The stars at night are big and bright? Well, apparently not deep in the heart of Texas.

We've all heard about light pollution, right? We all went to the planetarium and heard about how because of all the artificial light we can't see the stars. Well as it turns out, our view of the night sky isn't the only thing that's altered, it's also disturbing the paths of migrating birds.

The unnecessary intense light obstructs a birds path, leading them to crash into buildings. Millions of birds are ascending into their Spring migration and will fly through Texas, and because most of their flight takes place at night, it's a serious concern for the bird population. That's where the "Lights Out Texas" campaign began.

What is Lights Out Texas?

The "Lights Out Texas" campaign ensures that by protecting birds in Texas promotes conservation of bird populations across the Americas. The campaign urges Texas to turn off non-essential nighttime lighting on buildings and other structures during the hours of 11 P.M. to 6 A.M. each night through the heavy migration dates. The Spring Migration dates are:

• Full Spring Migration Period: March 1 – June 15
• Critical Spring Peak Migration Period: April 19 – May 7

And again, through the Fall migration dates which are:

• Full Fall Migration Period: August 15 – November 30
• Critical Fall Peak Migration Period: September 5 – October 29

With bird populations declining and 1 out of every 4 birds lost, it's clear to see why this is an important initiative. You can find out more about "Lights Out Texas" by clicking here.