Love wild birds? There's a new store opening in Bloomington just for you

Ken Keffer and Heather Ray moved to Bloomington this fall to open a Wild Birds Unlimited store.

"We like nature in Bloomington, so it's a good fit for a bird store," Keffer said of the shop at 1301 S. College Mall Road.

That's certainly true, evidenced by the people who have knocked on the door and windows of the store when they see someone inside, asking when it will open.

The answer is early June, if everything goes as planned. Right now the couple is waiting on bird seed, bird feeders and other items to be delivered so they can be set up the shop. Books will be sold, including some written by Keffer, who along with Ray has written articles for Birds & Blooms magazine.

The couple has reached out to Sassafras Audubon Society and Sycamore Land Trust, with hopes of developing good relationships and possibly events, Keffer said. Keffer has a degree in wildlife biology and has worked at other Wild Birds Unlimited stores.

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Bloomington had a Wild Birds Unlimited store that closed in the early 2000s. Bird feeders, books and videos about birds and bird songs and, of course, bird seed are the main products sold (not birds themselves).

What makes Wild Birds Unlimited the best source for bird seed is that it's always fresh, high quality seed from reliable distributors, Ray explained, stating, "You'll notice a difference."

The bird feeders are made from recycled products and are another way the store includes sustainability in what it sells and advocates for, Ray said.

Both Keffer and Ray look forward to having conversations with area residents about birds.

"We're here for the birds and we're here for the customers," Keffer said.

For more about the store, go to the Wild Birds Unlimited (Bloomington, IN) Facebook page.

Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Wild Birds Unlimited to open store in Bloomington next month