The Wonders and Perils of Spring Bird Migration
Apr
26

The Wonders and Perils of Spring Bird Migration

Come explore the amazing journeys that migratory birds make twice each year through Connecticut right during peak spring bird migration (April 1-May 31). This presentation will fill you with awe and wonder for the natural world, while you learn easy steps you can take at home to help protect migratory birds during their epic journeys through our backyard.

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Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard
Apr
23

Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard

You can help birds thrive right where you live by making your yard more bird-friendly. In this hands-on workshop, you will pick up expert tips on how to attract birds to your yard as pollinators, nutrient spreaders, seed disbursers, and year-round singers.

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Inspired to Build a Greener World
Apr
17

Inspired to Build a Greener World

  • Albertus Magnus College, Behan Community Room (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Professionals in fields related to sustainability share their experiences about how their faith has inspired their pursuit of a greener world. The event will be open to the public — and also livestreamed.

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Visions of Hidden Beauty, Sunday Service
Apr
14

Visions of Hidden Beauty, Sunday Service

Join the First Congregational Church of Stamford for a special Sunday service exploring the spirituality of birds. The morning will begin with a 9am Nature & Bird Walk on the church grounds, followed by a service with a sermon by Meredith Barges (MDiv, Yale University), co-chair of Lights Out CT.

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American Culture and the Natural World ~ 11th Annual American Studies Conference
Apr
13

American Culture and the Natural World ~ 11th Annual American Studies Conference

Bringing together the scholarship and activism of Fairfield University graduate students and local community members, as well as featuring a keynote panel of distinguished scholars, this year’s conference considers how the mutually constitutive relationship between human beings and the natural world has been shaped by “America” – as evolving idea, culture, place, and/or political system. Among other speakers, Lights Out CT Co-Chair Meredith Barges will be part of the local activist panel.

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Living Bird Friendly Series - Pequot Library
Apr
12
to Apr 13

Living Bird Friendly Series - Pequot Library

Get your home ready for springtime birds! Join us for a special series exploring areas of bird-friendly living: eliminating window collisions, decreasing light pollution, planting native plants & flowers, and following bird-friendly pest control strategies. You’ll learn how to make your home or business safer and more inviting for birds.

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Light Pollution and Its Effects on Birds, Wildlife, and Human Health: Learn How You Can Help
Mar
16

Light Pollution and Its Effects on Birds, Wildlife, and Human Health: Learn How You Can Help

Join Craig Repasz for a presentation.

Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip.

But light pollution has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Artificial light emitted by our homes, buildings, streetlights, bridges, and other structures can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and/or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. The result is catastrophic: There are nearly 1 billion bird deaths in North America each year.

Light pollution also impacts other wildlife, human health, and energy waste.

Please come to learn about the problem and what could be done to mitigate the damage.

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UCONN Master Gardener Program Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Our Green Spaces
Mar
14

UCONN Master Gardener Program Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Our Green Spaces

S24/07  

Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Our Green Spaces

We are experiencing an exponential increase in light pollution in Connecticut with impacts on our birds, insects, bats, amphibians, bats, pollinators, plants, and our own health. Another staggering cost is the wasted energy and increase of our carbon footprint. Light Pollution will work against our efforts to create healthy habitat for wildlife and humans in our land trusts, parks, pollinator gardens, and open spaces. This two-hour Master Gardener class will focus on the impacts and mitigation of light pollution.

Craig Repasz Presenter

Master Gardener Course Catalog

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Why Do Connecticut's Migratory Birds Need Dark Skies? - Litchfield Community Center
Mar
13

Why Do Connecticut's Migratory Birds Need Dark Skies? - Litchfield Community Center

Come learn about the incredible journeys that migratory birds make twice each year through Connecticut -- and why they need dark skies to navigate safely. This interactive presentation by Meredith Barges, Co-Chair of Lights Out Connecticut, will focus on the threats that light pollution can pose to migratory birds, insect populations, and our local ecosystems.

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Montville Town Council Meeting
Feb
12

Montville Town Council Meeting

Lights Out CT will present to the Montville Town Council on the threat of light pollution to bird populations and other wildlife, as well as discuss how unnecessary nighttime lighting contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

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Light Pollution and Its Effects on Birds: Learn How You Can Help - Bentley Memorial Library
Nov
6

Light Pollution and Its Effects on Birds: Learn How You Can Help - Bentley Memorial Library

Light Pollution and its Effect on Birds - Learn How You Can Help

November 6, 2023

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Craig Repasz, co-found and co-chair of Lights Out CT, will discuss light pollution and its effect on birds. Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip. But light pollution has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Artificial light emitted by our homes, buildings, street lights, bridges, and other structures can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and/or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. The result is catastrophic: Nearly 1 billion bird deaths in North America each year. Register for this important and informative program.

