Look to the Sky for One of Michigan's First Signs of Fall

We don't like this news any more than you do, but that doesn't make it any less true. The first signs of cooler weather are here. In fact, when I stepped outside this morning, I could both feel fall in the air and see it:

The vibrant green of the tree leaves is beginning to fade after a full summer season in the sun. I've also noticed the position of the sun beginning to change, and we've already had our last 9 p.m. sunset. Now, there's one more sign that summer is beginning to wind down.

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Michigan Birds Are Heading South in a Massive Fall Migration

I'm always keeping an eye on the Michigan Storm Chasers Facebook page because it's not always just weather they're talking about. They cover anything and everything having to do with the skies above Michigan, from possible aurora sightings to, in this case, bird migration.

Signs of cooler weather are creeping in... over 600 million birds are estimated to be migrating south over the next 3 nights across the US. A "lights out alert" have been advised from Purdue AeroEco lab for tonight for portions of Michigan and tomorrow night across much of Michigan. Dimming outdoor lights assist in safe migration for the birds. -- Michigan Storm Chasers via Facebook

So, what's with the turning off the lights?

Well, according to Fox2 Detroit, birds can become disoriented due to light pollution at night, as that's when they typically travel. To lessen their confusion and prevent collisions with buildings, its recommended households turn off any unnecessary and excessive outdoor lighting between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

The Birds That Migrate To and From Michigan

Michigan is notable for its four seasons, and if you don't like the cold, neither do its animals. That means that many birds go south for the winter and return in large numbers during the spring. These are the most common ones you'll start seeing again as the weather goes from warm to cold, and vice versa. Information comes from the State of Michigan and Birdcast.

Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill