🌙 Dark Sky Night 2: Everything is Connected
Photo: A baby loggerhead sea turtle turns inland following human-made lights instead of seaward toward safety. (Photo credit: Blair Witherington)
From Darksky.org: “For billions of years, all life has relied on Earth’s predictable rhythm of day and night. It’s encoded in the DNA of all plants and animals. Plants and animals depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators.
Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants.”
The good news is, we can reverse this.
HERE ARE 3 LIGHTING TIPS TO HELP SUPPORT THE WILD:
Save money and energy using amber LED bulbs, which reduces wildlife disorientation
Design lighting solutions that minimize disturbance to wildlife habitats and migration corridors
Advocate for and support regulations and ordinances that govern commercial outdoor lighting practices. These regulations can help minimize the negative impacts of artificial lighting on wildlife while still meeting human needs for safety and security
Want to learn more about how light pollution affects our ecosystem? Head over to Dark Sky International to read more and then ATTEND A FREE LECTURE: The Impact of Artificial Light on Insects
Time: 11 AM PDT (6 PM UTC)
Description: For Wildlife Wednesday, learn about the importance of preserving critical nocturnal habitats and join a special lecture about the impacts of artificial light on insects by Dr. Avalon Owens.
Take the pledge. Share your story (#darkskyweek). Spread the word!
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Stay tuned for more tips during Dark Sky Week. If you'd like to support our neighborhood or get involved in future events, please consider becoming a member of the Monte Nido Valley Community Association. Happy stargazing!✨