The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden sends this information as posted below:
With the simple flip of a switch, Oklahomans can take conservation action to help protect wild birds.
As a partner of the Oklahoma Animal Coalition, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, is proud to support a new communications campaign, LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA, to raise awareness for migratory birds and the impact light pollution has on their populations. Oklahoma is part of the central flyway with hundreds of birds making their way from, through, or to the state depending on the species and their migration starting point.
“Seeing birds migrate across Oklahoma each spring and fall is a familiar sight but many people don’t realize the challenges birds face at night,” said Dr. Rebecca Snyder, OKC Zoo’s senior director of conservation, education, and science. “As light pollution increases throughout our cities, towns, and neighborhoods, it’s significantly impacting birds. Their flight patterns are being disrupted and more birds are colliding with buildings and power lines.”
Individuals and businesses are encouraged to support LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA by turning off or dimming non-essential lights at night within their homes and work spaces. The most effective time for turning lights out is between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the peak spring migration season, now through May 15, 2025.
Dr. Snyder added, “Taking action to care about and conserve birds through this project has dual benefits for us and birds. Participants will save money while reducing energy and light pollution. It’s a win, win.”
“In addition to colliding with buildings and power lines, birds end up separated from their mates, offspring, or flocks. They use valuable calories crying out and searching for their family and flock members in these hazardous environments. This burns up fat stores they have built up to survive these arduous migration journeys. Every year, hundreds of birds whose migration journeys have been cut short often due to the situations created by light pollution are brought to our facility for help from throughout the state,” explained Inger Giuffrida, executive director WildCare Oklahoma and founder of the Oklahoma Animal coalition. “The Oklahoma Animal Coalition, which represents a growing group of animal welfare organizations in Oklahoma, identified the challenges to bird migration as something we could work on together to make a positive change.”
To learn more about LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA visit www.okczoo.org/lightsout.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is committed to bird and habitat conservation locally and globally. In Oklahoma, the Zoo has provided funds and staff support to the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville to complete a new five-year Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas. The atlas will provide researchers and policy makers at state and national levels with insight about bird population trends, ensuring conservation efforts are as effective as can be. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Saving Animals from Extinction: SAFE program for North American Songbirds (NAS) as well as AZA’s Not a Pet campaign, which educates about which animals make good pets, are also initiatives the OKC Zoo supports to help raise awareness for bird conversation.
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission for 12-months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
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