The exterior lights of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis will be turned off for the entire month of May to aid migrating birds along the Mississippi River corridor. This initiative aims to protect birds, including 40% of the nation’s migratory waterfowl, during their spring migration. The National Park Service has been implementing this practice since 2002 and recently upgraded the Arch’s lighting system to reduce light pollution. The lights will be turned back on in the evenings starting June 1st, as birds can travel long distances at high speeds during migration.
