DarkSky International’s mission is to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution. The movement is designed to bring together individuals, organizations, and policymakers to work together to reduce light pollution and help promote outdoor lighting that is both functional and healthy. In April 2023, the Village of Westmont approved a lighting project designed to utilize dark sky strategies (https://westmont.illinois.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1771). In July 2023, the Village announced an ongoing grant opportunity for businesses and residents to encourage more dark sky projects throughout Westmont (https://westmont.illinois.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1824).
To learn more about DarkSky, light pollution, and the importance of light on bird migration, check out the resources below.
DarkSky
DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
The Darkness Manifesto by Johan Eklof
“Streetlamps, floodlights, and the ever more pervasive and searingly bright LED lights are altering entire ecosystems, and scientists are only just beginning to understand the long-term effects. Educational, eye-opening, and ultimately encouraging, The Darkness Manifesto outlines simple steps that we can take to benefit ourselves and the planet. In order to ensure a bright future, we must embrace the darkness.”
Available formats: Book
A World on the Wing by Scott Weidensaul
“An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration. Drawing on his own extensive fieldwork, in A World on the Wing Weidensaul unveils with dazzling prose the miracle of nature taking place over our heads.”
Available formats: Book, Audiobook (Hoopla)
Flight Paths by Rebecca Heisman
“Flight Paths is the never-before-told story of how a group of migration-obsessed scientists in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries engaged nearly every branch of science to understand bird migration–from where and when they take off to their flightpaths and behaviors, their destinations and the challenges they encounter getting there.”
Available formats: Book
Saving the Starry Night by Patrizia Caraveo
“This book takes a close look at our relationship with the sky, the stars, light and darkness. In particular, it examines how light pollution has interfered with the culture of astronomy and our ability to appreciate this essential facet of our natural world.”
Available formats: Ebook (Hoopla), Audiobook (Hoopla)
Saving the Night by Stephen Aitken
“The nonfiction book introduces middle grade readers to the effects of light pollution. Illustrated with photos throughout, it examines why darkness is important for plants, animals and people, and the practical things we can do to protect the night sky for all ecosystems on the planet.”
Available formats: Book, Ebook (Hoopla)
Dark Matters by Joan Marie Galat
“Joan Marie Galat introduces the idea of light pollution to young scientists its effects on birds, animals and the dire consequences to entire ecosystems if it is not controlled. Activities and suggestions about what can be done to protect the natural world from this man-made problem are offered to all young natural scientists to undertake.”
Available formats: Book, Ebook (Hoopla)
BirdCast
BirdCast is a collaboration between ornithologists and computer scientists from Cornell University, Oregon State University and University of Massachusetts Amherst that works to provide real-time predictions and bird migrations, including when they migrate, where they migrate, and how far they will be flying.
Audubon Bird Migration Explorer
The Bird Migration Explorer is a project of the National Audubon Society that provides information about the full migration cycle of 458 different species of migratory birds. The site uses interactive maps built using migration data and conservation science to display the wonders of migration.
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