In 2002, Born Free USA, in coordination with the Avian Welfare Coalition, founded National Bird Day to promote avian awareness. National Bird Day is celebrated each year on Jan. 5. It coincides with the annual Christmas Bird Count which runs three weeks and is the largest citizen science survey keeping track of America’s wild birds. There are 850 species that inhabit the United States.

According to Born Free USA, birders switch their focus to the care and wellbeing of the country’s millions of captive birds. This organization reports nearly 12 percent of the world’s almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction.

Some activities that avian admirers enjoy include birdwatching, studying bird identification, enhancing the attractiveness backyards by adding feeders and shelter, educating others about improving the survival of endangered birds or donating to a bird sanctuary. The National Audubon Society, founded by John James Audubon, has inspired people for more than 100 years to enjoy, appreciate and protect birds.

Birds need housing just like any other animal. The Garden Club of Alabama’s clubs promote building bird houses for shelter. The Red Bay Garden Club’s Project Birdhouse builds birdhouses for the Hoyt Keeton Walking Trail in Red Bay. The Cultura Garden Club has provided birdhouses for Russellville’s City Lake Park. It’s imperative to create birdhouses to make up for the loss of habitat they face every day.

Many people enjoy birds in their own backyards. Dianne Pace, an avid bird watcher and former member of Cultura, has presented many programs, pictures and paintings of various birds to clubs. Organizations including the Garden Club of Alabama and Northwest RC&D Council support the Alabama Birding Trails.

Birdwatchers can bring economic resources to remote communities by diversifying their economies and contributing to conservation in areas where birds live. In 2016, according to research, 45 million birders in the U.S. spent $41 billion on travel and equipment aimed at observing birds.

Alabama is known as a birding paradise with its forests, mountains, meadows, swamps and beaches. Several regions within the state offer professionally developed birding and walking trails, observation towers, visitor guides and maps. Just in North Alabama, some of these include Bankhead National Forest, DeSoto State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park, Hurricane Creek, Monte Sano State Park, Guntersville, Natchez Trace Parkway, the Rockpile near Wilson Dam, the TVA reservation and many more.

So whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or simply enjoy the delightful sounds of birdsong on a quiet morning, every day is an im-peck-able day for you to play a part in safeguarding these remarkable beings and the environments they inhabit.