More than 65 million Americans of all ages watch, feed and landscape for birds. So how did all this begin?

Around the turn of the century, naturalists wrote about conservation and birds. These naturalists include such authors as Anna Botsford Comstock (New York, Mother of Nature Education ), Gene Stratton Porter (Indiana, Naturalist, Conservationist), Grace McCormac French (Oregon, Bird Woman), and later Roger Tory Peterson ( Father of Field Guides), and Rachel Carson (author of Silent Spring). The folks at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation, to name a few, are major forces in the emergence of bird feeding and birding in North America.

Wagner Bros. Seed Company, founded in New York in 1894 as a general store selling seed and feed, was an early pioneer of birdseed mixtures. But it was after WWII when suburbs sprang up and people had yards to care for that the hobby and industry emerged. Sophisticated bird feeders were being built like Droll Yankees; commercially packaged birdseed made blends and seeds become available at more retail locations. The hobby was gathering more supporters in the 50's, 60's, and 70's, with the golden era unfolding in the 1980's.

Dr. Geis conducted landmark research in the 70's for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His research demonstrated that birds didn't like some ingredients in commercial birdseed mixes, and other ingredients attracted undesirable birds. His bird preference charting helped people understand that by providing specific foods, they could be selective about the birds they attracted to their feeders and yard. Using multiple feeders to attract more birds was also an idea of Dr. Geis's.

Retail stores, specialty manufacturers, franchises, and non-profits have all formed to support this very low-tech hobby that anyone can do without a lot of instruction or investment. There is instant satisfaction in providing birds food, water, and shelter in your backyard. This is a hobby that helps you slow down, observe nature in your yard, and provide food sources for birds and their young. It's a great hobby, and the birds thank you.