Bird Day

Bird Day is the name of several holidays celebrating birds. The first such holiday was established by Charles Almanzo Babcock, the Oil City superintendent of schools, in 1894.^[1]

Bird Day is a holiday established by Oil City, Pennsylvania school superintendent Charles Babcock in 1894.^[2] It was the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds.^[1] Babcock intended it to advance bird conservation as a moral value.^[3] It is celebrated on May 4 of every year.^[1]

International Migratory Bird Day

IMBDposter 2013

International Migratory Bird Day is a conservation initiative that brings awareness on conserving migratory birds and their habitats throughout the Western Hemisphere. This program is dedicated to international conservation efforts and environmental education in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Originated by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, it is now coordinated by Environment for the Americas.^[4]

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) officially takes place on the second Saturday in May in the U.S. and Canada and on the second Saturday of October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean each year. Recognizing that this date does not work well for all places or for the migratory birds themselves- sites host these programs at their convenience throughout the year.

This program engages the general public to care about maintaining healthy bird populations and protecting breeding, non-breeding, and stop over habitats used by migratory birds. International Migratory Bird Day programs often are informal science education or informal science learning activities such as bird walks, art competitions, nature based festivals, and presentations. These programs take place in a variety of settings such as zoos, aquariums, protected lands, biospheres, museums, and schools.

Every year International Migratory Bird Day has a new conservation theme with corresponding artwork, educational materials, and activities.

2013- Life Cycle of Migratory Birds, Artist Barry Kent MacKay

2012- Connecting People to Bird Conservation, Artist Rafael Lopez

2011- Go Wild Go Birding, Artist John Muir Laws

2010- Power of Partnerships, Artist Bob Petty 2009- Celebrate Birds In Culture, Artist Andy Everson

2008- Tundra to Tropics, Artist Eleazar Saenz

2007- Birds in a Changing Climate, Artist Louise Zemaitis

2006- The Boreal Forest, Artist Radeaux

2005- Collisions, Artist David Sibley

2004- Conserving Colonial Birds, Artist Ram Papish

2003- Catalysts for Conservation, Artist Gerald Sneed

2002- Exploring Habitats, Artist Charley Harper

2001- Taste of the Tropics, Artist Terry Issac

2000- Focus on the Falcon, Artist Roger Tory Peterson

Major Partners: U.S. Forest Service, Partners in Flight, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Nature Canada, Birds & Beans, Pepco Holdings, Get To Know, US Geological Society, Ornilux, Birdzilla, Optics for the Tropics, and Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds.

National Bird Day

Bird watching at Landsort, April 2009

National Bird Day is an annual holiday with half a million adherents who celebrate through birdwatching, studying birds, bird drinking games including 'bird date' and other bird-related activities.^[5] Bird adoption is a particularly important National Bird Day activity.^[6] According to the newspaper Atlanta Journal-Constitution, many bird enthusiasts celebrate by adopting birds^[6] and by educating future bird owners about the special issues involved with taking care of birds, including their "screaming, biting, constant cleanups, the need for daily interaction and a varied diet". National Bird Day takes place every year on January 5.^[7]

"Bird Day" in the United Kingdom

Since 1979, bird lovers in the United Kingdom have taken part in the annual Big Garden Birdwatch. In the annual event coordinated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, up to half a million people spend an hour counting birds. In 2009 the Big Garden Birdwatch was referred to as "Bird Day" the The Scotsman newspaper.^[8]

"Bird Day" in Pakistan as Panchi Mela™(c) Family Festival

Since 2013, bird lovers in Pakistan have taken part in the Avari Gardens. In the annual event coordinated by the Panchi Virsa.^[9]

World Migratory Bird Day

In 2006, the United Nations established the World Migratory Bird Day to be held on the second weekend of May every year.^[10]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bird watching.