Laura Bush: Turn off your lights to save the birds Chron 4 days ago Laura Bush wants you to turn out the lights for the birds. Save the birds. Sit in the dark. That's the message from former first lady Laura Bush in a new Dallas Morning News op-ed. Bush pleaded with the public to turn off their lights nightly from April 19 to May 7 as millions of migratory birds attempt to navigate the Texas skies. Birds migrating are often confused by large buildings and lights during nightfall, which is why Bush wrote to the Dallas paper urging Texans to help our avian friends.