WINSTON-SALEM -- It's lights out in Forsyth County. The area's Audubon Society is trying to protect birds, all while saving energy.

Leaders say millions of migrating birds across the country die each year because of lights in tall buildings. The campaign encourages building owners to turn off more lights in order to protect the bird population.

"They are beautiful migrating warblers," said Kim Brand from the Forsyth Audubon Chapter. "Birds that are actually in steep population decline.

The initiative was inspired by similar campaigns in New York and Chicago. Winston-Salem is the first city in the southeast to adopt the program.