Each year, billions of birds pass through the United States on their way to seasonal destinations. And each year, these birds are among the 600,000 birds that die after colliding with buildings. Cities like St. Louis pose a disproportionate risk to birds, as the geography, developmental spread and glow of night time lights converge to create significant obstacles to these long-distance travelers.

This spring, WashU has signed on to the Lights Out Heartland initiative, and will start turning off unnecessary lights on April 18 through the end of May. A broad range of WashU's own experts collaborated on the operational plan,  from ecological researchers to facilities leaders. A key tool in the assessment process was aerial drone footage that provided a “birds eye view” of campus at night. From this vantage, it was easy to see which lights were shining up, a tell-tale sign of light pollution.

By implementing the suggested changes and continuing to evaluate light pollution, we can provide regional leadership and demonstrate how campuses can operate 24/7 beautifully and safely while balancing the needs of the natural world. More>>