Podcasts about Wild Birds Unlimited

What does it take to build a franchise brand that puts people first and thrives for over thirty-five years?In today's episode, Paul Pickett, Chief Development Office of Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU), shares what has been key in making WBU successful over the last 35+ years.The first key to success is having a strong values-driven culture. Paul shares how his mantra of “How you do anything is how you do everything” has helped shape not only his leadership but the franchise's commitment to excellence, genuine feedback, and fostering a voice for every team member and customer. And Paul unpacks how WBU has maintained its strong people-first culture despite growing to over 360+ locations. Paul digs into his “How did we do” culture, transparency with feedback, and why being open to criticism (and actually doing something about it) is critical for long-term success.Paul's career with Wild Birds Unlimited has perfectly combined his love of birds, nature and people. Paul joined the WBU team as the first full time employee in 1989 shortly after graduating with his Master's Degree in Biology/Ornithology from the University of North Dakota.  He has over 35 years of experience in working with potential franchisees as they join the WBU team and manages all of the real estate and legal responsibilities for the WBU system.  Paul is a frequent speaker at franchising conferences and sits on the IFA's Convention Committee and Franchisor Forum.  Additionally, Paul is co-founder and Chair of the IFA Franchise Pride Leadership Council, serves on IFA Foundation's Board of Trustees and is a member of the IFA Foundation's Diversity Committee.  One of the highlights of his career was chairing the 2018 Franchise Update Leadership and Development conference. In 2020, Paul was honored to receive the IFA Women's Franchise Committee Crystal Compass Award for his significant contributions through leadership within the franchise community. Paul was recently awarded the 2023 Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award, honoring his commitment to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.So, if you are looking for actionable insights on how to build lasting franchisee satisfaction, integrate feedback into your company DNA, and lead with both empathy and uncompromising ethics then this episode is for you!Connect with PaulLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-pickett-cfe-2b5b7711/Episode Highlights:Paul Pickett's early career and origins with Wild Birds UnlimitedThe growth of Wild Birds Unlimited from 28 to over 364 locationsImportance of Franchise Directory - https://www.sba.gov/document/support-sba-franchise-directoryFranchise Registry - https://www.franchiseregistry.com/Current SBA SOP - https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programsConnect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

Episode Summary: The Advisory Board Podcast – Paul Pickett on Purposeful Growth, Long-Term Thinking & Caring LeadershipSponsored by: ClientTetherIn this deeply insightful and refreshingly candid episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, host Dave Hansen welcomes the legendary Paul Pickett, Chief Development Officer and EVP of Franchising at Wild Birds Unlimited. With 36 years in the business and a reputation for authenticity, Paul brings more than just decades of franchise experience—he brings heart.From nurturing relationships to building legacies, Paul shares his wisdom on what really matters in franchise development: people over profits and reputation over revenue. Paul's philosophy is clear—great franchising isn't about flashy growth numbers, it's about caring, connecting, and creating sustainable, joyful businesses that serve both people and planet (or, in his case, birds!).Listeners will learn why nurturing relationships, sometimes for years, pays off in unexpected ways, and why a non-commissioned, high-integrity approach can actually yield stronger franchisee satisfaction and better long-term ROI. Paul also opens up about how Wild Birds Unlimited maintains its values-driven culture through careful growth, deep support systems, and resisting industry pressure to “sell in packs.”We also explore the power of legacy, from second-generation franchisees taking the reins to the brand's recent transition to partial ESOP ownership—ensuring the mission endures long after the founders step back.Dave and Paul don't shy away from the challenges either. They dig into the misperceptions around franchising, the need for greater public education, and why involvement with the IFA (International Franchise Association) and advocacy efforts matter now more than ever.Throughout the episode, Paul demonstrates what it means to lead with humility, consistency, and care—even if it means babysitting future franchisees during a site visit or staying in touch with non-buyers for years just because it's the right thing to do.A huge thank you to our episode sponsor, ClientTether, for supporting these meaningful conversations that push the franchise industry forward.If you're looking for a masterclass in mission-driven franchising that prioritizes kindness and sustainable growth over short-term wins, this episode is a must-listen.

In this hour, Dean welcomes bird expert Richard Armoring of Wild Birds Unlimited to explain how to attract beautiful birds to your garden, why birdsong is vital for our wellbeing, and how to avoid common pitfalls like rodents and squirrels. Plus, Dean shares his personal “life list” of backyard birds and how you can start one, too.

