See Why Millions in Illinois Being Told to Turn Off Their Lights

This may go against your natural desire to have lights on at night, but there's a good reason why millions in Illinois are being advised to leave them off.

There's something happening over Illinois right now that's completely natural, but is in danger because of what isn't natural and that's the electricity that we all use to make the nights not dark.

Why are Illinoisans being told to turn off their lights for a few nights?

The Chicago Bird Collision Monitor just shared this data about the staggering number of birds that are migrating over Illinois right now.

24 million birds over Illinois are migrating south as colder weather approaches and the lights below them can throw off their natural navigation. As a power company mentioned, birds use stars to navigate and the bright lights of cities can drown out the view of that natural navigation aid.

The US Fish and Wildlife has gotten involved and mentions how night lights affect bird mortality. That's why the National Audubon Society has their Lights Out Program. The request isn't that Illinoisans turn off indoor lights they need to see, but any unnecessary outdoor lighting that can cause birds problems.

If you live in Illinois and someone asks you to turn off your lights for the next week or two, this is why. It's for the birds.