National Bird Day, celebrated on January 5th, is a campaign led by the Avian Welfare Coalition to raise awareness about the welfare and conservation of birds, particularly those impacted by the pet trade. Each year, millions of birds are captured from the wild or bred in captivity to be sold for human entertainment, often ending up in conditions that fail to meet their natural needs. Unlike domesticated animals, even captive-bred exotic birds retain their wild instincts, requiring space to fly and socialize—basic needs that cannot be met in a typical cage.
When deprived of their natural behaviors, captive birds frequently suffer from distress and develop destructive habits, such as feather plucking, excessive vocalization, or self-harm. Despite these challenges, the pet trade continues to treat birds as merchandise, leading to thousands of birds being abandoned, neglected, or given up to overcrowded sanctuaries that struggle to provide proper care.
Why Celebrate National Bird Day?
National Bird Day encourages supporters to raise awareness and support bird welfare using hashtags like #NationalBirdDay, #CancelCages, and #MoreBeautifulWild on social media. By highlighting the need for improved care and reducing demand for pet birds, National Bird Day promotes a compassionate approach to bird welfare, advocating that birds belong in their natural habitats, where they can thrive as they were meant to: free and wild.
Birds contribute to the health of ecosystems in numerous ways. From pollination to seed dispersal, their presence helps maintain biodiversity. National Bird Day encourages everyone to support these natural processes by learning about birds and taking steps to preserve their environments.
History of National Bird Day
National Bird Day, established by the Avian Welfare Coalition in 2002, aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by captive birds. The day falls within the same week as the annual Christmas Bird Count, a citizen science project tracking bird populations across North America, emphasizing the need to protect wild bird species and reconsider the treatment of birds in captivity.
From its beginnings, National Bird Day has highlighted the ethical issues surrounding bird ownership. Many pet birds are captured from the wild, contributing to population declines among certain species, while those in captivity often experience significant health and emotional challenges. This day encourages support for bird-friendly policies and thoughtful treatment of birds, both wild and captive.
When is National Bird Day Celebrated?
National Bird Day, celebrated on January 5, is a time to appreciate the beauty and diversity of bird species, understand their ecological importance, and take action to protect their futures. Whether it’s watching birds in your backyard or supporting global conservation efforts, there are many ways to celebrate and protect our feathered friends.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | January 5, Friday |
| 2025 | January 5, Sunday |
| 2026 | January 5, Monday |
| 2027 | January 5, Tuesday |
| 2028 | January 5, Wednesday |
| 2029 | January 5, Friday |
| 2030 | January 5, Saturday |
Fun Facts About Birds
There’s more to birds than their songs and feathers. Here are some interesting bird facts to consider on National Bird Day:
- Longest migration: The Arctic Tern holds the record for the longest migration, flying from the Arctic to Antarctica, covering up to 44,000 miles annually.
- Largest bird: The ostrich is the largest living bird, standing up to 9 feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds.
- Fastest bird: The peregrine falcon can dive at speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal in the world.
- Birds and dinosaurs: Birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs, sharing a common ancestry with theropods like the Velociraptor.
Ways to Celebrate National Bird Day
There are plenty of ways to celebrate National Bird Day while also supporting bird conservation efforts:
- Visit a local bird sanctuary: Spend the day learning about different bird species and the conservation efforts in place to protect them.
- Create a bird-friendly backyard: Add bird feeders, plant native shrubs, and put up birdhouses to make your outdoor space a haven for local birds.
- Support bird conservation organizations: Consider donating to groups dedicated to preserving bird habitats and fighting against the illegal bird trade.
- Adopt a bird ethically: If you’re considering adding a pet bird to your family, ensure you adopt from ethical, bird-friendly organizations.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
