Ms. Elizabeth Filippelli, Lights Out Northeast Florida, and Mr. Mike Taylor, Jacksonville Zoo and
Botanical Gardens, introduced themselves at the podium. Ms. Filippelli stated that Lights Out Northeast
Florida has operated for about seven years and that it has conducted about 14 seasons of collecting
deceased birds killed by glass in downtown. She further noted that the Lights Out initiative was first
created 27 years ago in Chicago, following a large glass collision event in which hundreds of birds died.
She stated that over 1 billion birds die every year from colliding with buildings. She identified the US
Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Bird Conservancy, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as
sources. Ms. Filippelli highlighted a photograph of a bird that she believed had been saved by one of the
initiative's collision monitors, whose role is to check buildings in downtown for injured birds early in
the morning. Ms. Filippelli further highlighted the importance of protecting birds as an economic
opportunity for eco-tourism in the City, noting that $107 billion is spent annually on birding nationwide.
Ms. Filippelli then highlighted that 2.9 billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970 and
presented several reasons for protecting birds. Ms. Filippelli stated that Jacksonville lies in the Atlantic
Flyway, which she described as the second largest flyway in North America, and listed several facts
about the migratory patterns of songbirds. Ms. Filippelli highlighted a finding from the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology that over 7 million birds flew over Duval County in one night, then presented the
initiative's data collected in Fall 2025 from 31 walkers on 5 routes.
Ms. Filippelli used the example of the September 11 memorial beacon lights to highlight the dangers of
artificial light to birds. She noted that many birds are affected by the beacon lights and that a large
number of dead birds were found at the site in the mornings. She stated that when many birds are seen
flying, the lights are physically shut off and then turned back on to help the birds.
Ms. Filippelli then stated that birds have trouble recognizing glass and that collisions happen
everywhere and at all times of the day, with over half occurring at low-rise buildings because of
reflections from tree foliage. Ms. Filippelli then mentioned a 2023 mass collision event in Chicago in
which over 1,000 birds collided with a single building in one night.
Ms. Filippelli made several recommendations to reduce bird collisions. Ms. Filippelli then listed several
properties that have implemented changes to make their buildings safer for birds, including the
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of
Engineering, and Stetson University's Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center.
CM Carlucci recommended that Lights Out Northeast Florida share its presentation with the Chamber
of Commerce and Downtown Vision to build further support. He then stated that window blinds may
help prevent bird collisions. Mr. Taylor responded that because window blinds are interior, they do not
reduce reflection and would not do much to reduce bird collisions. Ms. Filippelli then stated that the
initiative offers free bird-friendly building audits.
CM Clark-Murray stated that she had received a call from a constituent about Canada geese and asked
for confirmation that they are an invasive species in Florida. Mr. Taylor responded that they are not. He
stated that Canada geese would naturally be present in Florida only in winter, but that people have
released barnyard geese. He stated that he had spoken with FWC about the issue, and that FWC cannot
classify the geese as an invasive species because they would naturally migrate to the area. He stated that
FWC cannot distinguish between the native geese and the released barnyard geese, which have mated
and produced offspring. He noted that the geese have not migrated and do not need to, and they have
