ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE

Those of us who feed the birds are part of a long and rich tradition. Someone introduced us to birds, bird watching, and bird feeding. Maybe it was intentional. Maybe it was by accident. Either way, we count ourselves fortunate to be part of an amazing group of people dedicated to birds and nature reaching back over a hundred years.

1800s

• The Birds of America was originally printed between 1812 and 1838. It contained 435 watercolors of North American Birds by John James Audubon.
• In 1854, Henry David Thoreau wrote in Walden: “In the course of the winter, I threw out a half a bushel of ears of sweet corn, which had not got ripe, on to the snow-crust by my door, and was amused by watching the motions of the various animals which were baited by it.”
• In 1886, George Bird Grinnell founded the first Audubon Society. (Today some Audubon Chapters have changed their names to Bird Alliance.)
• In 1899, Bird Lore magazine was first published. (It later became known as Audubon Magazine in 1941.)

 

1900s

• In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, feeding the birds became a “tonic for isolation.” People created their own little window to nature.
• In 1934, A Field Guide to Birds, written by Roger Tory Peterson, was published in 1934.
• In 1977, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) created the Nongame Wildlife Program to manage and protect all wildlife. Carrol Henderson was named the first Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor. The Nongame Wildlife Program has successfully restored several wildlife populations, established webcams, created wildlife viewing areas, restored critical habitat areas, and developed environmental education opportunities including the “Bird by Bird” program, which fosters future environmental stewards.
• Many of our favorite bird species have benefited from the Nongame Wildlife Program including Eastern Bluebird, Trumpeter Swan, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, American Kestrel, and many others. In 2018, Carrol Henderson retired from the MN DNR and Cynthia Osmundson was hired to replace him.
• In 1991, Al Netten launched the first All Seasons Wild Bird Store in Bloomington after buying his family home that just so happened to include a bird feeder in the backyard.
• In 1994, congress decreed February as National Bird Feeding Month as bird feeding and bird watching had become an increasingly popular hobby.

 

2000s

• In 2000, The Sibley Guide to Birds was written by David Allen Sibley, was published.
• In 2016, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) conducted a survey that found 96 million Americans ages 16 and over photograph, feed, and observe birds. That’s roughly 35% of our nation’s population. Feeding the birds has become a major hobby and industry especially since the pandemic.
• In fact, the Wild Bird Feeding Institute (WBFI), industry trade group, growth during and since the pandemic has been the strongest among young people and women.
• The Merlin Bird ID App, developed as part of Dr. Grant Van Horn’s doctoral work at Caltech launched in 2017.
• In 2023, Dave Netten launched the sixth All Seasons Wild Bird Store in North Oaks.
• Today, as manager of the Eagan All Seasons Wild Bird Store, I am so grateful to be part of a dynamic, customer driven company dedicated to being “Your Window to Nature.”
• Growth in quality seed sales is booming nationwide. Backyard birders are critical to creating bits of habitat nationwide, which will help secure a healthy future for our songbirds. Share your love of nature and birds with someone.

By Eagan Store Manager ANN MCCARTHY