Awareness being raised on effect of light pollution on World Migratory Bird Peak Days in 2022
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment today joins countries across the world in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day 2022.
The Impact of Light Pollution on Migratory Birds is the theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day campaigns.
Marked twice a year – on 14 May and 8 October 2022 – the awareness and education drives not only highlight the plight of migratory birds and protection of their habitats, but also mark the peak migratory dates for bird returning to their breeding grounds in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. Another aim is to draw attention to the ecological importance of these birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.
By focusing on light pollution and its negative impact on migratory birds in 2022, the campaign will highlight actions that can be taken by a wider range of actors, including individuals, to reduce light pollution. WMBD 2022 also aims to encourage key decision-makers who have a role in addressing light pollution to initiate a process with a view to adopting measures on light pollution, informed by existing guidelines and the new CMS guidelines under development
World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 and is organised by two international wildlife treaties administered by the United Nations Environment Programme: The Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). South Africa became party to the CMS on 1 December 1991 and became a contracting party to this agreement on 1 April 2002.
Birds travel thousands of kilometres to their wintering grounds, as well as on their way back to their breeding areas. In South Africa, many of these are wetlands. These journeys are repeated every year, requiring precise orientation and high energy consumption, as an ecological adaptation to different environmental conditions and as a way to exploit food resources available at different times of the year. The migration routes followed by birds are called flyways and these routes encompass the breeding, wintering and staging areas required to complete the annual cycle. Flyways often include several countries and this transboundary perspective entails conservation efforts having to go beyond national frontiers and being undertaken at the international level through close cooperation among the States involved.
But, with the increase in the use of lights at night, the behaviour of birds is being altered, including their migration, foraging and vocal communication. Most affected are migratory birds exposed to light pollution when they fly at night. This attracts and disorients nocturnally migrating birds, which may end up circling in illuminated areas. This unnatural light-induced behaviour can mean they end up depleting their energy reserves and puts them at risk of exhaustion, predation and lethal collision
Each year, light pollution contributes to the death of millions of birds from collisions with buildings and other built infrastructure. Migratory birds struggle with the massive expansion of various means of generating and distributing energy as collisions and electrocution due to power lines, while the barrier effects from energy infrastructure cause mortality and displacement. In addition, the birds are affected by habitat loss and degradation, and other disturbances such as the deployment of hydropower, bioenergy, ocean, solar, wind and geothermal energy technologies. Sustainable renewable energy production is expected to have positive effects on migratory birds, thus the collaboration amongst government, government entities, NGOs, and private partners to ensure proper planning, design and risk assessment, they can pose a grave threat to migratory bird species.
Artificial light at night can also impact the timing of migration and other seasonal behaviours influenced by the disruption of birds’ biological clocks. An enormous diversity of birds, active both nocturnally and diurnally, experience impacts of light pollution. Many nocturnally migrating birds such as ducks, geese, plovers, sandpipers and songbirds of all kinds are affected by light pollution. Seabirds such as petrels and shearwaters commonly get drawn into hazardous situations on land and on ships by artificial light sources.
Satellite monitoring has revealed that from 2012 to 2016, artificially lit outdoor areas increased by 2.2% per year. A more recent study in 2021 indicates that this number could be much greater.
Artificial light at night also provides for human safety, amenity and increased productivity This can result in conflicting requirements for human safety and wildlife conservation. But, both humans and wildlife need the right light, in the right place, at the right time.
In addressing this emerging issue, Parties to the CMS and AEWA are encouraged to, amongst other measures, find creative solutions that meet human requirements and wildlife conservation in instances where artificial light is impacting migratory species. It is important to manage artificial light so that migratory species are not disrupted within, nor displaced from, important habitat, and can undertake critical behaviours such as foraging, reproduction and migration. Contracting Parties are also urged to adopt appropriate measures and processes to assess and identify management tools to minimise and mitigate the impact of artificial light on birds and other biodiversity.
The first phase of the 2022 campaign today focusses on raising awareness of the issue of light pollution and its negative impact on migratory birds. The second phase of the campaign in October 2022 will promote best practices in addressing light pollution and provide an opportunity for decision-makers to announce plans to undertake a process to address light pollution, taking into account the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) guidelines and other successful efforts.
Numerous governments, cities, companies and communities around the world are already working to address light pollution. Internationally agreed guidelines on light pollution covering marine turtles, seabirds and migratory shorebirds already exist and have been endorsed by the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
Birds are seen as nature’s ambassadors. It is imperative to restore ecological connectivity and integrity to boost the natural movements of migratory birds as these are important to their survival and well-being.
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Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
