It is at this time, when the day becomes longer and the sun brighter, that migratory birds return to their native places: starlings, larks, wagtails, finches and other species.

The origins of this holiday can be found in such Slavic traditions as the spring meeting of larks and the construction of nesting places for starlings and storks. The Slavs celebrated the holiday of Forty Forties or Lark Day on March 22, the day of the spring equinox.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the holiday spread to European countries. True, at that time they paid attention only to the protection of birds useful for agriculture.
In the Russian Empire, Bird Day was celebrated by children’s “May Unions” and departments of the Russian Society for the Protection of Animals. They organized drawing exhibitions, hung artificial nests, and introduced children to various birds of Russian nature.

In 1924, in the USSR, the celebration of Bird Day was resumed by the Youths under the leadership of N. Dergunov and P. Smolin. In the 1930s, the holiday took on a national scale, but the emphasis was on the protection of birds useful for agriculture. Since the early 1950s, Bird Day has been celebrated on April 1st, and processions with birdhouses are organized.

More than 20 species of birds return to the Summer and Mikhailovsky Gardens for the summer. In the gardens there are a large number of birdhouses, titmouses, as well as houses for wagtails. All of them are hung on trees so that it is convenient for birds to breed in them.

On April 1, the gardens of the Russian Museum are closed to dry out. And the birds will have a whole month of peace and quiet to think comfortably about their offspring.