U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for Feb. 18

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18: FIRST STATE BIRD SANCTUARY

Profile America — Thursday, February 18th.  There are many bird-feeding and bird-watching events this month.  One of them is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count — in which ordinary Americans note the kinds and quantity of birds in their immediate area, helping scientists track the health of the bird population.  With the foliage off the trees, many will be looking at and photographing birds with cameras and binoculars.  It was this week in 1872 that the first bird sanctuary was established by a state at Oakland, California's Lake Merritt.  It was named for the mayor, who started the efforts to preserve the lake.  In the U.S. today, more than 14 million people enjoy bird watching, and 55.5 million feed the birds in their area.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, now conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 129

               Kane's Famous First Facts, 3743

               Statistical Abstract of the United States 2019, t. 1203, 1219

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census  Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau