National Pet Bird Day 2023: Date, History, Celebrations

National Pet Bird Day is on September 17, so preen your plumage and warm up your singing voice! It is an opportunity to recognise and commemorate the joy that being a bird parent can bring. Every year, National Pet Bird Day is sponsored by the Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition (yes, that’s how you pronounce it!). The organisation promotes safe, enjoyable, and responsible avian ownership and provides advice and resources to help you find your feathered soulmate. They have compiled a plethora of fantastic resources for the bird lover in all of us, including a wealth of information about birds and companion bird care, as well as possibly the cutest internet quiz ever.

According to the American Pet Products Association, nearly six million American households own birds, and in each, the bird is a member of the family. In fact, approximately 14% of bird parents will travel with their animals. And bird ownership is dispersed across the majority of generations. Surprisingly, 36% of Millennials are the most apt to own birds, followed by 26% and 24% of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, respectively. When asked why they possessed a bird, 64% responded that they were entertaining to observe and have in the home. We believe this is the most compelling reason to adopt a bird and bring it home on National Pet Bird Day.

The background of National Pet Bird Day

Birds have been kept as companions for nearly 4,000 years. Ancient Sumerians, who spoke the oldest known written language, had a word for birdcage, and we know that ancient mariners used companion birds to help them discover land (if the bird spotted land, it would fly away; otherwise, it would stay with the boat). Pliny the Elder wrote that ancient Romans kept birds as pets, and some of Alexander the Great’s generals carried birds back from their conquests in India in the fourth century BCE.

During the early centuries of the last millennium, pet ownership became prevalent in the royal courts of Europe. In the 1340s, the renowned canary was introduced to the regal court in Portugal, and by the end of the 15th century, they had gained widespread popularity. As new global trade routes were discovered, animals from all over the world, including the newly discovered Americas, were brought to Europe and adorned the palaces of some of the continent’s most renowned monarchs.

Today, nearly 6 million American households have pet birds, and there has never been a better opportunity to share the many ways in which pet birds enrich our lives. Bird ownership has been cited as an excellent form of companionship by 49% of Americans, as a tension reliever by 44% of Americans, and as beneficial to one’s health by 25% of Americans. These statistics demonstrate what humans have known for millennia: keeping birds as pets can demonstrably enhance your quality of life.

National Pet Bird Day celebrations

Spoil your companion bird a little bit.

You may wish to provide them with additional treats or a new pastime. Perhaps they get a little more time outside of the cage to wander or even just a few extra caresses. There is no wrong way to spoil your pet bird, but National Parrot Day is the ideal time to do so.

Donate your affection to others.

There are numerous ways to express how much you enjoy caring for a companion bird. Share images or videos on social media, discuss your personal experience raising a pet avian, or donate to your local bird store or rescue.

Consider being a parent of a pet avian

If you have been contemplating bringing a pet bird into your home, today is the ideal time to learn a bit more about the ideal bird for your lifestyle and perhaps even begin the process of acquiring a feathered companion. What better way to commemorate National Pet avian Day than by adopting an avian on this day?