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Lights Out, Bridgeport!
Nov
2

Lights Out, Bridgeport!

Tired of that light shining in your bedroom window? Wanna help insects and birds? Do you care about community health? Join us on Thursday, November 2 at 6:30 PM at the Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue to learn more about Lights Out Connecticut.

There is a lot that you can do to help protect birds, insect pollinators, the environment, human health, and save money on your electric bill. Learn what Bridgeport can do as a community and on a municipal level to help reverse in this modern crisis of excess artificial light. There will be displays and literature and time for questions at the end of the presentation. The program is free and open to the general public.

What is the problem?

Excessive artificial light can impact wildlife. It disorients and kills many birds migrating through CT each spring and fall, affects numerous other animal species, wastes money and energy and contributes to climate change. It can also have serious effects on human health, contributes to our sense of disconnection from the natural world and natural cycles of day and night. Excess outdoor light can also increase crime in a counterintuitive way that will be addressed in the presentation.

What you can do

Join the growing community of CT residents and businesses turning off their unnecessary outdoor and indoor lighting to reduce the risk associated with light pollution.  Ask our municipality to join in the movement. Our local issues will be discussed.

About our speakers

The program presenters are the co-chairs of Lights Out CT.  Craig Repasz is president of Friends of Stewart B McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and was the president of the New Haven Bird Club and conservation chair of the CT Ornithological Association. Meredith Barges is a former policy researcher at the Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative. She is the author of Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy.  Meredith will join us via Zoom.

Two options

The meeting will be held in person and via Zoom. Space is limited for the in person event. RSVP to the in person event or the Zoom meeting. Thank you.

Register fort In-Person HERE.
Zoom Link HERE.

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Lights Out Connecticut : Help Save Connecticut's Migratory Birds. Deep River Library
Oct
25

Lights Out Connecticut : Help Save Connecticut's Migratory Birds. Deep River Library

Lights Out Connecticut : Help Save Connecticut's Migratory Birds

Lights Out Connecticut is a growing community of residents, property owners, businesses, nonprofits, and officials in Connecticut working together to protect migratory birds by reducing artificial light during peak periods of bird migration. Join the Menunkatuk Audubon Society for an informative presentation on how light pollution is wreaking havoc on our night sky and how we all can become a part of the solution. 

This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

EventKeeper - Popup Event

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Lights Out: Help Save CT's Migrating Birds. Welles Turner Library
Oct
23

Lights Out: Help Save CT's Migrating Birds. Welles Turner Library

Registration for this event will be open from September 25, 2023 @ 9:00am to October 23, 2023 @ 6:30pm.

Lights Out: Help Save CT's Migrating Birds | Welles Turner Memorial Library (librarycalendar.com)

Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip.

But light pollution has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Artificial light emitted by our homes, buildings, street lights, bridges, and other structures can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and/or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. The result is catastrophic: Nearly 1 billion bird deaths in North America each year.

Craig Repasz is a co-found and co-chair of Lights Out CT. Lights Out Connecticut advocates for legislation on the state and local level as well as educational outreach across the state.

Craig is also president of the Friends of Stewart B McKinney NWR, an organization devoted to supporting this important refuge. He was president of the New Haven Bird Club and the conservation chair of the Connecticut Ornithological Association. He has been the volunteer coordinator for the Connecticut Bird Atlas for six years. He enjoys backpacking and conducts Mountain Birdwatch surveys for the Vermont Center of Ecostudies, focusing on the Bicknell’s Thrush and other high elevation species.

Lights Out: Help Save CT's Migrating Birds | Welles Turner Memorial Library (librarycalendar.com)

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Lights Out! Connecticut In-Person
Oct
18

Lights Out! Connecticut In-Person

Lights Out! Connecticut In-Person

Milford Library

Lights Out! Connecticut - LibCal - Milford Public Library

How can you help save the lives of migrating birds AND maybe even save on your electric bill?  Lights Out!

Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip. Some also stay for the summer.