Nan Evans and Christie Lassen are at it again in part two of "Birds and Their Feathers" as they explore such topics as: What is the impact of diet on feathers? How do feathers keep birds warm? And cool? How do feathers help birds fly? (part 2 of a two-part program). (Airdate: April 9, 2025) Learn more:Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, WAFeathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle by Thor HansonWhat It's Like to Be a Bird by David Allen SibleyBird sound recording: Gerrit Vyn, ML128932, courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay LibraryNature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and can support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

Late Winter and Early Spring mean one thing: Bird Lover's—Nature's Symphony is in Full Swing! Birds are loud, active, and busy finding their mates, making it the perfect time to fine-tune your backyard bird-feeding setup. In this episode, we're revisiting Episode 100 to chat about the best feeder placements, how to attract more feathered friends, and simple ways to keep pesky critters from causing trouble.  Barbara Gleason, Co-Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited of Eugene and North Eugene Discover a refuge in your own backyard®  Email eugenewbuowners@gmail.com 2510 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR 97405 • (541) 844-1788 • Website www.eugene.wbu.com   1056 Green Acres Road, Suite 104, Eugene OR 97408 • (541) 505-9563 • Website www.northeugene.wbu.com Online Orders https://order.wbu.com/eugene Tips To Clean Bird Feeders  •  Watch on YouTube https://eugene.wbu.com/clean-bird-feeders-tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h42IxVJNBp8 Poles and Baffles https://order.wbu.com/eugene/poles-baffles-hobby-products/poles-baffles-hobby-products   ACOPIAN Bird Savers https://www.birdsavers.com Your Host, Judy Casad, Broker and  Luxury Advisor  |  ABR, SRES, Certified Negotiator, Top Producer with Windermere Real Estate/Lane County, Licensed to help you Buy or Sell in the State of Oregon.  Call Judy to start planning your next move!   541-968-2400   judy@windermere.com - www.judycasad.com FOLLOW this Podcast Show to be informed of new episodes in your favorite Podcast App ~ Track your home's value ~ Discover ways to leverage your equity with your complimentary Home Digest  My clients love it!   Looking to Buy?   Watch neighborhoods you are interested in potentially investing in property with your complimentary Market Explorer   Completely free of charge with no obligation! Tap the Category that resonates with your life today Home Improvement  Maximize investment, Smart maintenance to-do's Buying To Invest  What to look for, Property Search, Get Pre-Approved! Selling Property  Home or Land, Senior adults downsizing, Value Report Homeowners Best Moves  Bonus episodes about Financial Planning, Market Updates, Trailers about the show and interviews with Real Estate Brokers. Support us by sharing this Podcast with your network of friends & family ~ We appreciate and value your comments to bring you information that resonates with you... and help us keep this Podcast alive! Facebook Homeowners Best Real Estate Moves Listen on your computer Podcast.JudyCasad.com Send me your feedback questions and topic suggestions. Who knows? You just might be a guest on our next show!   We do not receive any compensation for mentioning or endorsing product or services discussed in the episode. My Brokerage compensation comes to me upon the closing of a sale. I value your support and your feedback to keep this show continuing to bring You, a wealth of information!  

Welcome to Episode 30 of Issaquah Buzz! Hosts Autumn Monahan and Jen Davis Hayes bring you the latest in Issaquah business news and retail gossip. In this episode: Serenity Head Spa at WorkLofts offers scalp renewal and mini facials—perfect for relaxation. Wild Birds Unlimited, now open in the QFC Meadows Shopping Center, specializes in spicy birdseed to deter unwanted critters. Dan Gui Chinese Cuisine celebrates its grand opening in the former Krawbar location. Good Lazy Doughnuts experiences booming popularity after a Seattle Times feature. Coming soon: JoJo's Cafe in the former Subway spot, bringing coffee and pastries to downtown Issaquah. Plus, hear about exciting local events like the Sustainable Wedding Show, upcoming car shows at Burgermaster, and Food Waste Prevention Week featuring the Too Good To Go app. Stay tuned for a special spotlight celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Grange Supply, a cherished community staple!

