National Bird Day 2012 Is Taking Wing!

Following are a few of the special events in the works for National Bird Day on Jan. 5, 2012. Bookmark this page to check periodically for updates, and please let us know about special events you have planned for National Bird Day!

National/International (2012)

Enter Our Inaugural Free Bird Photo Contest!

In collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the DVD/Blu-ray release of its comedy about birding, "The Big Year," we have hatched a Free Bird Photo Contest! E-mail a picture you have taken of a bird in the wild by the end of the day Jan. 31, 2012, and you will be eligible for the top prize: a new pair of powerful binoculars and a bird feeder made out of recycled materials. The top 20 entries each will receive a DVD or Blu-ray copy of "The Big Year," which stars Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. See the contest rules and prize details.

National Bird Day Wins a Congressional Honor

We have yet another reason to celebrate on behalf of our feathered friends! Born Free USA has achieved an official proclamation of support for National Bird Day from Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Illinois)! Quigley read the Born Free USA National Bird Day resolution into the Congressional Record (the official record of debates, proceedings and activities of Congress) on Dec. 12, 2011.

Massachusetts (2012)

In Rockland, Foster Parrots/The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary will be hosting a National Bird Day color and essay contest for children in first through sixth grade. On the back of parrot color pictures, children will be asked to pretend they are a parrot and explain why flying free is important!

The coloring contest will be on display at Foster Parrot's Adoption Day tables as well as local grade schools and the local Roots & Shoots group. All entries will be on display at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary and will be featured on the Foster Parrots website.

Two grand prize winners will be drawn from two age groups (first through third grades, and fourth through sixth grades). The winners will receive a children's parrot book library featuring "Lucky," "Always Blue for Chicu" and "Here There and Everywhere."

For more information, e-mail Karen Windsor of Foster Parrots.

New York (2012)

In Jamaica Bay, a bird-watching tour at the Jamacia Bay Wildlife Refuge, with world-renowned birding expert Kevin Vang of Bird Explorers. Check back for date and time. For more information, e-mail Denise Kelly of the Avian Welfare Coalition.

In New York on Jan. 4, 2012, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals will team up with the Avian Welfare Coalition to present "The Basics of Caring for Exotic Birds in the Shelter," a hands-on workshop especially designed to help shelters gain the knowledge and skills to provide for the specialized care and placement of exotic birds in a shelter setting.

This workshop, developed as part of the Avian Welfare Coalition's Shelter Outreach Program, covers the special housing, dietary, veterinary, behavioral and placement needs of birds within a shelter setting, and offers guidelines for dealing with abuse, neglect, hoarding or cruelty situations involving exotic birds.

In celebration of National Bird Day, copies of "Captive Exotic Bird Care: A Guide for Shelters" will be available for purchase at the special price of $20. A joint project of the Avian Welfare Coalition, Born Free USA and the ASPCA, this guidebook is the only publication of its kind and a valuable resource for shelters!

For more information, e-mail Denise Kelly of the Avian Welfare Coalition.

Wisconsin (2012)

In Madison, the Dane County Humane Society has posted National Bird Day posters at all of its adoption centers and will be featuring rescued birds in need of care on its televised "Pet of the Week" spots and Facebook pages and will solicit bird care donation items to help care exotic birds that come into its shelter.

National Bird Day 2011 Soared!

Bird-lovers in communities throughout the country celebrated National Bird Day in a variety of ways.

National/International (2011)

Honduras Macaws Received an Assist

Scarlet macaws once flew over much of Central America. Today, fewer than 200 remain in Central America, and that population is under constant and sustained threat from deforestation and poaching.

Born Free USA is supporting a new project to monitor nests and to combat poaching and other threats to a population of macaws in Honduras. Born Free USA already has provided the seed money to send biologists back into the field in January 2011 and will work to raise additional funds to purchase supplies and the needed military security to keep the project going. Find out more in Born Free USA's Global Field Projects.

Birders of the World Unite

In celebration of National Bird Day, the Birder's Network selected Jan. 5, 2011, for the "grand opening" of its website.

The Birder's Network promotes bird-watching and appreciation for birds in the wild by creating a forum to bring beginners and experts together, share information and connect with birders around the world.

California (2011)

Students Bring Cranes into the Fold

Public relations students at California State University, Sacramento teamed up with Born Free USA to help promote National Bird Day in Sacramento. The students folded large origami cranes that were be decorated by second- and third-grade students at the Courtyard Private School in Sacramento. In addition, teachers read "Lucky" to their students to help send the message that wildlife belong in the wild.

When It Comes to Birds, BAEER's with Us

Born Free USA hosted a booth at the Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair (BAEER) Fair featuring "Lucky" and the associated lesson plan aimed at bringing humane education and environmental education together with Born Free USA's Keep Wildlife in the Wild® message.

The event was specially designed for teachers, community educators, students, families and all concerned about the environment we share.

New York (2011)

A 'Wonderland' of Adoption and Education

The Avian Welfare Coalition hosted a table featuring National Bird Day at "Whiskers in Wonderland," a holiday adoption and education event presented by Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and Best Friends Animal Society.

Learning About Birds Is Elementary

On January 5, 2011, Kerulos and the Avian Welfare Coalition once again celebrated National Bird Day with the children of New York.

Rhame Avenue joined Centre Avenue Elementary School in an art exhibition dedicated to the memory of East Rockaway's former mayor Ed Sieban. Under the guidance and supervision of Centre Avenue art teacher Beth Brody, kindergartners painted birdhouses while first-graders made cloth stuffed birds. Second-graders made prints of birds on colorful watercolor paper, and third-graders created bird collages. James Audubon-style bird drawings with color pencils were the task of fourth-graders, while fifth-graders designed highly stylized birds using color markers. Sixth-graders crafted aluminum-embossed bird ornaments. All art was displayed at the public library and town hall.

Virginia (2011)

Good Things Take Flight in Charlottesville

The mayor of Charlottesville, Va., Dave Norris, issued a National Bird Day proclamation for The Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary and Matt Smith, executive director of the sanctuary, planned to be a guest on the mayor's weekly radio program during the week of NBD along with other events.

Some Time Booked for Birds at the Richmond East End Library

The Richmond Public Library's East End branch, at 2414 R St., hosted a special National Bird Day talk on the birds of Virginia. The event included bird arts and crafts.

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