The Birdwatchers Store is the one-stop shop for anyone passionate about nature. Located in a century-old schoolhouse, it is a haven for bird lovers, complete with everything they could possibly need.
The Birdwatchers Store opened eighteen years ago, built on a passion for those who love wild birds. The store fell into new ownership seven years ago, and since then, it has pivoted its focus to education and partnering with the community.
Manager Jody Roberts has worked at The Birdwatchers Store since 2016, the year after she graduated from Slippery Rock University. “My roommate introduced me to the store, and I absolutely loved it,” she said. She moved into the manager position two years ago.
Roberts noted that her major in college had nothing to do with working with wildlife. She was an education major who worked at the SGA Bookstore.
“I like that I get to use my educational experience and my retail experience,” Roberts said. “It’s a nice mix of all the different things I’ve had in my life.”
The Birdwatchers Store offers a variety of educational experiences and keepsakes. It also partners with other organizations with similar goals, making its services especially diverse.
The Birdwatchers Store hosts a free bird walk at different locations on the first Saturday of the month. Most recently, a guide led the birders through Cook Forest State Park to view forest birds.
“I think we’re really lucky to have places like Jennings, McConnells Mill, and Morraine,” Roberts said. “There are just so many places in this area that allow people to get out in nature.”
Slippery Rock has a wide variety of bird species, much to birdwatchers’ enjoyment. “We’ve got forest birds, songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey. There’s just so much around here that it was an easy place to have a birdwatching store that could be successful,” Roberts said.
Despite the area fitting its needs, The Birdwatchers Store’s services aren’t limited to Slippery Rock. It partners with the company Reefs to Rockies to host trips to various locations that help guests experience nature and wildlife sustainably.
The Birdwatchers Store can be found at local festivals with Wild Bird Recovery in Valencia. Last weekend, they attended the Wings over Wilhelm Festival at Maurice K. Goddard State Park, where there were bird walks, exhibit tables and live bird programs.
Their educational impact is limitless for any age group. A children’s section is located in the store with books and other resources specialized for younger ages to learn about wildlife.
Besides these enriching experiences, the store also offers a diverse selection of products. Their value on partnering with the community led them to have 30 consignment artists’ work in the store. Most of these artists reside in Butler County.
“A lot of people think it’s just going to be this tiny place with a couple of bird feeders and birdseed, but there’s so much more than that here,” Roberts said.
Some of The Birdwatchers Store’s merchandise includes local art, jewelry, T-shirts, books, coffee, optics like binoculars, plants and puzzles.
They partner with Centerra Co-op in Ohio to bring in approximately 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of birdseed for sale weekly.
The Birdwatchers Store focuses on sustainability to protect the natural world. Items are sold in paper bags, and coffee is sustainably and safely-sourced for birds.
The Birdwatchers Store wants to spread the love for birds to anyone who wishes to transform their home into a bird haven. They offer on-site consultations, advice on what type of feeders and seeds are best for the property, and other expert guidance.
From engaging educational speakers to captivating bird walks, The Birdwatchers Store has everything one could need to foster their love for wildlife.
Even when putting its services aside, it is a beautiful place to relax and watch birds. “It is definitely a lot of work,” Roberts said. “But it’s definitely a great place to be.”
The Birdwatchers Store is hosting an optics seminar and a bonus bird walk on June 13 and 14. Information about a future trip with Reefs to Rockies will be posted on their Facebook page.
The Birdwatchers Store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Upcoming events and news can be found on their Facebook page and their website.
