Bird Day Holidays
About Three Different Bird Days
Date When Celebrated: This holiday is observed on the first Friday the 13th of the Year
Backyard bird enthusiasts and people in general love birds. Bird watching is one of the world’s most popular hobbies. Unsurprisingly, there are three holidays to celebrate and enjoy with our Avian friends. They are Bird Day, National Bird Day, and International Migratory Bird Day. We hope you plan on enjoying them all. We know we will!
People love them. Bird watching is a favorite pastime of millions of people. It is the most popular of hobbies that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Along with this popularity, it comes as no surprise that there is more than one day established to recognize, appreciate, and enjoy them. We suggest you celebrate all of these days.
Movie of the Day: The Birds, by Edgar Allan Poe
Now, let’s help to remove some of the confusion around these three distinctly different days:
Bird Day is the Oldest Avian Holiday
This holiday is always observed on May 4.
It is the oldest of the days set aside to recognize our avian friends. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, this day was first observed on May 4, 1894. Charles Almanzo Babcock, superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania started this holiday in 1910. This holiday is widely celebrated, often in conjunction with Arbor Day. Activities and events for both of these holidays focus on conservation training and awareness.
National Bird Day
This National Bird Day holiday is always celebrated on January 5.
Bird activists created this special holiday. It calls upon people to recognize the plight of captive birds. It also draws attention to their exploitation in the U.S. pet industry. On this day, organizers suggest we reflect upon the living conditions when they are held in captivity.
Note: Our research did not find any documentation that this is a true “National” day, which requires an act of congress or a presidential proclamation.
International Migratory Bird Day
Celebrate this holiday on the second Saturday in May.
Many of our feathery friends migrate each year. They can travel thousands of miles each spring and fall, to avoid cold and snowy winter weather. This holiday celebrates the incredible journey that many species take each year. They travel thousands of miles between breeding grounds in North America and their winter homes in Central and South America. Organizers say this is a day to both support and increase awareness of conservation efforts in support of migratory birds. They also suggest a field trip into the woods to look for and enjoy migrating birds.
Related Holidays
How to Celebrate the Avian Holidays
- Spend the day birdwatching.
- Read a book about them.
- Watch a movie about them.
- Take pictures of your feathery backyard friends.
Today's Quote
“What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.” – – Ellen Glasgow
More About Today
Bird’s ‘N Gardens – Grow plants to attract birds into your yard.
State Birds – Find yours
What happened on this Day? This Day in History
Recipe of the Day: Coconut Macroons
Flower of the Day: Gayfeather
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Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Many of these holidays are new, too. People and organizations are creating new holidays on a regular basis. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.