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Cleveland targeted to trim bird-skycraper strikes

Monday, March 22, 2010

CLEVELAND (AP) — A wildlife expert wants Cleveland skyscrapers to turn off their lights overnight in spring and fall to prevent migrating birds from smashing into the buildings.

Migrating birds that navigate by the stars can be confused by skyscraper lights.

To reduce that, Harvey Webster with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is trying to start a lights-out program similar to those in New York, Chicago and Toronto.

Sometimes, nighttime lighting is encouraged to present an attractive image for aerial TV shots during big sporting events.