We are just one stop on their long voyage. Let’s make sure it’s a safe passage. By dimming our lights, we are essentially wishing them “safe travels” in the only language they can understand.
Best wishes,
Bryan Kim