FEBRUARY is NATIONAL BIRD FEEDING MONTH

The Wild Bird Habitat Stores

Nebraska's Backyard Bird Feeding Centers

Connecting families with nature, right in their own backyards

wildbirdhabitatstore.com

Great Backyard Bird Count details below

February is

National Bird Feeding Month

This is a winter that makes us aware of why February was selected as National Bird Feeding Month. We have feet of snow on the ground in many areas of the country. In my hometown of Lincoln, NE, the high temperature on Sunday is going to be -4 degrees. Tuesday's low temperature is forecast to be -22 degrees with a winchill down to -40 degrees. Winter in the Great Plains is harsh and its a wonder birds can survive such cold.

From the U.S. Congressional Record

February 23, 1994

National Bird Feeding Month

Proclaimed by the Honorable. JOHN EDWARD PORTER of Illinois

in the U.S. House of Representatives

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize February, one of the most difficult months in the United States for wild birds, as National Bird Feeding Month. During this month, individuals are encouraged to provide food, water, and shelter to help wild birds survive. This assistance benefits the environment by supplementing wild bird's natural diet of weed seeds and insects. Currently, one third of the U.S. adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, backyard bird feeding is an entertaining, educational, and inexpensive pastime enjoyed by children and adults. Bird feeding provides a needed break from today's frantic lifestyles. Adults enjoy the relaxation and peacefulness afforded by watching birds -- nature serves to relieve the stress and can get one's day going on a tranquil note.

Young children are naturally drawn to the activities involved in feeding wild birds, which can serve as excellent educational tools. Children can identify different species of birds with a field guide and can learn about the birds' feeding and living habits. These observations can then provide excellent research opportunities for school projects and reports.

Feeding wild birds in the backyard is an easy hobby to start and need not overtax the family budget. It can be as simple as mounting a single feeder outside a window and filling it with bird seed mix. For many people, the hobby progresses from there. They discover the relationship between the type and location of feeders, and the seeds offered in them, and the number and varieties of birds attracted. Parents can challenge an inquisitive child's mind as they explore together these factors in trying to encourage visits by their favorite birds." Consider this:

A typical backyard bird doesn't weigh as much as two nickels.
Birds spend most of their waking hours searching for food -- without the help of "hands" and "fingers."
They may consume 15% of their body weight overnight just keeping warm enough to survive.
Like mail carriers, they're outside in sleet, snow, wind and cold.

ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION

Feeding backyard songbirds is the most popular wildlife-related recreational activity around the home. A stress-free activity, it brings a welcome flash of color, dash of motion and splash of sound into the backyard, particularly during gloomy northern winters.

The resolution noted that one-third of the adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards. Providing food, water and shelter helps birds survive, benefits the environment and supplements wild birds' natural diet of weed seeds and harmful insects.

Backyard bird feeding is an entertaining, educational and inexpensive pastime that can be enjoyed by children and adults. It provides a needed break from today's frantic lifestyles that pull families apart.

Feeding wild birds in the backyard is an easy hobby to start, and can be as simple as mounting a single feeder outside a window and filling it with a good-quality bird seed mix or just straight black oil sunflower seed. This feeder can be a hopper, platform or tubular variety, or one that sticks to the window.

For many people, the hobby progresses from there. They discover the relationship between the type and location of feeders, and the seed offered in them, and the number and varieties of birds attracted.

If you offer water, particularly if it's dripping or running, you may attract birds that do not visit the feeders. Many interesting and eye-catching species are not seedeaters, preferring insects or berries to seeds. Adding a bird bath warmer to keep the water from freezing in northern states during winter creates an oasis for bird watching.

To round out the family's backyard birding program, birdhouses can be purchased or constructed. Also known as nest boxes, these can provide shelter in winter and breeding sanctuaries during spring for cavity-nesting birds.

The Wild Bird Habitat Stores encourages people to make winter a little easier for wild birds by providing food, water and shelter.

Just feed the birds.

It makes a world of difference!

BIRDS IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES

Help the Birds Even More - become a citizen scientist and be the eyes for our biologists by counting and reporting the birds you see across North America. Join in on the Great Backyard Bird Count

THE COUNT HAS BEGUN!

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

February 12 - 15, 2021

It's FUN - It's EASY - It's FREE - It's FOR THE BIRDS

More details below & in February's Newsletter

Also bird count events at Spring Creek Prairie

Details below

23rd Annual

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

February 12 to 15, 2021

Open to ALL ages & levels of birding experience

Become a citizen scientist and help biologists track bird populations during the winter months. Yes! This four day count, February 12 to 15, 2021 will help to collect data on bird movements and be combined with the Christmas Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch data. The information will help to track bird patterns and discover new questions and insights.

It's FUN - It's EASY - It's FREE - It's FOR THE BIRDS

The Great Backyard Bird Count” is a terrific way for individuals, families, schools, and community groups to contribute to a better understanding of birds. In return, you will learn more about birds in the process. It’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable and rewarding way to spend a little time enjoying nature and counting birds on a winter day.

Get counting now for the Great Backyard Bird Count at

BIRDCOUNT.ORG

The Wild Bird Habitat Store's

Useful Tips for the Great Backyard Bird Count

Includes links to FREE BIRD IS APPS from the

CORNELL BIRD LAB

Beginning Friday, February 12th, login to birdcount.org and watch in real-time the data submitted from any city, county, state, or province across North America. See what birds are being counted. How many checklists is your community submitting. And so much more. Its a fun way to spend a cold winter weekend.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT EVENTS

Audubon Spring Creek Prairie

Take a 'VIRTUAL BIRD WALK' at Audubon Spring Creek Prairie during the Great Backyard Bird Count with Jason - The Bird Nerd

Saturday, February 13, 2021 FREE

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Central Time

A free, virtual bird walk will be broadcast on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 10:00 am. Join Jason "The Bird Nerd" on Facebook Live as he walks around the prairie trails looking for our winter birds. No registration is needed, just connect with Spring Creek Prairie's Facebook page at 10 am to take part.

Great Backyard Bird Count -

BIRDS 'N' BREWS: Little Brown "Birbs"

Audubon Spring Creek Prairie

Monday, February 15, 2021

7:00pm - 8:00pm Central

Join Jason “The Birdnerd” on Monday, Feb. 15, for

BIRDS & BREWS, a virtual version of our latest Birds & Brews event during the Great Backyard Bird Count. The presentation will go over a menu of brews for purchase. Support local breweries and enjoy a program to help you learn about and identify all those little brown "birbs".

$5 prepayment is required; REGISTER HERE to receive ZOOM link.