February is National Bird Feeding Month in the United States. This celebratory month was created to educate the public on the wild bird feeding and watching hobby.
In January 1994, Illinois 10th District Congressman John Porter read a resolution in the Congressional Record making February National Bird Feeding Month. The observance was established because it’s one of the most difficult months in most of the U.S. for birds to survive in the wild. Over the years, this celebratory time period has evolved and many organizations take this opportunity to publicize wild bird feeding. If you already feed birds or are an avid bird watcher, now is a great time to teach a friend, a child or a neighbor the benefits of feeding our feathered friends.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Purchase a bird feeder or make your own.
- The ideal bird feeder is strong enough to withstand the weather elements, constructed to keep the seeds dry and easy to fill and clean.
- Choose your bird food.
- Place your bird feeder and position your feeder in a quiet area were they are easy to see and convenient to refill.
Bird feeding is a particularly satisfying hobby for the backyard bird enthusiast or beginner. A feeder draws birds into the open and nearer to the house, where they can be observed easily. Feeders should be placed close enough to shrubs to afford some protection.