Lights Out, Fort Worth!
End of Spring 2024
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We have officially concluded the spring 2024 survey season, signifying the end of our 3rd season of Lights Out, Fort Worth! surveys.
On behalf of our entire team, THANK YOU to all of our partners and supporting organizations, many of which include dedicated teams and individuals who make our work possible each season. Since the beginning of the Lights Out, Fort Worth! surveys last spring, we cannot thank everyone enough for their continuous support of our work in downtown Fort Worth, in our surrounding communities, and across Texas.
As we bid farewell to spring and prepare for the warm summer ahead, we would like to share this season’s highlights and observations with you.
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Spring 2024 is our 3rd season documenting bird-building collisions in downtown Fort Worth. A total of 42 bird-building collisions were documented this season, including 33 mortalities, 3 rescued birds, and 6 stunned birds that hit windows and flew away.
Unlike previous seasons, the Lights Out, Fort Worth! team surveyed 4 days a week for the majority of this spring. Surveys were conducted 7 days a week only during the peak migration period from April 22nd to May 12th.
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We are grateful and fortunate to have some exceptionally committed individuals who join our team as volunteer survey leaders each season. Our new volunteer survey leader and Cross Timbers Master Naturalist, Meredith Chacin, joined us as a volunteer in the fall and returned this spring as a volunteer survey leader. Our returning volunteer survey leader, April Pajoohi, along with her husband Bijan and son Lucius, have continued to support us this spring after helping lead the surveys in both the spring and fall 2023 seasons! Thank you so much to our volunteer survey leaders for dedicating the early morning hours and tireless efforts to Lights Out, Fort Worth! All of you have made a difference for migratory birds, our community, and our entire team. | |
This spring we welcomed a total of 21 volunteers to the Lights Out, Fort Worth! surveys. As a gesture of appreciation, we award volunteers who have attended 5 or more surveys in a calendar year a commemorative pin. We would like to recognize the 11 outstanding individuals who earned their honorary 2024 Lights Out! volunteer pin! These individuals are: | |
- April Pajoohi
- Bijan Pajoohi
- Becca Surginer
- Chris Honkomp
- Donna Honkomp
- Julie Vela
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- Meredith Chacin
- Meredith O'Shea
- Robinson Chacin
- Reilly Chavous
- Teddi Zonker
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Volunteers strengthen our connection with the community, inspiring others to enact change for our feathered friends. Whether you are a nature enthusiast or someone who just wants to learn and take a morning walk with us, you are more than welcome to join the cause. Join us in celebrating the commitment of these individuals and everyone who took the time to come to the Lights Out, Fort Worth! surveys this spring! | |
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The Blackburnian Warbler documented on May 6th (left) and the Cliff Swallow documented on May 29th (right). | New Species for Lights Out, Fort Worth!: | Building collision mortalities were documented in two new species this spring, bringing the total number of species documented by Lights Out, Fort Worth! to 51. The new species are the Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) and the Cliff Swallow (Petrochilodon pyrrhonota), as seen in the photo collage above. Blackburnian Warblers, with its beautiful orange and black coloration, are Neotropical migrants, migrating through Fort Worth from South America to reach its breeding grounds up north. The Cliff Swallows breed in North Texas, migrating from South America to Fort Worth, where they nest underneath buildings and other human-made structures. The salvage partnership with the Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections ensures that these bird specimens will not go to waste, supporting research projects at Texas A&M and beyond. | | | |
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Increased Public Awareness | |
This spring, the Lights Out, Fort Worth! initiative has garnered broader public support through local community outreach events in addition to increased media coverage, highlighting the importance of bird conservation and amplifying the program’s impact on a wider scale.
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (FWMSH) continues to be a key partner for Lights Out, Fort Worth! by inviting us to their Earth Day Celebration tabling event, sharing Lights Out! messaging, and being part of the salvage partnership with the Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC). Visitors at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) on World Migratory Bird Day also had a chance to see a brand-new bird specimen display, seeing the impact that volunteers have by helping us document bird-building collisions in downtown Fort Worth.
In addition to local community outreach events, Lights Out, Fort Worth! also received publicity through news coverage, enhancing the visibility of our work beyond the circle of community partners. At the beginning of the season, the City of Fort Worth and Mayor Mattie Parker shared information with the public about the continued Lights Out! efforts in the city. Then during peak migration, NBC-5 DFW published two articles about Lights Out, Fort Worth! describing how all Texan residents and businesses can participate and volunteer with us downtown. These articles play a crucial role in raising public awareness about the program's efforts, increasing interest and support from those who were previously unaware of the initiative.
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New and Returning Volunteers | This spring, we welcomed 21 volunteers to the Lights Out, Fort Worth! surveys, bringing the total number of volunteers engaged since the beginning of the program to 43. Of the 21 volunteers engaged this spring, 12 were returning from previous seasons and 9 were new. Many of our volunteers come from our partner organizations and supporters including Cross Timbers Master Naturalists, Fort Worth Audubon Society, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the University of North Texas Society for Ecological Restoration. We call upon the community to help share this volunteer opportunity with others as new volunteers often hear about our work through word of mouth. We hope to see even more new and returning volunteers in the Fall 2024 season! | | | |
As we bid farewell for now, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and enthusiasm. We are excited and looking forward to the Fall 2024 season. If you didn't get a chance to earn your 2024 Lights Out! volunteer pin this spring, you can still join us this fall to earn your pin and show your commitment to migratory birds and wildlife in our city. | Stay tuned for an upcoming Final Report in mid-June that covers our data more thoroughly. Thank you for continued support! | | | | |
