In the video above, thousands of migrating birds circle the twin beams of the Tribute in Lights.
Projected from a bank of 7,000-watt xenon searchlights atop a lower Manhattan parking garage, the Tribute is a beautiful gesture of remembrance to the victims of September 11, 2001. In certain conditions, they become a magnet for migrating birds.
New York City sits in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America's four great migration corridors. During migration seasons, hundreds of thousands of birds may pass above the city each night. Usually they steer by star- and moonlight — but when it's cloudy, as was the case last night, they can become disoriented, drawn to whatever lights are brightest.
Fluttering in the spotlights like sparks, it makes for quite a show. "I can't describe how magical and beautiful it was," said Shervin Pishevar, a venture capitalist who took the video while seeing the lights with his daughter. "My daughter said it looked like angels flying to heaven."
Only twice before, in 2004 and 2010, have so many birds flown into the Tribute in Light. On those nights, and last night as well, volunteers from New York City Audubon turned the spotlights briefly off when too many birds had gathered, allowing them to re-orient and escape before exhaustion set in.
Most of the birds trapped last night were songbirds on their way to South and Central America, though a peregrine falcon was also spotted, said Susan Elbin, an ornithologist at NYC Audubon. Thanks to their work, the birds won't become accidental victims of our remembrance.
Video: Shervin Pishevar
