The Bird Feeder in Santa Cruz Going Out of Business

For over fifteen years The Bird Feeder in Santa Cruz, CA has been the best place for birding watching and bird feeding supplies. But in April of 2009 The Bird Feeder will be closing its doors and going out of business. Located on Soquel Dr. in Santa Cruz near River Street, The Bird Feeder is having its final going out of business sale as it announced in its final farewell newsletter, The Bird Feeder Bulletin, along with a heartfelt farewell message from the shop's owner.

The Bird Feeder in Santa Cruz has always had an excellent selection of bird feeders, bird houses, and other assorted birding supplies such as field guides and binoculars. With The Bird Feeder closing its doors, residents of Santa Cruz will have to look elsewhere for birding supplies. But without another birding shop in Santa Cruz, local birders will either have to drive over the hill to San Jose or have to order their birding supplies by mail order or by internet. For local birders who may be reading this article, PetSmart on River Street also has a limited selection of bird feeders and birdseed. But without the Bird Feeder, there will be no local place to buy high quality birdseed or supplies.

The Bird Feeder in Santa Cruz also has been an excellent place to buy gifts for birders, since the shop also stocked a variety of bird related merchandise such as t-shirts, calenders, and mugs. While the real claim to fame for The Bird Feeder was the birding supplies, the staff at The Bird Feeder was always helpful with questions about all aspects of birding, from species identification to how to attract desired species to your feeding stations. Fortunately there remain the Santa Cruz Bird Club, which is still a resource for birders in Santa Cruz County. But a trip to The Bird Feeder in Santa Cruz gave local birders a chance to talk and visit with local experts on a regular basis.

If you are a birder in Santa Cruz County and it is not too late to visit The Bird Feeder before it goes out of business, stop by The Bird Feeder and stock up on your birding supplies, wish the owners and staff a fond farewell, and thank them for all the birding memories over the years. While this is really just one more story of a local business closing its doors, The Bird Feeder was an important asset to nature lovers and bird lovers, and no one knows just how many new birders were inspired by a peek in the door at The Bird Feeder while passing through. I should know, as I used to be one of them; and now I am a lifelong birder with an appreciation and love for our avian friends that The Bird Feeder helped to cultivate. But while The Bird Feeder may be closing, the birds themselves remain, which is a testament to the love and conservation of wildlife that birders everywhere embrace.