Thankful for Our Birds

By Wild Birds Unlimited, Tampa

What did you do during the pandemic? 

This is a question we are likely to hear for decades, and each of us has our own unique answer as to how we endured the seemingly endless months of social isolation. 

Some became experts at baking sour dough bread, others binge-watched old movies, and of course, we all learned how to hold video calls with our friends and relatives. But if you are reading this article, the odds are that your backyard birds played a big role in your life during the pandemic. 

Feeling overwhelmed by the events of the past few years, many of us simply retreated to the comfort and serenity of our own backyards to regain a feeling of well-being and some semblance of control. 

It makes sense. Birds are like our own personal support group! Their behavior and beauty brings us joy when it can be hard to find elsewhere. They provide a much needed respite from daily monotony and a distraction from disturbing events. And they create moments of true excitement as the shifting seasons bring an ever-changing cast of characters. 

Maybe it's time to stop and truly say "thank you" to our birds. It's not hard, a few simple actions can truly help make the world a better place for birds, wildlife and people, too. 

An example of a simple action would be to use only shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee. Three-quarters of the world's coffee farms grow their plants in the direct sun, after clearing the forests that birds and other wildlife need for food and shelter. In contrast, shade-grown coffee farms preserve the forest canopy which helps more than 42 species of North American migratory songbirds survive the winter. 

Drinking coffee…what an easy and enjoyable way to say thank you to our birds!