Lights out, Texas! This is why you should turn off your lights at night for the next 2 weeks Tags: Migratory birds stock image (Pixabay.com) HOUSTON – Turning off your lights at night not only helps you save energy, but also helps migrating birds. A statewide initiative with Texan by Nature, a nonprofit led by former first lady Laura Bush, and Houston Audubon are urging Texans to turn off their lights or reduce light usage to help migrating birds travel north, according to a news release. Texans are being urged to turn off lights between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. April 19 through May 7, which is the peak migration period for birds flying through Texas.