Every February is National Bird Feeding Month, and it’s the perfect time for people to watch birds gathering around their backyard feeders. It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans put out food for their feathered friends each year. That’s approximately 1 out of every 3 American adults, putting out over 1 billion pounds of bird feed each year.

It’s a way for people to feel more connected to the natural world and a way for them to see some of the most beautiful birds in the world from the comfort of their homes. Every year, this month is observed with a special theme. For example, the theme in 2011 was “America’s Top 10 Backyard Birds.”

The History of National Bird Feeding Month

This month was created in 1994 after U.S. Congressman John Porter read a resolution into the Congressional Record, proclaiming the month of February as National Bird Feeding Month. It has been observed faithfully by bird lovers all over the U.S. ever since.

Some Amazing Facts About Birds

We’re big fans of birds, so we just couldn’t help ourselves from finding out everything we could about them. Some of these facts we’ve listed below for everyone’s enjoyment.

• The flamingo can only eat when its head is upside down.
• The most popular bird in the United Kingdom, at least according to a recent survey, was the robin.
• In the U.S., the bluebird and the bald eagle are often voted to be favorite birds.
• Bluebirds nest from March until August.
• The cardinal is also a popular bird in the U.S. It’s the state bird for seven U.S. states.
• There are 180 different species of woodpeckers around the world.
• There are seven kinds of chickadees in the world.
• Sparrows are the most common type of bird because they like living around people.
• The ostrich is the largest living bird in the world. It has a wingspan of up to 2 meters and a height of up to 2.7 meters.

Observing National Bird Feeding Month

During this month, people can set up a bird feeder in their backyard and watch the birds eat. Of course, we have to state that bird lovers should be responsible when they start feeding birds.

Once you start feeding birds, it should be continued. If the birds come to depend on the seed and it suddenly disappears, that can result in bird starvation — especially during the winter months.

After setting up a bird feeder, bird lovers are encouraged to snap a picture of the bird and post it on social media for all of us to enjoy. Every year, bird lovers all over the country post their pics on social media.