If you walk into a pet store on September 17th, you may be confused as to what all the fuss and feathers is about. The Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition (grammatically incorrect, yes, but it does manage to spell “BEAK”) founded National Pet Bird Day in 2019, and it’s always held on September 17th every year. Veterinarians, pet stores, and bird enthusiasts may commemorate the day by holding special events or posting on social media. This holiday is a chance to celebrate the pet birds that bring us joy and educate the public about the perks and responsibilities of bird ownership.1
What Is National Pet Bird Day?
People have owned and trained pet birds for thousands of years. From the Ancient Egyptians to the English nobles, exotic birds such as parrots and parakeets were often status symbols of wealth and have even entertained royal courts. It wasn’t until 2019, however, that there was an acknowledged day of the year to commemorate these special pets. The holiday always falls on September 17th, so the day of the week rotates.
National Pet Bird Day isn’t to be confused with National Bird Day, which is on January 5th. This holiday focuses on our beaked friends who live outside and raises awareness of how they may become endangered due to human activity.
The 4 Ways You Can Celebrate National Pet Bird Day
If you own a pet bird, you might spoil your bird with new toys, an outing, extra treats, or time spent out of their cage. If you don’t own a pet, now is a great time to visit your local pet store and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to care for these amazing creatures. Here are some other ways to celebrate.
1. Give to an exotic bird rescue.
Show your support for homeless birds by pitching two pence in the donation bag. If it’s a local rescue, you might ask if you can volunteer. This can be a great way to spend time around exotic birds and test how well you’d like to care for one of your own if you’re interested.
Tell Polly to strike a pose for your camera and feature her on Instagram. You might consider starting a local bird enthusiasts club on social media. Out of caution, never post any personal information such as your address online. Unfortunately, thieves target exotic birds because they’re often expensive. Plus, they figure that whoever owns them probably has some nice stuff.
3. Take the myBird quiz.
The same foundation that started National Pet Bird Day created an online quiz to match you with the perfect pet.
4. Have a special day with your bird.
New toys, homemade snacks, and time spent with you outside of their cage are certain ways to delight your feathered friend. After all, they’re what the day is all about.
Conclusion
National Pet Bird Day is the perfect occasion to dote on the birds we already have, as well as gather information on how to care for them better. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet bird for a while, September 17th is the ideal day to seal the deal. If bird parenting isn’t for you (or at least not right now), you can always visit your local pet store or animal rescue to admire these winged creatures. Ask if you can donate or volunteer if you’d like to get involved.
Featured Image Credit: Pawle, Shutterstock
