By Katie Vasquez
NEW YORK — Advocates gathered Aug. 13 in support of legislation known as the “Lights Out Bill,” or “Flaco’s Law,” which would require certain large buildings in New York City to turn off or dim lights at night to help protect birds.
The legislation is named after Flaco, a beloved owl who became a Central Park favorite after escaping the Central Park Zoo in 2023. He died in February 2024 after flying into a Manhattan building.
“We’re trying to pass this legislation through, for many large commercial buildings in Manhattan and around the city to turn the lights out,” advocates said at the rally.
The New York City Council has reintroduced the legislation, which would require office buildings and large retailers to turn off or dim exterior, decorative and nonessential interior lighting during nighttime hours.
The latest version includes changes that would exempt landmarks and add provisions addressing public safety.
Animal advocates say reducing artificial light at night could help protect birds that migrate through New York City.
Many bird species travel at night and use the stars to navigate. Artificial light can interfere with that process, causing birds to become disoriented and exhausted and increasing the risk of collisions with buildings.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitator Mary Beth Artz said light pollution can have deadly consequences for migrating birds.
“Many travel at night, and they depend on the navigation of the stars,” Artz said. “So when the light overpowers the visual of the stars, they get thrown off, they get disoriented and exhausted, and that’s when they run into problems, crash into buildings.”
Artz, a parishioner of the Diocese of Brooklyn, said the legislation also reflects a responsibility to care for the natural world.
“God created these birds for us, created this world for us,” she said. “We’ve got all of this, and it’s really up to us to carry it through and be a better steward of what we’ve been given.”
Advocates hope the Lights Out Bill will reduce light pollution, conserve energy and make New York City safer for birds during migration.
For supporters, the effort is also a way to honor Flaco’s legacy by addressing one of the dangers facing birds in the city’s built environment.