Lights Out Texas

A Lights Out City

Fredville proudly partners with Lights Out, Texas! In November 2024, Mayor Dana Whitfield signed a proclamation naming Fredville a Lights Out City and recognizing how much darker night skies matter to migrating birds.

About the Campaign

The Lights Out campaign is a nationwide effort that combines education, awareness and action, asking people to switch off lights at night. It aims to protect the billions of migratory birds that pass through Texas every spring and fall by giving them a darker sky to travel through safely.

Why It Matters

Texas plays an outsized role for birds worldwide: roughly two billion of them cross the state during spring and fall migration. Many of the continent's songbirds and other species migrate after dark, and bright city lights can throw them off course, leading to collisions with buildings and windows. Birds that circle in confusion also burn precious energy, which leaves them exposed to other dangers. Collisions with buildings and other structures are estimated to kill about one billion birds in the United States each year.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area ranks third among the most dangerous places in the country for birds on migration.

How You Can Help

• Switch off nonessential outdoor and building lights every night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Shield outdoor fixtures so light points down, with no sideways glare or upward spill.
• Add motion sensors and automatic controls wherever you can.
• When replacing fixtures, consider how much light you truly need and avoid over-lighting with brighter new technology.
• Draw blinds and curtains after dark so less indoor light shines out through windows.

Key Migration Dates

Learn more about migratory birds in Fredville.

Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.