News: 0178811812

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Artificial Light Has Essentially Lengthened Birds' Day (science.org)

(Thursday August 21, 2025 @05:40PM (msmash) from the grave-concerns dept.)


Light pollution [1]extends the active hours of birds worldwide [2]by nearly an hour , fundamentally altering the natural rhythms of over 500 species across multiple continents. Analysis of 60 million bird call recordings reveals that artificial lighting causes birds to begin vocalizing 20 minutes earlier each morning and continue 30 minutes later each evening. The effect varies significantly by species anatomy and behavior.

Birds with proportionally larger eyes experience the strongest responses, with American Robins in highly illuminated areas beginning their songs up to two hours before sunrise. Species nesting in tree cavities or enclosed spaces show minimal changes, as opaque barriers shield them from artificial light. The research, drawing from BirdWeather devices deployed globally by birdwatchers, is the largest analysis of light pollution's biological impacts to date.



[1] https://www.npr.org/2025/08/21/nx-s1-5507165/light-pollution-bird-day-hour-longer

[2] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv9472



Damn Birds (Score:2)

by SlashbotAgent ( 6477336 )

Damn birds! Waking me up at ungodly dark hours of the morning. They're little dinosaur assholes.

I still love them.

Re: (Score:2)

by Smonster ( 2884001 )

My damn grandpa cat, though still spry at 17 has done what the old do and wakes up at the crack of dawn every day the last couple years. In the winter it is fine, but damn if I don't want him to shut the hell up at 5:30 in the morning. He has food, he has water, has access to his letterbox, he can even get outside on the roof. But nooOOoooOo he wants me to give him attention. Little mother&$#@. He will however still kill all the birds that get too close. If only we could combine his early mornings with

Re: (Score:2)

by shanen ( 462549 )

There are no birds.

At least that was the joke I was hoping for. Perhaps with something about problems synchronizing the clocks.

As someone wakened by birds (Score:2)

by ebunga ( 95613 )

I'm not really getting a kick out of any of this and I would like some sleep, but you absolute pansy bed-wetting cowards are afraid of the dark. Exterior lighting and streetlights make it easier for thieves and murderers to see you at night. If you care about your family, then get rid of all outside lighting.

Re: (Score:2)

by Kernel Kurtz ( 182424 )

> I'm not really getting a kick out of any of this and I would like some sleep, but you absolute pansy bed-wetting cowards are afraid of the dark. Exterior lighting and streetlights make it easier for thieves and murderers to see you at night. If you care about your family, then get rid of all outside lighting.

It's pretty cool looking at my street in IR. Cameras lighting up everywhere but you would never know it otherwise.

So it's true? (Score:2)

by Kernel Kurtz ( 182424 )

The early bird really does get the worm?

Mum's the word.
-- Miguel de Cervantes