To Save Wild Birds, Eat More Plants
Published by MinnPost
It wasn’t until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that I developed an interest in birds. On a walk in my neighborhood, I spotted a pileated woodpecker hammering on the trunk of an oak tree. I was awe-struck by this strange creature with a dramatic red crest and yellow eyes. I realized that I had never truly noticed the plants or animals I have shared a community with for many years. I became aware of my non-human neighbors for the first time.
Countless other people have a story like mine. Stay-at-home orders and social isolation sparked a boom in bird watching during the pandemic. Wild bird supply retailers reported sales increases of up to 50 percent, and public participation in bird monitoring soared. More recent data reveal that interest in bird watching has persisted beyond lockdown periods. As spring unfolds across North America, five billion birds are embarking on their long migration north in search of more abundant resources, and bird enthusiasts–old and new–are poised to witness their incredible journeys.
