Celebrate National Bird Feeding Month in February

Posted: Jan 30, 2012 3:18 PM by Melissa Canone

In 1993, the United States Congress proclaimed February to be National Bird Feeding Month. More than 53 million North Americans currently participate in the hobby of backyard bird feeding, and this month offers a variety of activities for them to enjoy, including the Great Backyard Bird Count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada and the National Audubon Society, takes place February 17 - 20. Individuals, families, schools and organizations are invited to count birds at bird feeders and in backyards, local parks or other locations. Those tallies are then reported online through the BirdSource . These data help define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs.

"The count is fun, easy and educational," said Rose Must, owner of the Lafayette Wild Birds Unlimited. "It's also a terrific way for Cornell, Bird Studies Canada and Audubon to learn more about the abundance and distribution of bird species."

The average backyard is visited regularly by 15 or more bird species. People can increase the variety of birds that visit their backyards by providing the appropriate food in the right location. There are two common backyard bird feeding categories: ground-feeding and elevated feeding. For example, goldfinches prefer to eat Nyjer® (thistle seed) from a tube feeder, whereas doves generally eat millet on the ground.