Every year, migratory birds travel thousands of miles across the continent, facing a lesser known, but enormous threat—collisions with buildings and reflective windows. Birds use the moon, stars and rising sun to navigate and orient themselves towards their destination while migrating. Unfortunately, this natural instinct often draws them into urban areas where light pollution disrupts their journey. Once they arrive, they may become confused or disoriented, often encircling the bright lights of a city. This is exhausting and drains vital energy stores needed for a long flight. By morning—these tired birds try their best to leave and continue on, but reflective windows can look awfully like the day sky. Birds will perceive the reflections of the world around them as real, causing them to collide with the surface of the glass when they take off. 

Your Akron Zoo is helping tackle this issue head-on through the Lights Out initiative. “Lights Out is a program that monitors bird collisions with buildings in urban areas," explains Christina Mlinaric—Akron Zoo’s Conservation Coordinator. Lights Out isn’t just about identifying the problem—it’s about finding solutions. Volunteers collect data to identify high-risk buildings and work with property owners to reduce strikes through actions like dimming lights, altering outdoor fixtures, and installing window decals to make glass surfaces more bird friendly.

Akron Zoo has supported the Lights Out Ohio program since 2018, and in 2019, an Akron- specific chapter was created. Christina’s role as the zoo’s Conservation Coordinator also includes serving as Volunteer Coordinator for the program—a responsibility she embraces wholeheartedly. "I communicate with volunteers, organize schedules and compile the data we collect. It’s incredibly rewarding work, especially because our volunteers are such a dedicated and enthusiastic group."

Christina describes a typical day for Lights Out volunteers as starting just after sunrise. "We meet downtown, grab our supplies and walk a 5-mile route around downtown Akron and the University of Akron campus. We look for birds that may have been injured or killed by collisions. If we find a bird, we record data like species, time and building location. Injured birds are taken to Stark Parks’ rehabilitation center, where they receive care in hopes of being released back into the wild. Any deceased birds are safely stored and later donated to natural history museums for research."

Christina is extremely optimistic about the program’s future. "We’re seeing progress, even if it’s incremental. While we haven’t had installations in Akron yet, there have been big wins nearby. The Lights Out team in Cleveland successfully advocated for decals on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which has already prevented countless bird fatalities."

The Akron Zoo has also been proactive in making its grounds more bird safe. "We’re installing window decals on zoo buildings every year, with the ultimate goal of covering all windows that need it. For new construction, we’re incorporating bird-friendly glass, which is the most sustainable solution in the long run."

Migratory birds play a critical role in ecosystems and economies. They help reduce agricultural pests, saving crops and decreasing the need for pesticides. They also boost local economies through birdwatching tourism. Magee Marsh—a wildlife area hot spot for migratory birds and bird watchers— brought $40 million into Ohio’s economy in 2023 alone. Beyond their ecological and economic importance, birds bring immense joy to people’s lives. Spending time outside, listening to their songs, and spotting colorful species connects us to nature in a unique way.

Some of the most commonly impacted species in Akron include ovenbirds, Tennessee warblers, white-throated sparrows and mourning doves. Christina emphasizes, “With all the pressures migratory birds face, from climate change to habitat loss, reducing window collisions is something we can control."

Anyone can take simple steps to protect migratory birds. Reducing light pollution by turning off unnecessary lights, installing window decals to make glass surfaces less reflective and using bird-friendly outdoor lighting that points downward instead of illuminating the sky are all easy ways to make a difference. Most importantly, spreading the word to family, friends and local communities about bird-safe practices amplifies these efforts.

For those looking to take a more active role, the Akron Lights Out program is always open to new volunteers. “We run two seasons a year, during spring and fall migration,” says Christina. “It’s a great opportunity to learn, contribute, and be part of a meaningful effort.”

Interested individuals can reach out to Christina directly at c.mlinaric@akronzoo.org for more information.

Written by Erin Whatley. Published January 2, 2025