It began with a small birdhouse with the words “Happy Camper” hung on a large pine tree, where I watched a family of Starlings take up residence. At the time, I knew very little about birds or the noisy reputation Starlings apparently had. So, I let them stay.
Soon after, I hung a feeder filled with pellets and seeds in my small urban backyard. The starlings weren’t particularly interested, but the squirrels certainly were.
So I moved the feeder higher, farther out from beneath the canopy of the tree an introduced a second feeder filled with nyjer (thistle) seed. And that’s when I really started to notice the other visitors.
There were little gray birds, flashes of purple, bright yellow ones, and every so often, a brilliant red one. That red one in particular became a familiar visitor that I would see for the next five years.
Little by little, my backyard became an oasis for wildlife.
There were dried tomato seeds left behind after the summer harvest, fallen berries lingering beneath the bushes, fresh water, seeds and plenty of little things to discover. The birds began arriving as regularly as the butterflies and honeybees did in summer.
Eventually, simply watching them wasn’t enough. I wanted to know their names.
With the help of Cornell Labs Merlin Bird ID app and Sibley Guides, the little flashes of color outside my window became American Goldfinches, Blue Jays, Black Capped Chickadees, Juncos, Cardinals and so many others. I began leaving out water and treats for them. And, every now and then, some of the Crows seemed to return the favor, leaving behind curious little treasures—coins, bits of foil and can tops.
Watching for my backyard visitors became one of the highlights of my day. Then my seasons. Then my years.
And somewhere along the way, I realized that this was something I hoped to share with my own children one day: the excitement of spotting a bird in the trees, the curiosity to learn its name, and an appreciation for all the wonderful little things in nature that are so easy to overlook.
And that is where Birdy and Pine Press Creative began.
What started with birds in the backyard grew into a colorful collection of characters, books and everyday things designed to bring a little of that same joy and curiosity into childhood.
Bright, playful and inspired by some of the world’s most wonderful creatures, The Birdy Collection by Pine Press Creative is an playful invitation to look a little closer, learn something new, and find joy in the nature all around us.
-Pine Press Creative