Celebrate National Bird Feeding Month in February

Cupid isn’t the only winged object that people need to watch out for this month. In 1994, the United States Congress proclaimed February to be National Bird Feeding Month.

Backyard bird feeding is enjoyed by over 41 million North Americans. And while February is National Wild Bird Feeding Month, with the right provisions, people can enjoy a wide variety of backyard birds all year long.

The Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, also occurs this month. 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 web site. This data helps define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs.

The count is fun, easy and educational. It’s also a terrific way for Cornell and Audubon to learn more about the abundance and distribution of bird species.

The average backyard is visited regularly by 15 or more different bird species. People can increase the variety of birds that visit their backyards by providing the appropriate food in the right location.

There are three common backyard bird feeding categories: ground-feeding, elevated feeding and a combination of both. For example, goldfinches prefer to eat Nyjer® (thistle seed) from a tube feeder, whereas doves generally eat millet on the ground.

Stop by the store and let us show you how you can attract feathered friends to your backyard!