Pollinators are extremely important for a variety of different reasons. About 35 percent of the world’s food crops are dependent upon pollinators to reproduce. Cotton, a pollinator-dependent plant, is the most widely used textile fiber in the world. Pollination is also essential for keeping our world’s ecosystems functional and healthy.
Caring for pollinators is vital and can also be fun!
Passion Turned Career
Heather Weber-Langart and her family have enjoyed bird watching and feeding birds since she was a child. Their favorite supply store was Wild Birds Unlimited.
“I have shopped at Wild Birds Unlimited my whole life," Weber-Langart says. “My mother would always take me along and I just loved everything about the store.”
In 2020, Weber-Langart and her mother, Shelly Weber, purchased their local franchise after the previous owners decided to retire. They appreciated that the franchise provides lots of freedom and creativity within the brand. They had a lot of ideas and have enjoyed implementing them.
Education and Giving Back
“Many people think that Wild Birds Unlimited is just a bird supply store,” Weber-Langart says. “We are so much more than that.”
Education, for example. They host community talks with authors, local organizations and local rehabilitation facilities. Their kid-focused events include “bat talks,” where kids are taught about all the benefits that bats provide.
Wild Birds Unlimited also donates feed and feeders to local nature centers and non-profit organizations like the Ronald McDonald House. These donations help the wildlife and provide opportunities for the community to watch and observe birds.
Goods and Services
Wild Birds Unlimited also carries supplies for pollinators. They sell a variety of housing/shelter options, native plants and books. The staff is very knowledgeable and happy to provide any advice or assistance in selecting supplies, as well.
If you enjoy feeding birds, they offer several varieties of seed mixes for local species. When I visited, I mentioned that while I love feeding the birds, I dislike the weeds that pop up under my feeder. A helpful staff member showed me three varieties of “no mess” seed.
Squirrels. Love them or hate them, the store provides entertaining feeders as well as deterrents.
In addition to the supplies is an abundance of gifting items and décor. The store is filled with art, photography and crafted items from local artists. They also sell books, children’s toys, jewelry, lawn and garden décor and other whimsical items perfect for bird lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Website: https://coloradosprings.wbu.com/
Facebook: @WildBirdsUnlimitedColoradoSpringsCO