An announcement has been made by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that the state of New York is going to turn off non essential lights in state run buildings with a purpose to help migrating birds navigate routes in spring and autumn.

According to ornithologists, birds become disorientated by electric lights and crash into buildings. An unmistakable glow is there that lights up the Albany skyline every night. For visitors, the lights are an attraction to the largest city on the Hudson River north of Yonkers and for nocturnal migrating birds it is also an attraction but it creates problem for them.

"They fly around in circles around skyscrapers or radio towers and television towers. As a result, a lot of them will crash", said State Museum Curator of Ornithology Jeremy Kirchman.

The state blackout is going to affect some buildings regionally and is planned to take place between 11 p. m. and dawn from April 15 through May 31 and August 15 through November 15. Lights that are important for health or safety like walkways, work sites, etc will not be turned off.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, it has been estimated that 500 million to 1 billion birds die in the United States every year at the time they slam into windows, walls, floodlights or the ground.

Audubon New York Executive Director Erin Crotty said that bird migration is one of the incalculable wonders of nature. Commitment of the state to 'Lights Out' is a vital step to help increase their protection. Kirchman visits Empire State Plaza daily to search birds that fell victim to the Corning Tower and four agency buildings overnight.