Audubon Mid-Atlantic and the Valley Forge and Wyncote local chapters of Audubon Society are among area organizations spearheading efforts to keep birds safe by making Philadelphia’s skyline go mostly dark starting from April 1, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

They are the initiators of the Bird Safe Philly program, which is endorsed by Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, the Building Owners and Managers Association Philadelphia, and the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia.

One of the initiatives within the program is Lights Out Philly. This will begin at the start of peak spring migration on April 1 and will run through May 31. The second season will run from August 15 through November 15, when the birds begin to travel south.

Participating building owners will turn off lights at some of Philadelphia’s tallest buildings, including Comcast towers and BNY Mellon Center, from midnight to 6 a.m. This should help prevent any birds from getting disoriented by artificial lights and striking windows.

While birds also fly before midnight, the program is a “huge step that will help significantly minimize collisions,” said Lennon Chandler, with the Audubon’s Atlantic Flyway program.

Read more about the efforts to save birds at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.