“The Avian Welfare Coalition’s National Bird Day campaign aims to reduce the suffering of birds by raising public awareness of the destructive bird trade, the realities of cruel bird breeding mills, and ways to improve the welfare of birds already in captivity.” They list several great ways to celebrate National Bird Day. I can’t wait to get my copy of their adorable children’s book, “Lucky The Lorikeet.”
What are Some Other Ways We Can Celebrate National Bird Day?
1. Get to Know Your Local Birds
Grab your coffee or tea and step outside for ten minutes. How many different types of birds do you see? How many do you hear?
I discovered the Merlin App last year and love going outside and recording for 30 seconds to see how many different birds are singing. I will list some of the most common ones I see and hear in my Tigard yard below.
Lesser Goldfinch and the House Finch – I often see these two types together. These beautiful little birds are super chatty and love to eat my Sunflower leaves and anything I let go to seed in my garden.
Juncos – Juncos are the reason I check the yard thoroughly every Spring before we mow the grass for the first time. They nest on the ground and we often find nests in long grass or tall plants. If I find a nest I put a chair or something over/around to protect it until they are done using it (a little over a month later.)
Crows – Crows are probably my favorite. Have you ever heard a murder (yes, a group of crows is called a murder!) of Crows making a scene about an intruder? They call their friends and family, loudly, and you can see more flying in from all directions to help. I have seen them chase off many hawks and even Eagles!
Robins – “The early bird gets the worm” and it’s usually a Robin. Have you ever watched a Robin pull a worm from the ground? A couple years ago I watched a Mom and Dad Robin teach their fledgling how to eat my Strawberries from the garden.
Flicker – Have you ever heard what sounds like a jackhammer on a tin roof early on a Spring morning? That would be your friendly neighborhood Flicker looking for a mate! Can’t say that tactic would have me swooning, but I’m not a Flicker so what do I know?
2. Support A Bird Rescue
Animal rescues often rely on volunteers and donations to help as many animals as they can. Another great way to celebrate National Bird Day is to support a bird rescue.
Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Audubon Society) is one that is near and dear to my heart. My Mom vounteered here for many of the years I was growing up. She often brought home orphaned or injured birds for rehabilitation until they could be released.
Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon is a foster based rescue that places birds in temporary foster homes with a family until they are able to find a suitable, forever home.
And of course consider supporting The Avian Welfare Coalition who began the National Bird Day campaign.
“Tame birds sing of freedom.
– John Lennon
Wild birds fly.”
3. Read A Book About Birds
You can celebrate National Bird Day by supporting The Aviation Welfare Coalition and reading a book about birds at the same time by ordering their book, Lucky The Lorikeet.
The Tigard Library has many great books about birds. While you are there or on their website, check out all the great programs and events they have going on, like this tree planting event with Friends of Trees.
4. Provide Natural Food For Birds
Celebrate National Bird Day by feeding the birds, but not with your typical bird-feeder. Plant trees, flowers and other things that provide local birds with natural food. Hummingbirds love Zinnias, Hummingbird Mint, Pineapple Mint and believe it or not, they love blueberry flowers! These are far better for them than sugar water or processed syrups with red dye.
Let things in your garden go to seed. Herbs, veggies, flowers, will all go to seed when they are at the end of their life cycle. Rather than pulling them out of the garden, leave some for the birds.
Avoid using pesticides and other harmful chemicals in your garden. Birds are great at eating pests in the garden, but they are extremely susceptible to illness and death from pesticides those bugs may have been exposed to.
“If something isn’t eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem”
– Unknown
5. Keep Your Cats Inside
One of the best ways you can celebrate National Bird Day is to keep your domestic cats inside. If you do let them outside, make sure you are supervising them, have them on a leash or in a catio.
In the United States, cats kill an estimated 1.3–4 billion birds each year. This is the largest human-caused threat to birds in the country. Cats kill more birds than the next two largest threats combined, which are collisions with windows (599 million) and automobiles (200 million).
It is also much safer for your cat to keep it indoors (supervised outside time is ok.) By keeping them indoors you are keeping them safe from cars, coyotes and other predators, poison from other yards or injecting a poisened rodent, cat fights and more.
However you choose to celebrate National Bird Day, I hope you learn something new and interesting and share it!