Light pollution in the Wadden Sea

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) can have negative effects on many nocturnally migrating bird species. The artificial glow seems to disturb the internal system birds use to navigate during the night and causes them to stray from their normal migration routes. It has been reported that flocks of birds get trapped in ‘light cones’ causing them to circle the illuminated structures for hours or they even collide with these structures, often causing their death.

In support of the WMBD campaign 2022, the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative and the Trilateral Dark Sky Initiative produced a short, animated video that explains the effects of ALAN on birds and illustrates how everyone can help minimize light pollution.

For more information on the Effects of ALAN on the Wadden Sea ecosystem, can be found here.