There are several designated dates throughout the year set aside to celebrate our feathered friends.
There are nearly 10,000 species of birds and 'bird days' bring awareness of issues critical to the protection and survival of birds, both captive and wild.
Crafty Birds
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| Amigurumi Crochet Birds on Etsy |
The birds shown here in the field of arts & crafts are these artists' way of celebrating the various bird days and helping to promote avian awareness.
Annual Bird Days Throughout the Year
- January 5 is National Bird Day. It was begun in 2002 by Born Free USA in coordination with the Avian Welfare Coalition.
- May 5 is simply 'Bird Day'. In 1894, Charles Babcock of Oil City, Pennsylvania, a school superintendant, set this date to bring attention to the conservation of birds. It was the first bird holiday begun in the United States. In 1979, the United Kingdom began their own Bird Day, which is coordinated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. On this date, up to half a million bird lovers spend an hour counting birds.
- In the United States and Canada, the second Saturday in May is known as International Migratory Bird Day. Mexico, Central & South America, and the Carribbean celebrate this occasion on the second Saturday in October.
- Since 2006, the second Saturday in May is also known as World Migratory Bird Day, established by the United Nations.
The main reason all this attention has been given to birds is due to the fact that nearly 12 percent of the world’s almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction. So celebrate by bird-watching, studying birds, or educating others about other bird-related activities. You could also participate in bird adoption - which is often done on National Bird Day, January 5.
Some individual species of birds have their own 'days'.
Parrot
Inspired by World Parrot Day, this is a pattern of a toy parrot in crochet found on Etsy. It is available as an instant digital download.
Plush parrot crochet pattern created by Etsy Shop of Carocreated.
Bluebirds
A Blue Bird Day is defined as a beautiful sunny day after an overnight snowfall. It's a perfect skiing day with a clear blue sky, bright sun, and fresh snow.
There are no individual holidays known as bluebird day, but
September 24 is National Bluebird of Happiness day.
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| Bluebird Beverage Coaster Set on eBay |
A pretty set of mats for your tabletops in the colors of the mountain bluebird.
Save the Eagles Day is January 10
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| Scroll Saw Hand-Cut Wood Eagle Key Chain |
This flying eagle wood key chain is handmade by Susan of Wentzville, Missouri and featured in her Etsy Shop Ooh Look, It's a Rabbit.
Susan uses maple backed with walnut. She filled it with clear casting epoxy resin which allows the color of the backing wood to show through the image. She then attached a 4 inch long ball chain and a 32 mm split ring to securely hold your keys.
The size of the oval is 1 3/8 inches high and 2 3/4 inches long.
Eagles are considered the "King of Birds", a common symbol in heraldry. The 'American Bald Eagle' is the national symbol of the United States and is only found in North America.
More special days set aside to recognize the birds we all enjoy. More about these 'days' coming soon.
- February is National Bird and Wild Bird Feeding Month
- Great Backyard Bird Count - February 17-20, 2017
- Homes for Birds Week - Second Week of February
- International Festival of Owls - March 3-5, 2017
- National Birding Day - April 1, 2017 (First Saturday of April)
- Draw a Picture of a Bird Day - April 8
- Audubon Day - April 26
- National Go Birding Day - April 29, 2017 (Last Saturday of April)
- Christmas Bird Count Week - December 14, 2017 - January 5, 2018 (Every Dec. 14 - Jan. 5)
A Bird Resource Book
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| Available on Amazon |
This book guide of the "Complete Birds of North America" is a terrific resource that covers every bird species found in North America as well as all the seasonal visitors.
The book provides information on more than 1,000 species, including hundreds of range and migration maps, identification information, and many illustrations by expert bird artists.
*Article written on National Bird Day January 5, 2017. (c) Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