Envision a bird – any bird. What do you first notice? The feathers, of course. But, what do you really know about those beautiful and amazingly variable structures? Join Nan Evans and Christie Lassen to explore feather forms and structures, colors and patterns, and the incredible usefulness and functions of feathers (part 1 of a two-part program). (Airdate: March 19, 2025) Learn more:Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, WAFeathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle by Thor HansonWhat It's Like to Be a Bird by by David Allen SibleyBird sound recording: Andrew Spencer, ML32411761, courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay LibraryNature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

David and Scott Menough, the Bird Talk Guys and former Owners of Wild Birds Unlimited are on The Show to talk Sandhill Cranes! Migration, Kearney Nebraska Crowding, Crane Evolution, Relation to Dinosaurs, Woodpeckers, Life and Career in Radio, and much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bad news – losses of bird and wildlife populations, extinction of species, and destruction of habitats. The good news – find hope and empowerment in your own home through the Backyard Wildlife Certification Program. Join host Nan Evans and Christie Lassen, co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, as they explore both the good and the bad news. (Airdate: November 20, 2024) Learn more:National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Certification ProgramWild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, WAState of the Birds 2022 from the North American Bird Conservation InitiativeSteve Hampton's The Cottonwood PostDoug TallamayBird sound recordings: Nora Petrich; William R. Fish, ML22874, courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

Dean gives us the last backyard habitat building tips of the season and its importance.Dean says planting trees is great for property value and for the mind, body & soul. He also,talks about native plants in Southern California and what makes them exotic & the root of causing animals and nature not to blossom. Dean is joined by Sammie Cowell from National Autobounds Society of America & Richard Armerding from Wild Birds Unlimited of Northridge and Thousand Oaks to discuss the decline of birds, and how the primary factor is the loss of habitat. 

Join Rob for an insightful conversation with Laurel Zoet, the passionate owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Brighton, Michigan. Laurel, a self-proclaimed "Bird Nerd," shares the wealth of knowledge behind her store, from essential bird-feeding supplies to engaging programs and educational events. Whether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or just getting started, this episode offers valuable insights into enhancing your backyard birding experience.   Show Links Learn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website. Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/   Guest Links: Name: Laurel Zoet Title: Owner Website: https://brighton.wbu.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wbubrighton/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wbubrighton/ Email: wbubrighton@gmail.com   9610 Village Place Boulevard Brighton, MI 48116 (810) 522-5520

Dean mentions Hardware Specialty Work, for their specialty custom lumber and their work. ean returns taking calls, Dean gives recommendations on exterior finishes. Dean talks about the Kitchen Store, and rants about their large cabinet options and anything surrounding the kitchen. Dean talks about Aldik Home, with their extortionary high-quality artificial plants and home decor. Dean dives into Pasadena Architectural Salvage, as it is known for their vintage items for homes. Dean mentions Wild Birds Unlimited, for their exclusive, fresh, high-quality bird food and supplies. Another is Floor and Décor, known for their brilliant selection and having designers on hand to cover any decoration projects or questions. Plus, the PTS store for their stickley furniture and more!  

In this episode of Franchising 101, Tim Parmeter interviews franchising legend Paul Pickett, the Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President of Franchising for Wild Birds Unlimited. Paul shares his journey from being a bird lover and ornithology graduate to becoming a pivotal figure in the franchising industry. He discusses the origins of Wild Birds Unlimited, its growth, and the unique aspects that make the franchise successful. Paul also talks about the importance of diversity and inclusion in franchising, highlighting his recent recognition with the Ronald E. Harrison Award. The conversation delves into the holistic benefits of backyard bird feeding and the support system Wild Birds Unlimited offers its franchisees, emphasizing the blend of passion for nature and business acumen required to succeed in the franchise. Read more about the Ronald E. Harrison Award:  https://www.franchise.org/media-center/press-releases/international-franchise-association-recognizes-five-individuals-with  WANT TO KNOW MORE? Go ahead: Schedule a call with one of our franchise coaches!  https://www.francoach.net/   LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED:  Wild Birds Unlimited website https://www.wbu.com/  Schedule a call with FranCoach https://info.francoach.net/meetings/schedule-call/connect  Franchising 101 podcast website with a library of past episodes http://franchising101.net/  Learn more about FRSTeam https://frsteam.com/  Visit Entreprenuer.com for a wealth of information for people just like you! https://www.entrepreneur.com/   Franchising News https://www.franchisingnews.net/  INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP?  Schedule a call with one of our coaches today! FranCoach is connected with over 500 franchises and we walk you through the process of finding the perfect franchise for you. Our services are always free and we commit ourselves to helping you find your better tomorrow. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference in getting our message out to more people who can use it. Sign up for our email newsletter at https://www.francoach.net/  Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Contact us at info@francoach.net FOLLOW FRANCOACH: Instagram @yourfrancoach https://www.instagram.com/yourfrancoach/ and @franchising101podcast https://www.instagram.com/franchising101podcast/  Twitter: @FranCoach4U https://twitter.com/FranCoach4U  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francoach4u/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GtG31hWoecEONdScIJOsQ 

