Protecting Dark Skies for Wildlife and Human Health
The night sky here on the East End has long been one of our natural treasures. It really wasn’t that long ago that we could enjoy an endless canvas of stars, planets, and more, all without much effort.
But over time, something has changed. More and more stars are disappearing from our view, hidden by the glow of light pollution. The skies we once admired are becoming harder to see.
And it’s not just us; the increase in light pollution affects plants and animals, too. The impacts of this are far-reaching, and it’s important that we take action to preserve our dark skies before it’s too late.
The Importance of Dark Skies
In many areas, including the East End, light pollution has made it harder to see the stars and constellations we once took for granted. Instead of the vibrant star-filled skies, we’re left with a hazy, artificial glow. This excess light not only dims our connection to the natural world, but it also disrupts local wildlife.
Many animals are dependent on the natural rhythm of night and day. Birds, bats, insects, and mammals all depend on the cycles of light and darkness to find food, navigate, and reproduce. When we flood the environment with artificial light, it confuses them. Migratory birds, for example, can become disoriented and lose their way, while nocturnal animals like owls and bats may struggle to hunt or find shelter.
A starry night offers us more than just a breathtaking view; it connects us to generations past and future. As the Sierra Club notes, young people today are losing the ability to experience the awe of the night sky. The stars have inspired stories, navigation, and scientific discoveries for millennia. It may sound a little dramatic, but really, to lose that is to lose a piece of ourselves and our shared history.
This is why it's so important to take steps now to protect our night skies. Not just for the wildlife, but for future generations who deserve to experience the awe of a starry sky.
A Dark Sky Scavenger Hunt: Rediscover the Night Sky
To help you reconnect with the night sky and the wildlife it supports, we’ve put together a fun scavenger hunt. The next time you’re outside at night, see if you can spot:
Great Horned Owl
These majestic hunters are known for their distinctive hooting calls and large tufted ears. If you're quiet and patient, you might hear them calling from the trees on a cool autumn evening. Great horned owls are known for being adaptable and can live in a wide range of habitats, from woodlands to urban parks.
Fun Fact: The great horned owl is one of the few predators that actively hunt skunks. They have a high tolerance for the skunk's spray, which is why they’re able to hunt them without being deterred!The Big Dipper (Ursa Major)
This familiar constellation is one of the most recognizable patterns in the northern hemisphere. The Big Dipper is part of the larger constellation Ursa Major, which represents a bear. The "bowl" of the Dipper can help you locate the North Star, Polaris.
Fun Fact: The Big Dipper isn’t a constellation on its own—it’s actually part of a larger group of stars in the Ursa Major constellation. The two stars at the end of the Dipper’s bowl point directly to Polaris, which has been used for navigation for centuries.Opossum
Though often overlooked, the opossum is an important part of the East End’s nocturnal ecosystem. These marsupials are most active during the night, foraging for food and keeping our environment in balance by eating pests like ticks and small rodents.
Fun Fact: Opossums are immune to the venom of many snakes, including rattlesnakes and copperheads. They also “play dead” when threatened—hence the phrase "playing possum"—to avoid predators.Orion’s Belt
This iconic trio of stars forms the "belt" of the hunter Orion, a constellation that is especially visible during the winter months. The three stars are among the brightest in the sky, making them easy to spot even from areas with some light pollution.
Fun Fact: The stars that make up Orion’s Belt are all located at different distances from Earth, ranging from 243 to 1,300 light years away. Despite being so far apart, they appear close together when viewed from Earth.The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
If you were fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights during the fall, you witnessed a rare and beautiful display of nature’s light show. While the Northern Lights are typically seen further north, strong solar activity can bring them to our skies, too!
Fun Fact: The Northern Lights are caused by particles from the sun colliding with Earth’s atmosphere. The interaction causes these particles to release energy in the form of light, creating the colorful displays we see in the sky. While rare for this region, their visibility is a reminder of how clear, dark skies can reveal spectacular natural phenomena.
What Can You Do to Help?
While light pollution can feel like an overwhelming problem, there are simple actions we can all take to make a difference:
Turn off unnecessary lights: If you don’t need the lights on outside, turn them off! This small change can have a significant impact on reducing light pollution.
Install motion sensors: Use motion-sensor lighting for outdoor spaces to ensure that lights are only on when needed.
Support dark sky initiatives: Advocate for the use of dark-sky friendly lighting in your community and support policies that reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting.
Get involved: Participate in local or national efforts to preserve and protect dark skies. The Group is a proud co-founder of the North Fork Dark Sky coalition, which works to raise awareness and create positive change.
By reducing light pollution, we can help preserve the East End’s natural beauty and wildlife, ensuring that the stars remain visible for future generations. So, head outside tonight, embark on your scavenger hunt, and take a moment to appreciate the wonder above.
Let’s work together to protect our dark skies and keep the magic of the night alive!