 Join the growing community of CT residents, businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofits pledging to turn off their unnecessary outdoor and indoor lighting from each night during peak bird migration to reduce the risk of light pollution to migrating birds.

Nighttime hours are calmer and safer for migrating birds. Landing at daybreak is better for feeding. And many scientists believe that birds navigate by the light of the moon and stars.

Artificial light has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Learn what you can do to help save CT's migratory birds.

Lights Out! Connecticut - LibCal - Milford Public Library

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Lights Out CT: Saving Migratory Birds (Virtual)
Oct
5

Lights Out CT: Saving Migratory Birds (Virtual)

Join us for a program with Lights Out CT to learn about reducing light pollution that particularly affects migrating birds. Since birds have long been considered an environmental indicator for healthy habitats and watersheds, steps we all might take to reduce bird deaths and stresses are of interest to everyone.

Lights Out CT: Saving Migratory Birds (Virtual) | Demco Software (evanced.info)

Lights Out Connecticut is a growing coalition of CT residents, businesses, schools, churches, and outdoor spaces pledging to turn off their unnecessary lighting from 11pm to 6am during peak bird migration (Sept 1-Nov 15 and Apr 1-May 31) to reduce the risks to migratory birds.  Most migratory birds journey at nighttime, navigating by the setting sun and constellations, so artificial light interferes with their migration routes, attracting and disorienting them and causing collisions. Dimming and turning off lights is a quick, easy way to support birds while saving money and helping the planet.  HB 6607, a proposed bill before the CT Legislature, would require all state-owned buildings to follow Lights Out rules.

Craig Repasz, our presenter, is co-chair of Lights Out CT and President of the Friends of Stewart B McKinney NWR, an organization devoted to supporting this important refuge. He was president of the New Haven Bird Club and the conservation chair of the Connecticut Ornithological Association. He has been the volunteer coordinator for the Connecticut Bird Atlas for six years. He enjoys backpacking and conducts Mountain Birdwatch surveys for the Vermont Center of Ecostudies, focusing on the Bicknell’s Thrush and other high elevation species. 

This program is in partnership with the Bloomfield Beautification Committee (BBC). You must provide your email address at registration to receive the Zoom link. Your Registration Confirmation Notice includes the Zoom link for the program. This program may be recorded. If special accommodations are required, please contact the library at least one week prior to the event.

Lights Out CT: Saving Migratory Birds (Virtual) | Demco Software (evanced.info)

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Light Pollution and Birds Lights Out: Conservation Program
Sep
27

Light Pollution and Birds Lights Out: Conservation Program

Location Details

Bent of the River Audubon Center 185 East Flat Hill Road Southbury, CT 06488

185 East Flat Hill Road, Southbury, 06488, CT

For questions please contact Kate Pratt at kpratt@audubon.org or 203-405-9113

This program will be held in the barn so please drive up the one lane road and park in the staff lot.

ight Pollution and Birds

Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip. 

But light pollution has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Artificial light emitted by our homes, buildings, street lights, bridges, and other structures can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and/or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. The result is catastrophic: Nearly 1 billion bird deaths in North America each year

Meredith Barges is co-chair of Lights Out CT and former researcher for the Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative. She co-authored Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy, a first-of-its-kind report that considers how city policies can accelerate the adoption of bird-friendly building design at scale to significantly reduce avian mortality. 

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Lights Out CT: Light Pollution and Birds
Sep
14

Lights Out CT: Light Pollution and Birds

Millions of birds pass through Connecticut every spring and fall on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds. Because our state is located along the Atlantic Flyway, many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip.

But light pollution has wreaked havoc on our night sky. Artificial light emitted by our homes, buildings, street lights, bridges, and other structures can confuse and disorient birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and/or circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. The result is catastrophic: Nearly 1 billion bird deaths in North America each year.

Craig Repasz is a Co-Found and Co-Chair of Lights Out CT, advocating for legislation on the state and local level as well as educational outreach across the state. For more information: www.lightsoutct.org

Craig is president of the Friends of Stewart B McKinney NWR, an organization devoted to supporting the refuge. He was president of the New Haven Bird Club and the conservation chair of the Connecticut Ornithological Association. He has been the volunteer coordinator for the Connecticut Bird Atlas for six years.

 Register to save your seat(s) in the room and to receive the Zoom link. 

Contact:

Kate Sasanoff    2034264533    ksasanoff@chboothlibrary.org

Register: EventKeeper : EK Form

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