There’s a saying that, when traveling, you should eat where the locals eat.
Turns out, birds feel the same way.
At Wild Birds Unlimited, 1520 E. College Ave., Normal, you’ll find plenty of bird-related items, as well as those for butterflies, squirrels and humans.
Kim Ryburn has owned the store for 10 years, and has worked there since 1996. A nature lover, Ryburn grew up in a country setting, learning to love birds, butterflies and other creatures, finding her spirit among them.
“I’ve fed birds and loved nature all of my life,” she said.
Ryburn shares that love with customers new and established, guiding them to the right types of bird food, houses, and feeders for their own backyards. Her love of nature extends to rocks and minerals, so the store offers a large collection of standalone pieces, sculptural pieces and jewelry, in addition to gift items that include essential oils, wind chimes, fountains, handspun yarn and decorative flags.
Different types of food attracts different types of birds, just as different types of housing is built for different types of birds. So, the store offers traditional houses in various sizes as well as gourds. Wild Birds Unlimited has a wide variety of bagged birdseed, suet, seed cylinders, and bark butter to appeal to the type of bird you want to attract. Some of the food is available in a spicy blend that keeps away squirrels and raccoons, but doesn’t bother birds because they have no heat receptors like mammals do.
Ryburn also offers hanging feeders to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and baffles that keep squirrels from enjoying the birds’ food. She has squirrel feeders, too, so no one goes hungry.
Every other month, Wild Birds Unlimited hosts an educational seminar by the Illinois Raptor Center from Decatur, with a handler presenting the raptor they are speaking about. Last month, the IRC brought a bald eagle. The time before, it was a peregrine falcon and baby screech owls. From children to those who are 85, everyone enjoys these programs.
“We have to learn to live with nature,” Ryburn said. “I love ‘em all. … We’re here to provide you with the best knowledge and customer service so you can have an enjoyable experience in your backyard.”
