Dogs and cats might get a ton of pet attention, but birds are becoming increasingly popular pets in the United States. According to the American Pet Product Association, there are as many as 16.2 million pet birds in the United States, placing it second behind Brazil.
What stands out about the estimated pet bird population in the United States is how fast it’s growing. A few years ago, Italy was ranked as the second-highest number of pet bird households in any one country. And according to some estimates, bird ownership will top Brazil soon (if it hasn’t already).
“Gen Z and millennials are driving the pet bird trend in the United States,” says All About Spot founder Kristi Pritchett. “Two-thirds of all bird owners belong to these generations, and millennials account for almost 45 percent of all owners. There’s even a National Pet Bird Day, held every year on September 17.”
National Pet Bird Day was started by and is sponsored by the Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition (BEAK). The organization promotes safe, fun, and responsible bird ownership. Its website even includes an interactive pet bird quiz to help potential pet owners find the right bird for their household.
Quiz questions include how much of a mess you can handle, whether you have kids, how hands-on you might be with your bird, and how much you are willing to spend on the pet. Once you answer the questions, the quiz will provide some immediate details about your pet match — average lifespan, noise, difficulty, sociability, and any special talents they might have. It also provides additional tips, like what the bird might eat, beneficial toys, and general cage space.
“The organization has done a fine job making pet bird ownership fun,” says Pritchett. “They’ve hosted video contests featuring cute, funny, or heartwarming moments with birds, and short essay contests that ask what the owner’s pet bird means to them.”
This year’s video contest entries can be submitted between now and August 14. Once the judges select finalists, the top videos will be voted on by site visitors between August 17 and September 13. Winners will be announced on National Pet Bird Day. Prizes range from $100 to $500.
If you want to keep up with the submissions, My Right Bird encourages entrants to share their videos on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok with hashtags #MyBeautifulPetBird or #BestPetBird.
“One of my favorite aspects of the site is its interactive pet adoption map, with hundreds of birds looking for new homes across the country,” said Pritchett. “You can drill down to the specific area and find out what birds are available for adoption. For example, on the day I visited the site, I noticed five chickens currently up for adoption with The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas. But there was much more variety in nearby Kanab, Utah — some 29 different kinds of pet birds hoping to be adopted.”
According to Pritchett, maintaining bird pet records may be even more important than for cats and dogs. While most people can manage taking care of a dog or cat for the short term in an emergency or legacy situation, not many people are prepared to take care of birds, especially because every species is so very different.
“When you factor in that some parakeets can live as long as 18 years and one Sulphar-crested cockatoo recently celebrated its 80th birthday, you begin to understand that it’s even more likely these amazing pets will outlive their owners,” says Pritchett. “While 16 years and 80 years of life might be outliers, the point is that their futures are often dependent on well-kept and immediately accessible pet records.”
Pritchett says accurate pet records make short- and long-term pet sitters, fosters, and adopters more comfortable with the prospect of caring for a pet. If someone knows something about the behavior, diet, care, and veterinary needs of pet — bird or otherwise — they are much more likely to feel confident in their role as a caregiver.
“One of my friends recently thought they had found a foster home for their mother’s dog, only to scramble for a new foster home after four short months,” says Pritchett. “They were lucky to find a new foster, who went so far as overseeing a medical procedure. Once the dog’s condition was treated, his temperament improved and he has been happy in the new household ever since.”
If this can happen with a dog, imagine how daunting it might feel for an unexpected foster household to adjust to a bird. Most people who have never owned a pet bird have almost no reference point as to what that might be like.
“I’m happy to see this might change in the future as more and more households invite birds to become part of their lives,” said Pritchett. “They really are sociable and intelligent animals who can form very strong bonds with their families.”
All About Spot is thrilled to spotlight National Pet Bird Day, September 17. Save the date to share your love of birds, and don’t forget that many people will share their photos and videos all August long in preparation for their big bird day.
