With the festive season beginning to fade in our memories and the jolly Christmas lights packed away, it's maybe not a bad time to think about outside lighting for the rest of the year. So far our two villages seem relatively dark at night, but social trends are certainly moving in the direction of more and more outside lighting. Yet, surely, darkness is an integral part of the countryside and distinguishes it from our highly lit towns and cities?
Why is excess lighting a problem for wildlife?
- Some are disoriented by artificial lights, e.g. by mistaking them for moonlight. Migrating birds often fly at night and can be confused.
- Daytime species remain active longer and this can lead to conflicts between them and their nocturnal counterparts. They may also try to live a “24-hour lifestyle” that can stunt their growth.
- Nocturnal species have evolved to hide in the dark. Exposed to lights, they are more likely to get eaten.
- Nocturnal mammals and birds have less time, and fewer areas, to scavenge for food. Many bat species avoid lit areas altogether and, although some bats are more tolerant and take advantage of the accumulation of insects at artificial lights to hunt, it can then open these species up to the risk of predation as well.
- Lighting can act as a barrier for some species, fragmenting habitats, while for others artificial light is fatally attractive, becoming a sink for hundreds of insects each night.
- Daytime animals and birds may avoid common hunting and roosting areas if these are lit at night.
- Disrupted day/night cycles can cause some species to breed inefficiently, decreasing insect populations and reliable food sources for animals.
- Garden birds are disturbed from sleep by sudden lighting and can begin singing before dawn. Robins especially seem sensitive to light and will extend their feeding period into the night where artificial light is present.
How to mitigate
The main thing is to only have lights where and when you need them. If not needed, turn them off and think about alternatives. Even articles on problem lighting seem not to mention one marvellous invention - the torch! They are even built into most mobile phones these days and remove the need for much lighting of paths and driveways - creating light exactly where and when it is needed. Maybe if you have particularly dangerous steps, consider reflectors or reflective paint.
Only use outdoor lighting for aesthetic purposes very sparingly and don't forget that inside lighting becomes outside lighting if we don't close our curtains, or turn off lights when we are not using a room.
Where you do have outside lights:
- Ensure the lights are positioned as low down as possible and ensure they are angled downwards to only light what is necessary - the path, seating area, etc. Avoid pointing light upwards, including uplighting trees.
- Have proper shielding to avoid light shining where it is not needed.
- Use motion-detectors, but still turn lights off altogether when they are not needed.
- Use as warm a light colour as possible (amber, yellow, warm-white) - bluish light is the most disruptive to wildlife and not very pleasant for us either.
- Use low-watt or low lumen bulbs so you only have the light you really need.
- Regardless of wildlife, ensure lights do not cause annoyance to neighbours or dazzle drivers/pedestrians
Then enjoy the darkness and look up to the stars, which should still be visible away from stray lighting!
Article courtesy of www.naturechain.co.uk
Images courtesy of www.freepik.com