NYC Skyscrapers to Turn-Off Lights to Help Migrating Birds’

Some of the Big Apple’s brightest buildings are joining a campaign to dim the lights while millions of migrating birds pass through town this fall.

More than 90,000 birds are killed each year crashing into buildings after getting disoriented by the blinding light thrown off by skyscrapers, experts say.

“Millions of birds pass through New York City on their way to their wintering grounds,” said NYC Audubon Director Glenn Philips. “They fly primarily at night over the city, and they get confused by the lights.”

For several years, the group has pressed building owners and managers to switch off the lights from midnight until dawn between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. They’ve gotten cooperation from several city landmarks, including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. They are being joined this year by the Time Warner Center and the former Citigroup Center.

“We are supportive of the migration of birds,” said Arista Joyner, spokeswoman for Boston Properties, which owns the former Citigroup Center. Mortimer B. Zuckerman, chairman and chief executive officer of Boston Properties, also is the chairman and publisher of the Daily News.

Turning off the lights is not always so easy. A number of older buildings need to be switched off floor by floor, a time-consuming task, and many have cleaning crews working overnight. But the group feels it’s making progress.

“The more buildings that sign on for it encourages other building owners to do it,” Philips said.