Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn today proclaimed April 13–20, 2026, as International Dark Sky Week in Fairfax County, urging residents, businesses, and community organizations to take meaningful action to reduce light pollution and protect the natural night sky.

Issued by the Board of Supervisors, the proclamation recognizes that a dark, starry night sky is a shared heritage of all people — one that inspires wonder, fuels scientific curiosity, and connects communities, especially young people, to the natural world. It also acknowledges the growing scientific evidence that light pollution carries serious environmental, ecological, and public health consequences for communities everywhere.

"The night sky belongs to everyone, and we can all help to protect it," said Supervisor Alcorn. "International Dark Sky Week is a perfect moment to pause, look up, and take simple steps that make a real difference — for birds, for wildlife, for our own health, and for the generations who come after us."

The proclamation also highlights Fairfax County’s participation in the "Lights Out for Birds" campaign. The county is working to reduce or eliminate nighttime lighting at county facilities during the spring bird migration season which runs until May 31. During this period, an estimated 100 million birds migrate through Northern Virginia, and 80% of them travel at night, according to the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance. However, bright nighttime lights both inside and outside buildings contribute to the 1 billion birds that die in the U.S. each year by crashing into windows, says a study by the American Bird Conservancy.

The county's broader environmental goals also include reducing light pollution, and Supervisor Alcorn voted to adopted new outdoor lighting rules on February 11, 2020. These zoning regulations help to prevent and limit light pollution by:

• Reducing the brightness of outdoor lighting on residential properties
• Lowering the color temperature for all outdoor lighting to 3,000 Kelvin in line with the American Medical Association’s guidance and DarkSky International. The 3,000K temperature is slightly cooler than an incandescent light bulb, reducing the blue light that’s harmful to humans and wildlife and worsens sky glow.
• Requiring more shielding for outdoor lights to prevent light trespass, including calling for full cut-off fixtures so light doesn’t shine up from above the bottom of a fixture.

What Residents Can Do During International Dark Sky Week

Fairfax County encourages all residents to take the following steps to protect our dark skies — especially during this week — and year-round:

• Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night, particularly from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring and fall bird migration seasons, to help birds navigate safely. In Northern Virginia, the spring migration season lasts from March 15 to May 31, and the fall season runs from August 15 through November 15.
• Use responsible outdoor lighting practices at home — follow the Five Principals for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, including only using lighting if needed, using warmer colored lights, putting lights on timers or motion sensors so they’re only on when necessary.
• Dim lights visible through windows between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during migration periods.
• Check out a light pollution kit – help scientists better understand light pollution. Check out a light pollution monitoring kit from the Fairfax County Public Library, and report your observations to the “Globe at Night” project.
• Learn more about light pollution and explore resources available on Fairfax County’s Dark Skies webpage.

International Dark Sky Week was created to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of light pollution and to promote practical solutions that allow communities to preserve and enjoy dark skies. This year's observance runs April 13–20, 2026.