While birds may lack the mammalian charisma of dogs and cats, they are fascinating creatures in their own right. Birds are ubiquitous today, but their history as the most direct living descendants of the dinosaurs sets them apart as one of nature's most powerful success stories. For the past decade, Bird Day has been celebrated on January 5th to bring awareness to bird conservation and to commemorate Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, one of the longest running citizen science efforts to date. Here are a few of the most important points to remember on this year's National Bird Day:

1. United States Environmental Legislation Initially Covered Birds

In the early days of conservation, the intent behind enacting laws to protect species was not to preserve biodiversity but to prevent valuable game animals from being eliminated from the landscape. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was enacted to ensure that migratory birds would not be killed, captured, or transported without authorization from the government. This groundbreaking piece of legislation paved the way for the Endangered Species Act, which is currently the most comprehensive piece of legislation for conservation in the United States.

2. Citizen Science Began with Birds

Citizen science is a research method that depends on the contributions of non-scientists to gather data that would otherwise be inaccessible to researchers. Because birds are relatively easy to spot, and because they often serve important ecological roles, the first citizen science efforts focused on conducting bird counts across various geographic regions. Though the first citizen science projects met with various challenges, later efforts honed it into a clearly defined process.

3. Birds Are Essential for Biodiversity

In their natural environments, birds often fill critical roles, such as creating habitats for other species to share, eliminating parasites, and consuming large quantities of insects. By limiting certain species and allowing others to flourish, birds increase the biodiversity of the earth. Unfortunately, the effects of human development have been catastrophic for many avian species. Pollution, unregulated hunting, and the unnatural presence of domestic cats have all been causes of widespread decline.

4. Pet Bird Maltreatment Is Rampant

Ethically purchasing a pet bird can be tricky. No avian species have been domesticated in the way cats and dogs have, so birds are typically uncomfortable in confined spaces to the extent that they exhibit neurotic behavior. Since many pets are bred in poor conditions or taken directly from the wild, the pet trade is often immoral and unsustainable. If you are interested in having a bird at home, adopting a bird instead of buying one from a breeder or pet store can help to ease the pressure on wild populations.

5. Avian Species Are Indicators of the Planet's Health

The overall health of the planet is largely reflected by the prevalence and diversity of bird species. This is because these species are among the most susceptible to airborne pollutants, plastic waste, and toxic chemicals. By keeping bird populations healthy and thriving, it may be possible to save many other forms of life. On the other hand, rapidly declining populations are a sure sign of trouble to come.

In the same way that conservation is not just important on Earth Day, public awareness of the global importance of birds is not just important on National Bird Day. If you have adopted a pet bird, try to do everything you can to make your pet's life as comfortable as possible. This means providing appropriate medication, diet, exercise, and stimulation. If you live in Honolulu and are looking for quality veterinary care for your bird, consider visiting one of Pet Hospitals of Hawaii's three locations.