The Magic and Perils of Bird Migration in Connecticut (In-Person)

Please note that this program will be in-person at the Noah Webster Library.

Come learn about the amazing journeys that migratory birds make through Connecticut twice every year in this special interactive presentation. Peak spring bird migration in Connecticut runs from April 1 to May 31. Together we will explore, what kinds of birds migrate through our state? Where are they going? And how do they fly so far? You will be filled with awe and wonder for the natural world, while you learn about some of the perils that migratory birds face in our state and the simple steps you can take at your home, neighborhood, or business to help them reach their summer nesting grounds safely. You'll also hear about the new "Lights Out CT" law passed in 2023 to protect birds.

Meredith Barges is Co-Chair of Lights Out Connecticut and a former policy researcher for the Yale Bird-Friendly Building Initiative. Through her work, she helps people to appreciate the complex lives of birds, how birds interact with built environments, and how our decisions about buildings and lighting affect birds. She co-authored Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy (2023), published by American Bird Conservancy and the Yale Law School. In 2023, she co-led a statewide campaign to pass Public Act No. 23-143, the “Lights Out CT bill,” which requires all state-owned building in Connecticut to shut off their nonessential exterior lights from 11pm to 6am year-round for birds. She also helped convince Yale Divinity School to join Lights Out. She holds an MA in history from the University of Chicago and an MDiv in religion & ecology from Yale University.