Date: 3/15/26 9:31 am From: Toshia McCabe <toshia.fcolors...> Subject: [Arlington Birds] Re: Reduce lighting during migration
Hi Dianna,
Huge thanks to you and Gino for encouraging people to speak out for birds
and wildlife! In these times, we need people to do that more than ever. I
feel so deeply about it that I'm compelled to respond to your message. I
hope you understand that this comes from a sense of concern and caring.
It looks like this organization has an AI for determining minimum useful
lighting levels on streets at night, and they somehow integrate metrics
from birdcast. That's pretty cool!
However, I'd be extremely careful when using an AI to write letters for any
legislative matter regardless of subject. I appreciate Gino encouraging
people to speak up for wildlife, but using AI in this way can work against
your cause in at least a few ways:
1. AI detection software exists. I don't know if lawmakers are using it
yet, but I don't think it would be a stretch to envision why they might
want to use it when receiving emails from constituents.
2. AI hallucinates. You definitely don't want your letter to contain false
statements. False statements reflect badly on you. It might convince you to
believe falsehoods, and it might discredit your letter. Even an AI that's
been trained on environmental issues (presumably like the one Gino is
advocating for) can hallucinate or mix facts up. AI has not come far enough
for us to trust everything it says. It's easier and better to gather the
facts yourself than to let an AI spew out content and have to fact check it.
3. It's far better to write your thoughts in your own words for many
reasons. You learn more about the issue when you do your own research and
think deeply about why the issue matters to you. Also, if anyone questions
what you wrote, you're far more equipped to provide rationale for the
content than if an AI wrote it.
4. If you don't have time to author a letter yourself, organizations like
Mass Audubon, National Audubon, and the ABC regularly host campaigns where
you can just fill in a form and send a boilerplate letter to your lawmaker.
While a personal letter is far better, at least a boilerplate letter from a
trusted org has been vetted.
Sincerely,
Toshia
On Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 7:55:59 AM UTC-4 Diana F. wrote:
> Also at the Birders Meeting yesterday, Gino Ellison presented this
> information of this AI tool that will write a letter for you to send to
> your city officials with information on how to reduce street lighting
> during migration. Night lighting disrupts and disorients birds during
> migration. I have attached the slide here. It is very easy to do.
>
> Thanks
> Diana Fruguglietti
> Woburn
>
>
>
>
>
