This year’s #NationalBirdDay 2026 theme, "A Bird in Flight is Poetry in Motion, embodies the sheer grace and elegance of the most fundamental behavior birds are best known for – to FLY.
This January 5th, as we observe the birds flying outside our windows, let's also reflect on those birds around the world who are captured in the wild or bred in captivity to fuel the international bird trade. Learn more: www.nationalbirdday.orgThis year’s #NationalBirdDay 2026 theme, "A Bird in Flight is Poetry in Motion, embodies the sheer grace and elegance of the most fundamental behavior birds are best known for – to FLY

But the sad fact is that many birds in captivity never get that chance. They go from being peddled behind bars in pet stores to homes where flight is often restricted or denied.

This January 5th, as we observe the birds flying outside our windows, let's also reflect on those birds around the world who are captured in the wild or bred in captivity to fuel the international bird trade. Learn more: www.nationalbirdday.org ... See MoreSee Less

National Bird Day on January 5 celebrates the beauty and importance of birds emphasizing the need to learn about, protect, and provide habitats for them. This date is significant as it marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox, with equal daylight and nighttime hours. Birds are a massive animal group under particular threat. The phrase “canary in the coal mine” was named after birds for a reason—they’re the barometers of our planet’s environmental health. The fact that so many bird species are under threat thanks to the illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss means it’s more important than ever to raise public awareness of the needs of birds. Learn more ways you can help captive birds at www.nationalbirdday.org . ... See MoreSee Less