300 Million Birds Expected Over Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio Thursday Night April 23 as Bird Highway Peaks Overhead in Biggest Migration Night of the Season
INDIANA, MICHIGAN, AND OHIO — A Lights Out Alert has been issued for Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio as the migration highway moves directly overhead Thursday night April 23, 2026, bringing what could be the first massive migration night of the season for the three-state region.
BirdCast data produced by Purdue University is forecasting 300 plus million birds possible in flight overnight, with Thursday night expected to be the biggest migration night of the entire week. First warblers are now arriving, Baltimore Orioles are returning in large numbers, and hummingbirds are actively migrating during daylight hours across the region.
Thursday Night Brings the Peak of the Low Level Jet Bird Highway
The BirdCast Lights Out Alert forecast map for the night of April 23, 2026 shows the peak of the low level jet Bird Highway positioned directly over Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio during the overnight hours. The red arrows on the migration map illustrate the concentrated corridor of bird movement funneling northward through the Great Lakes region on Thursday night.
Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio are shown under a High Lights Out Alert designation on the forecast map, indicating the most critical need for reduced outdoor lighting during the peak migration window overnight. While recent weeks have produced good migration nights across the region, a night in the 5 to 10 million or higher range for these three states has not yet occurred this season, making Thursday night a potentially historic migration event for the area.
Baltimore Orioles, Warblers, and Hummingbirds All Active
Three notable species groups are contributing to the current migration surge across Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The first warblers of the season are now beginning to arrive across the region, marking an exciting milestone for birding enthusiasts who have been anticipating their return. Baltimore Orioles are returning to the area in large and impressive numbers this week, with many residents already reporting sightings at feeders stocked with orange halves and grape jelly.
Hummingbirds continue their active migration through the region during daylight hours, adding to the overall excitement of what is shaping up as one of the most active migration weeks of the entire spring season across the three-state area.
Turn Off Outdoor Lights From 11 PM to 6 AM Thursday Night
The Lights Out Alert message from Purdue University and BirdCast is clear and straightforward. Residents across Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio can directly help protect migrating birds by turning off or dimming all non-essential outdoor lighting between 11 PM and 6 AM Thursday night.
Artificial light pollution shown on the forecast map is a significant hazard for nocturnally migrating birds, causing disorientation and dramatically increasing the risk of fatal building collisions during peak migration nights. With 300 plus million birds expected overhead Thursday night, the collective impact of even modest lighting reductions across the three-state region could protect thousands of birds during this critical migration event. Stay with NapervilleLocal.com for the latest weather updates and local forecast coverage.
I’ve lived in Naperville long enough to see how quickly our community changes — from new developments downtown to sudden shifts in our Midwest weather. Reporting on Naperville news and daily forecasts gives me the chance to keep neighbors informed about what really matters. My goal is simple: deliver clear, timely updates so you always know what’s happening in our city and what to expect from the skies above.