Groundbreaking new SIU research finds birds are staying awake longer in light

CARBONDALE, Ill — Birds exposed to artificial light at night are singing earlier in the morning and later into the evening, effectively extending their days by nearly an hour, according to groundbreaking new research from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The study, published Aug. 21 in Science , was co-authored by Brent Pease, an assistant professor in SIU’s School of Forestry and Horticulture, and Neil Gilbert, an assistant professor of biology at Oklahoma State University.

The pair analyzed more than 180 million bird vocalizations from around the world using global satellite imagery to assess how night sky brightness affects avian behavior.

Researchers found that light pollution prolonged bird activity on average by 50 minutes, with some species experiencing up to two hour