Wildlife experts are urging UK households to switch off their Christmas lights by 9pm to prevent harm to birds and other nocturnal animals. The bright LED displays can trick birds into thinking it is daytime, causing them to sing in the middle of the night and disrupting their sleep patterns.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has warned that artificial lighting can disturb birds' internal clocks. Robins are particularly sensitive and may extend their feeding into the night, while owls may struggle to hunt in lit areas. The RHS also noted that bats, bugs, and frogs can be affected.
Richard Green, a bird welfare specialist from Kennedy Wild Bird Food and Pet Supplies, explained that small birds like wrens and robins can lose up to 10% of their body weight on a freezing night just by shivering to keep warm. If festive lights keep them awake, they burn through fat reserves too quickly and may not survive until sunrise.
Green recommends setting outdoor displays on a timer to switch off around 9pm, giving garden birds the dark, quiet time they need. He also suggests creating a 'dark zone' in the garden with thick hedges or ivy where birds can roost without glare from LEDs.
Studies have shown that light pollution can disorient migrating birds, causing them to veer off course or collide with illuminated structures, leading to higher mortality rates. A 2015 study also found that light pollution disrupts sleep in free-living animals.
