January 5
National Bird Day
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013
Why National Bird Day?
- The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration.
- Today, nearly 12 percent of the world's 9,800 bird species may
face extinction within the next century, including nearly one-third of
the world's 330 parrot species.
- Birds are sentinel species whose plight serves as barometer of
ecosystem health and alert system for detecting global environmental
ills.
- Many of the world's parrots and songbirds are threatened with
extinction due to pressures from the illegal pet trade, disease, and
habitat loss.
- Public awareness and education about the physical and behavioral
needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of the millions of
birds kept in captivity.
- The survival and well-being of the world's birds depends upon public education and support for conservation.
Bird Day is a holiday established by Oil City, Pennsylvania school superintendent Charles Babcock in 1894. It was the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds.Babcock intended it to advance bird conservation as a moral value. It is celebrated on May 4 of every year.
ReplyDeleteNational Bird Day is an annual holiday with half a million adherents who celebrate through birdwatching, studying birds, bird drinking games including 'bird date' and other bird-related activities. Bird adoption is a particularly important National Bird Day activity.
According to the newspaper Atlanta Journal Constitution, many bird enthusiasts celebrate by adopting birds and by educating future bird owners about the special issues involved with taking care of birds, including their "screaming, biting, constant cleanups, the need for daily interaction and a varied diet". National Bird Day takes place every year on the fifth day of the first month.
This day is also known by First Woman Governor Inauguration. In 1925 inauguration of Nellie Ross as Wyoming's Governor occurred.
ReplyDeleteNellie Tayloe Ross never intended to have a political career. She believed that women belonged at home and was content there until her husband's death thrust her into politics. Her election was probably attributable to public sympathy generated by her husband's death. She was the first of many women elected to fill out their husbands' unexpired terms in office.
As the nation's first woman governor, she did not have a tremendous impact. Although she was probably an average governor, she achieved few of her goals because of Republican control of the legislature. Her defeat for reelection was probably the result of being a Democrat in a predominantly Republican state.
After her defeat, she focused her attention on other political matters by becoming active in the Democratic National Committee and appearing as a popular and effective speaker. Her loyalty and support for Franklin D. Roosevelt led him to consider her for several offices before appointing her the first woman director of the United State Mint. She administered the Mint economically and efficiently for almost twenty years. Although she was not the most visible woman in the New Deal, Ross was one of the most durable and effective.