National Bluebird of Happiness Day

National Bluebird of Happiness Day

Written by Nancy of PetCollage Paradise

Singing Bluebirds of Happiness

Original Collage by PetCollage

If you were happy on Saturday, September 24, it might be because it was National Bluebird of Happiness Day. The mythology of the bluebird of happiness goes back thousands of years. The bluebird is widely accepted as a symbol of cheerfulness, good health, new births, prosperity, and hearth and home.

Bluebird Bliss

Giclee Reproduction by BrazenDesignStudio

Bluebirds are a member of the Thrush family related to the American Robin. There are three bluebird types in North America: The Eastern Bluebird, The Western Bluebird and the Mountain Bluebird.

What makes the bluebird happy? Eating insects, such as cutworms and grasshoppers. This makes us happy too, since these critters are damaging to our crops and gardens.

Once very common in the United States, these beautiful birds have decreased in number due to loss of natural habitat, overuse of pesticides and predators.

My Spring BlueBird

Original watercolor by KneeDeepOriginals

There’s a song called the “Bluebird of Happiness” composed in 1934 by Sandor Harmati, who wrote it for his friend, the tenor Jan Peerce. Peerce’s 1945 recording became one of the best-selling records ever made by an opera singer.

Here are some of the lyrics:

Be like I, hold your head up high,

Till you find a bluebird of happiness.

You will find greater peace of mind

Knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.

And when he sings to you,

Though you're deep in blue,

You will see a ray of light creep through,

And so remember this, life is no abyss,

Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

BlueBird and Pink Iris

Giclee Fine Art Print by Ruffings

And of course, there are the lovely lyrics to Paul McCartney’s song “Bluebird” about a bluebird whisking his love away someplace where they fly free together. How does he win her over? He “touch(es) her lips with a magic kiss”.

I love that line!

BlueBird on a Branch

Note Cards by GreerDesign

All EFA Team Treasury: For the love of Dogs, Birds & Cats !

'For the love of dogs, birds, and cats!' by thebluewindmill

A treasury to honor dogs, birds, and cats and EFA's Charity of the Month: The Feral Cat Rescue Project!

This treasury consists of all EFA members including those who are donating funds or items to this charity.

Among the donors are Catcalls, Terikor, Brizel4theanimals, Ellaquaint, Shmeegs23, and myself!

Gussies/ 3 Cat Toys - Mini S... catcalls $10.95	unique round Silk Tapestry B... brizel4TheAnim... $35.00
Cat Tile - In Waiting By C... terikor $14.00	25% off Organic Catnip Fortu... ShaggyChic $6.00
Fleece Dog Tug Toys Various ... SnacknSnooze $7.00	Handmade Dog Silhouette Card... Shmeegs23 $3.00
SALE Flying Dog Sculpture, o... MeowBarkArt $35.00	Comfort Soft Dog Walking Ha... TerrierTrouser... $19.00
Garden Bird Stitched Card EthelandIris $3.50	Twitter - Cat Collar with Br... hollywoofstyle... $10.00
Fly...Fly...Fly away home ha... EllaQuaint $5.00	Twitter martingale collar TheModDog $19.00
Felted Cat Toys - Set of thr... heartfeltwool $8.00	Blue Stars Dog Scarf caninedesign $5.00
Woofy Wash Doggie Soap Brooksearthfar... $4.00	Curious Cat cushion - appliq... luniquejewelle... $29.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Celebrating International Migratory Bird Day !

Celebrating

International Migratory Bird Day 2011

written by Indie of IndieWolf

Owl Power

Animal Amulet by IndieWolf

One of the things I love most about living in a rural part of Colorado is the abundance of migratory birds in our area: ducks and geese, egrets and herons, and even white pelicans!

International Migratory Bird Day was created in 1993 to celebrate close to 350 species of birds that regularly travel between their distinct summer and winter homes. This day has also become a reminder of how important these birds are to our environment, and to call us to action in protecting their existence by preserving their preferred habitats.

Shy Summer Grosbeak

Fine Art Watercolor by KneeDeepOriginals

When researching this subject, I was surprised to see the number of birds that are considered migratory, as many do not travel as far or in as predictable patterns as they once did. Here in Colorado, for instance, we seem to have a year-round population of robins, geese, ducks, ravens, owls, hawks and eagles, all of which are listed as migratory birds. So much has changed for these species, as for all of our wildlife, in regards to safe habitat, availability of food, and even weather patterns that precipitate their flight schedules and routes.

Prothonotary Warbler

Pin Cushion by TheFrogBag

The importance of migratory birds to our environment, economy and culture cannot be overstated: in addition to being enchanting to watch, they help control insect populations, inspire conservation of our natural resources, and generate billions of dollars in revenue through recreational observation programs.

SNowy Egret

Original Art Keychain by GreerDesign

The organization Partners in Flight has a great list of ways to help protect our bird population: http://www.fws.gov/birds/documents/LR-WaysCitizens.pdf and a breakdown of the four most important elements to consider in providing the perfect habitat for migratory species: http://www.fws.gov/birds/documents/ElementsofHabitat.pdf

Oriola, Orange Daylilies

Giclee fine art Print by Ruffings

For more information on migratory birds in general, and celebrating International Migratory Bird Day in particular, here are some wonderful resources:

http://www.fws.gov/birds/imbd/

http://www.birdday.org/

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/

http://my.nature.org/birds/

ALL EFA Team Treasury: Honoring Migratory Birds

'Honoring Migratory Birds' by IndieWolf

To celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

~ May 14, 2011 ~ enjoy a collection of gorgeous birds

from members of Team EFA - Etsy for Animals!

6 x 8 ceramic tile pelicans TracyTeeter $29.00	Downy Woodpecker Fine Art Ph... blindwolfspiri... $7.00
Prothonotary Warbler Pin Cus... thefrogbag $14.00	Tufted Titmouse in Forsinthi... JMcGuinness $4.00
vegan Silk Tapestry Box uniq... brizel4TheAnim... $40.00	Falcon God Horus - New Canva... oceloteyes $99.00
Kokeshi Doll Owl Couple- I ... SavageArtworks $45.00	Summer song - redwing - Li... bwebster2005 $4.99
original fine art watercolor... KneeDeepOrigin... $68.00	TriColoured Heron - 8x10 Fin... BrazenDesignSt... $25.00
Oriole, Orange Daylilies, an... ruffings $22.00	Tis the Season (8x10 matted ... AlexWijnen $25.00
A Walk Through The Garden, 8... thebluewindmil... $15.00	Snowy Egret Tropical Water O... greerdesign $5.00
Humming Bird Print (18 x 24... ArtByMarilyn $40.00	Crowned Crane II 6x6 origina... BirdsinHand $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.