Harris County Public Health wants Clear Lake-area residents to call in dead bird sightings through Nov. 30 as millions of migratory birds pass overhead.

The county health department posted the advisory Wednesday, Aug. 26, asking residents who find a dead bird to report it by calling 713-440-4800. Dead bird reports help officials track mosquito activity in the community, the agency said.

CW39 reported the advisory the same day, noting the migration monitoring window runs from Aug. 15 through Nov. 30.

Harris County Public Health is also asking residents to turn off nonessential outdoor lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Artificial light at night disorients migrating birds, and flipping a switch can reduce bird strikes against buildings and towers.

Seabrook's birding corridor

The advisory carries extra weight along the Clear Lake waterfront. Seabrook sits on the Clear Lake Loop of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, with four designated observation sites along Todville Road: Hester Garden Park, McHale Park, Pine Gully Park and Robinson Park.

Bay Area Houston straddles both the Central and Mississippi Flyways, two of North America's major migratory corridors. During peak spring migration, more than 1.3 million birds have been counted in the area, according to the Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Fall brings its own wave as species head south toward South and Central America for the winter, according to Houston Audubon.

Pine Gully Park alone is an eBird hotspot with at least 186 species recorded. Houston Audubon holds monthly bird surveys there on the first Saturday of each month. The survey contact is Natalie Stephens at [email protected].

What to do

The number: 713-440-4800.

Residents who spot a dead bird in their neighborhood should call Harris County Public Health to file a report. To protect migrating birds, turn off porch lights, landscape lighting and other nonessential outdoor lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Nov. 30.

Upcoming

Houston Audubon's next Pine Gully Park bird survey is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, based on the group's monthly schedule. The fall migration monitoring window continues through Monday, Nov. 30.