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Lights Out is most often a partnership between four critical partners: city government, a  building owners professional organization, Audubon and/or other conservation organizations, and a research institution. Those wishing to replicate the program in their city would do well to form a similar partnership. Although the program is voluntary, in many cities the efforts of each of the partners have ensured that compliance is virtually 100%.

How each of the partners can contribute

This example is from Chicago.   Audubon chairs the Lights Out committee, coordinates updating of the guidelines, organizes the collision monitors and plans recognition efforts. The Field Museum provides research used to set guidelines. Twice a year, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago sends an e-mail reminding the buildings that the Lights Out period is approaching. As migration begins, the volunteer Chicago Bird Collision Monitors keep an eye on the lights during their pre-dawn rounds, so that reminders can be sent if needed. The city of Chicago supports the effort as requested; for example, in the first years of the program, they arranged for faxes from the mayor to be sent to each building promoting the program; in another year they arranged for a mayoral proclamation honoring the buildings.

Starting a Lights Out program

Gather evidence.  Your first step should be to investigate the extent of the problem in your city.  Talk to birders who work downtown or  maintenance staff at tall buildings, or start a monitoring route past the tallest buildings.

Find partners. If you find you have a problem and would like to start a program, you would be well advised to devote a period of time to identifying supportive partners who have strong connections with any of the above groups. These connections can do more to ensure a successful program than any of the other suggestions in these pages.  If you need help finding these partners, here are some ideas:

• Your Audubon Chapter or state office can help identify local birding and conservation organizations, and engaged citizen conservationists.
• Identify a partner to provide research you can use to develop appropriate date guidelines based on the timing of migration in your area. (Natural History Museum or University ornithologists, State Wildlife Agency or US Fish and Wildlife Service offices, or Audubon IBA Coordinators are just some examples of possible partners.)
• When you have developed research based guidelines, seek a partnership with city government and your local BOMA.
• Use the links in these pages to find examples of other cities' programs and connections with city officials to convince your local government that it would be beneficial to be involved.
• A BOMA International representative can put you in touch with a local Building Owners and Managers Association.  They can comunicate with all buildings in the city and save you from having to contact them one by one. It is worthwhile to put a lot of effort into cultivating a relationship with them.

 Develop program materials.  With solid evidence of a problem and good connections in place, the next step is to craft materials that are appropriate for your unique circumstances.  The scope of your program will depend on the number of tall buildings in your city and the resources available.  For example, in the Twin Cities, a Lights Out coordinator is the main contact with building managers; but in Chicago, BOMA sends an email each migration season to ask buildings to turn out lights and the Bird Collision Monitors (a program of Chicago Audubon Society) keep an eye out for buildings with lights on as they do their rounds.  

Here are some program materials that you can download and modify for your city:

[doc:68286|link:Form to confirm participation]

[doc:68326|link:Sample email reminder]

[doc:68406|link:Letter to Apartment Building Owners and Managers]

Elevator Signs