National Bird Day: How to Help Our Fine Feathered Friends

Each year, three national days are set aside to celebrate birds, but January 5 — National Bird Day — remains the oldest and most deeply rooted in conservation. Since its launch in 2003 by the Avian Welfare Coalition, the day has grown into a global call to action, inspiring bird lovers through social media, smartphone apps, and local events that focus on education, ethical care, and wildlife protection.

While birdwatching has soared in popularity thanks to technology and citizen science, the state of bird populations worldwide remains fragile. According to the 2024 Red List from BirdLife International, 1 in 8 bird species is now at risk of extinction. That includes over 40% of all parrot species, many of which are still targeted by traffickers despite international protections. Some trade has moved to encrypted online marketplaces, complicating law enforcement efforts.

Still, there’s reason for hope. In Central America, wild scarlet macaw populations have rebounded to about 2,000 individuals thanks to reintroduction programs in Costa Rica and the dedication of local communities. These groups patrol forests, protect nests, and work with conservationists to ensure that the birds are safe from poachers and smugglers.

In the U.S. and Canada, bird diversity remains high — with over 1,025 species recorded, according to 2024 data from eBird, a global bird monitoring platform. Globally, more than 10,500 species are known to science, though that number may continue to change as habitat loss, climate shifts, and disease threaten birds across continents.

Among the newer threats: wind turbine collisions and light pollution, which can disorient birds during migration. The avian flu outbreak from 2022 to 2024 also left a mark, killing an estimated 15 million wild birds in North America. Meanwhile, AI-driven smuggling networks have emerged, with traffickers using crypto payments and encrypted apps to move parrots and songbirds across borders.

But technology is also fighting back. Facial-recognition cameras at international ports now help officials identify and seize smuggled birds — with some regions reporting a 60% rise in successful parrot recoveries. And bird lovers everywhere can help by taking simple steps at home or online.

Here are five powerful ways to make a difference this National Bird Day:

1. Become a citizen scientist. Use the free Merlin Bird ID app to identify birds by sound or photo, or submit your sightings to eBird to help scientists track bird populations.
2. Make your yard bird-friendly. Plant only native species (find your region’s plants at the Audubon Native Plant Database). Add a solar-powered birdbath with a gentle dripper — birds can hear moving water from a quarter mile away. Prevent window strikes by installing collision decals; glass kills 1 billion birds a year in the U.S. alone.
3. Rescue, don’t buy. Want a companion parrot? Adopt from rescues like Parrot Hope Rescue or Foster Parrots. Ask about DNA sexing and microchipping, both now standard for safe, ethical adoption.
4. Support anti-poaching technology. A $5 donation to Rainforest Trust helps fund bioacoustic sensors that detect illegal logging in real time, alerting rangers to chainsaws and other threats to bird habitats.
5. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count. From February 14–17, 2025, bird lovers worldwide will log their sightings via an app. Last year, 500,000 participants submitted over 1.2 million checklists, helping track migration and population health.

As bird populations face increasing pressure, National Bird Day is more than just a celebration — it’s a call to action. Whether you’re planting native shrubs, logging sightings from your porch, or joining a virtual bird count, every small effort adds up to protect the vibrant, essential lives of birds across the globe.

“Birds are indicators of the health of our environment,” says Dr. Chris Sheppard, bird trade specialist with the Wildlife Conservation Society. “When we protect birds, we protect ourselves.”

This January 5, honor our feathered neighbors — and help ensure they’re here for generations to come.