I've enjoyed hearing your stories of birds and bird sightings and your attempts to outwit squirrels. We're shared observations about backyard visitors. I hope you've benefited from my tips on how to make your backyard bird habitat even more enjoyable. I will miss these discussions.
I am taking a well-deserved retirement. I'll probably continue to meet many of you in our travels. Maybe we can bring each other up to date on this great hobby and pastime we share!
For now, however, it's time for me to move on. Everything in the store must go at discount prices. Some merchandise remains but the final few items are disappearing quickly. The sales booth and the display walls already have been removed in preparation for the building's new tenant. The lease on the building expires on October 31.
The Bird House will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. It will remain open on Monday and Tuesday, depending on whether the merchandise has run out. All sales are final, with no returns.
This blog will be shut down on November 5, so if you have any stories that you'd like to retain for future reference, please copy them now!
One question you're probably asking is where will you buy seed and suet now? (One of the principal companies that I used was an Amish-owned supplier in Ohio, but I can't recommend traveling that far!) I do have a few suggestions on places that offer seed closer to home. A few of these locations also sell suet, feeders, houses, baths or bird-related merchandise.
Moyer Products
113 E. Reliance Road, Souderton
The Bird House has sold Moyer's "Scarlett" brand seed since 2003 because of the superior quality. The company offers sunflower, safflower, Nyjer, white millet and other seed. It also is the source for seed mixes that you've become accustomed to, such as "Conservation," "Backyard Best," "Classic" and "Ultimate." You'll see an abundance of feeders and houses as well.
Neighbors Home & Garden Center
38 South Main Street, Hellertown
Neighbors offers two different sources of seed. Straight seed mixes such as sunflower and safflower can be found, along with mixes from Agway. Feeders and houses from Woodlink, Audubon and Perky Pet are available. In summer, Neighbors sells those popular clay-fired Burley Clay bird baths. One of the nice things about traveling to Neighbor's is that the Route 412 construction is finally completed!
Phillips Pet Supply Outlet
Bath Pike (Route 512) south of Bath
The store offers straight seed but check the ingredients on the mixes. Many of the mixes contain red milo, a filler that is ignored by backyard birds. You'll identify red milo by the reddish globe-like seed. The red in milo differs from the white millet which sparrows, Mourning Doves, juncos and other birds enjoy. Mixes may contain cracked corn. Some birds eat cracked corn but you are bound to see more squirrels than anything. The variety of feeders and houses is limited.
Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
(4220 Crackersport Road, located off Route 309 west of Allentown)
Primarily a garden and outdoor furniture distributor, the company does offer Lyric and Scott's bird seed and suet, as well as some feeders.
Big-box stores such as Lowe's, Home Depot and most grocery stores sell seed, seed mixes, suet, feeders and houses. However, the seed and suet is questionable, in part because the low turnover may make the product stale. (The Bird House turned over its seed every two weeks or so.) Another problem is that many seed blends are high in red milo. Thinking she is getting a bargain, a friend's neighbor buys grocery-store seed mixes. She now has a heap of reddish seed beneath her feeder. Not even the squirrels touch it.
I'm not endorsing one business over another—just telling you what is available so you can make your own selections based on price and priority.
Thanks once again to my loyal customers. Whether you've been a faithful customer for 14 years (as some people actually have!) or new visitors to the store, I appreciate your choosing me as your source for your backyard birding needs.
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