Alongside the cold and damp weather, January brings one of the most important dates on the calendar for bird lovers.
The 5th of the month has been designated National Bird Day, but what are the origins of this annual celebration of all things avian?
In actual fact, National Bird Day does not go back all that far. It was first launched in 2002, and the organisation behind it is the Avian Welfare Coalition. That name gives some hint as to what the idea behind the day is; namely, to get people more engaged with the plight of endangered bird species.
This is a very real problem. Indeed, many of our popular garden birds in the UK are among those whose numbers are seriously threatened. That includes beloved birds such as the robin and the chaffinch. Major reasons for it include the loss of their natural habitats, due to issues like changes in climate.
It means that putting bird feeders in your garden to attract them is more than just a pleasant pastime; it is actually helping to preserve them as part of the country’s wildlife. Birds can be beautiful to look at and peaceful to listen to, but they also play a very part in the ecosystem. To give just a single example, woodpeckers create holes that other animals use to make their homes.
National Bird Day aims to bring awareness to the struggle of our beloved garden visitors – so, if you are able to this winter, try putting out bird tables and feeders in your outdoor space, to help keep our bird population thriving.
