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Olivette backs Lights Out Heartland campaign to protect migrating birds
Summary
The council unanimously approved Resolution 2026‑265 supporting the Lights Out Heartland initiative after a Parks and Recreation presentation on migratory birds, local light pollution and recommended mitigation steps such as shielding fixtures, using warm tones and voluntary night‑time light reductions during migration.
The Olivette City Council voted April 14 to support Lights Out Heartland, a regional effort to reduce artificial nighttime lighting during peak bird migration. Beverly Tucker Knight, the city’s Parks & Recreation director, told the council the region sits on the Mississippi Flyway, and urged voluntary and municipal actions to reduce bird collisions and disorientation caused by light pollution.
Tucker Knight explained that millions of birds pass through the Mississippi Flyway during migration and that local light pollution concentrates over the St. Louis region. She cited a BirdCast forecast and told the council "tonight, there will be a 137,000,000 birds flying on this flyway," using the forecast to illustrate the scale of migration pressure the region faces.
Her presentation described practical steps—shielded fixtures, lower‑intensity warm lighting, motion sensors and voluntary 'lights out' efforts during peak migration windows—and noted Stacy Park’s certification as Missouri’s first and the world’s fourth urban night‑sky place, which the city uses as an example of dark‑sky design in municipal facilities.
Council members asked about outreach to schools and businesses; Tucker Knight said staff will use social media and could expand education and coordinate with senior staff on city building lighting. After discussion the council approved Resolution 2026‑265 in support of the campaign on a unanimous vote.
The resolution asks city staff and residents to promote and follow bird‑friendly lighting practices during migration seasons and encourages the city to evaluate its own exterior lighting in light of those standards.
