By Bernheim
When was the last time you truly saw the stars? At Bernheim, we’re lucky to be one of the few places near Louisville where the night sky still stretches overhead, clear and unblemished by the harsh glow of artificial lights. Out here, the stars share the stage with the songs of insects, the calls of nocturnal creatures, and the quiet rustle of leaves in the dark — a nighttime symphony that many of us forget still exists. But preserving these experiences isn’t just about stargazing. It’s about protecting ecosystems and the delicate rhythms of nature that depend on darkness.
As spring bird migration reaches its peak, the issue of light pollution becomes especially critical. Many migrating bird species travel under the cover of night, navigating by the moon and stars. Bright, artificial lights can disorient them, leading to fatal collisions with buildings or exhausting detours away from their natural routes. One of the easiest ways you can help is by turning off unnecessary outdoor lights on your home, porch, or garage from now through the end of May. By dimming unnecessary outdoor lighting, using shielded fixtures, and joining community efforts like International Dark Sky Week, we can create safer skies for these travelers and healthier habitats for all nocturnal wildlife.
Bernheim has long been a champion for dark sky conservation. Thanks to our passionate Volunteer Naturalists, we offer guided programs that invite you to reconnect with the night. Naturalist and dark sky advocate Bill Napper regularly leads experiences exploring constellations, moonlit hikes, and the secret lives of nighttime creatures. Check out our event calendar for a full listing of upcoming night programs and find one that calls to you. And if you’re heading to RESTORE this Saturday, April 19, be sure to visit the DarkSky South Central Kentucky booth for resources and tips on how you can help keep our skies dark and wild.
Protecting the night isn’t just for the birds — it’s for all of us. Darkness is a vital, often overlooked part of our environment, essential to the health of ecosystems and even our own well-being. So the next time evening falls, step outside, look up, and consider what small actions you can take to let the night be night.
