Our pretty outdoor Christmas lights can be fatal to robins and other garden birds, warns an expert
Outdoor Christmas lights are great to look at and definitely add to the festive cheer at this time of the year. But leaving them on all night could prove fatal for garden birds, householders are being warned. And the alert is particularly important when the temperature drops.
With Scotland’s weather looking chillier in the coming days, bird experts have asked people to turn off their outdoor lights at 9pm every night when it’s colder. And Richard Green, a bird welfare specialist from Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies explained why not doing this can be harmful or even fatal for birds.
Richard explained that twinkling outdoor lights are creating what is known as a ‘false dawn’ effect which can prove deadly for our feathered friends. He said that continuous bright lighting tricks birds into thinking it’s morning, and this is particularly the case for beloved robins and blackbirds.
The constant light from our decorations triggers them to sing and defend territory in the middle of the night, burning vital calorie reserves they need to survive the freezing temperatures. Here he explains how we can prevent our garden birds coming to any harm this Christmas while still enjoying the season.
The “false dawn” effect
Richard said: “Robins are fiercely territorial and are triggered by light. Modern LED displays are so bright that they fool birds into thinking the sun is coming up at 2am. You might have heard birds singing in the middle of the night recently and this is actually a sign of confusion and stress.”
The importance of sleep in freezing weather
“Small birds, like wrens and robins, can lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight in a single freezing night just by shivering to keep warm,” explained Richard. “They need to spend every dark hour in a state of torpor (deep sleep) just to conserve energy. But if festive lights keep them awake and singing, they burn through their fat reserves too fast and may not have enough fuel to survive until the real sunrise.”
The 9pm rule for garden lights
Richard said: “You don’t have to cancel Christmas to help wildlife. We simply urge homeowners to put their outdoor displays on a timer. Setting lights to switch off at 9pm gives garden birds the dark, quiet downtime they need to survive the coldest part of the night.”
Create a dark zone in the garden
Richard said there is another way you can help small birds in the garden. He said: “If you are lighting up your garden, try to leave one area completely unlit, preferably where you have thick hedges or ivy. This provides a ‘Dark Zone’ where birds can retreat to roost without the glare of flashing LEDs disturbing their rest.”
Don’t forget the food
“If your lights have been on late, your local birds will wake up exhausted,” said Richard. Make sure your feeders are topped up first thing in the morning with high-energy food like suet pellets or sunflower hearts to help them replenish the calories lost during a restless night.”