Discover how to transform your yard into a bird-friendly haven while keeping pesky invaders at bay.  Join us to celebrate Episode 100 while we laugh along with feathered companion stories, Tune in now!   Barbara Gleason, Co-Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited of Eugene and North Eugene Discover a refuge in your own backyard®  Email  2510 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR 97405 • (541) 844-1788 • Website    1056 Green Acres Road, Suite 104, Eugene OR 97408 • (541) 505-9563 • Website  Online Orders  •  Tips To Clean Bird Feeders  •  Watch on YouTube Poles and Baffles  •  ACOPIAN Bird Savers  Summary Food and Water Pests Window challenges Cover and safety for little birds from Bird Bullies Four-legged invasive creatures And more...   Support us by sharing this Podcast with people you know ~ We appreciate and value your comments to bring you information that resonates with you... and keep this Podcast alive! Track your home's value and discover ways to leverage your equity.  Check out your complimentary Home Digest   My clients love it!  Check out your complimentary Market Explorer – Watch neighborhoods you are interested in potentially investing in property.  Completely free of charge with no obligation! Don't miss out on other helpful tips for homeownership. Visit the Category that resonates with your life today Home Improvement  Maximize investment, Smart maintenance to-do's Buying To Invest  What to look for, Property Search, Get Pre-Approved! Selling Property  Home or Land, Senior adults downsizing, Value Report Homeowners Best Moves  Bonus episodes about Financial Planning, Market Updates, Trailers about the show and interviews with Real Estate Brokers. FOLLOW anywhere you find your favorite Podcast - Search for Homeowners Best Real Estate Moves The show will stay in your Show Library for easy access while traveling  Listen to Audio Player on your computer: click here Facebook Page Homeowners Best Real Estate Moves Listen on your computer Podcast.JudyCasad.com Send me your feedback, questions and topic suggestions. Who knows? You just might be a guest on our next show! Your Go-To Podcast!  Created for Property Owners - to maximize your investment - even if you do not plan to sell.  Selling your home tips.  Buyers learn many aspects of home ownership and the buying process.  Senior adults learn about downsizing and financial support.  Guests offer sound advice, tips and experience.  Your Host, Judy Casad Real Estate   |  ABR, SRES, Top Producer, Certified Negotiator, Member of Multi-Million Dollar Club of Lane County, Affiliated with Windermere Real Estate, Lane County, Licensed to help you Buy or Sell in the State of Oregon.  Call Judy to start planning your next move!   541-968-2400   judy@windermere.com - www.judycasad.com We do not receive any compensation for mentioning or endorsing product or services discussed in the episode. My Brokerage compensation comes to me upon the closing of a sale. By using the Promo Code OWNHOME to start your own show, I do receive a small kick-back and you receive up to 2 months free service with Libsyn. I value your support and your feedback to keep this show continuing to bring You, a wealth of information! If you are have been thinking about creating your own Podcast show, you can support us by using our unique promo code OWNHOME to get up to 2 months of free podcasting service with Libsyn!  Get your show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify -anywhere you want- get critical stats to help you grow, find all the tools and support you need to sound your very best - you can even do video!  Really bring your podcast to life with Libsyn. Use our unique Libsyn promo code OWNHOME and get podcasting today!   Click HERE to start!  

Watering the lawn, handling spring flowers, and Mother's Day gift ideas from Wild Birds Unlimited.

Today on Conscious Talk we'll talk to Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, Washington. You know how we love nature, so today's show is going to the birds. Website: www.gardiner.wbu.com

Today on Conscious Talk we'll talk to Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, Washington. You know how we love nature, so today's show is going to the birds. Website: www.gardiner.wbu.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Invasive bugs you may encounter this summer, plus, Mother's Day gift ideas from Wild Birds Unlimited.

History of Indian Marker trees, welcoming new friends NG Turf & Wild Birds Unlimited, and the variety of woodpeckers in Georgia

Today on Conscious Talk we'll talk to Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, Washington. You know how we love nature, so today's show is going to the birds. Website: www.gardiner.wbu.com

Today on Conscious Talk we'll talk to Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, Washington. You know how we love nature, so today's show is going to the birds. Website: www.gardiner.wbu.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk to Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, Washington. You know how we love nature, so this show is going to the birds. We learn everything we can about birding.

Depression. Anxiety. Stress in the workplace. It's not getting better. What can organizations do to foster a supportive work culture and prioritize employees' mental health and well-being?   Our rock star podcast panel today: Liz Solar of Solar Media, Northeast Color's Derrick Ableman, and Wild Birds Unlimited's Paul Pickett!   Thanks to our newest sponsor, Adplorer! And thanks to AnswerConnect and the all-new Brand J!

Looking to invest in the perfect pet franchise? Prepare for a deep dive into the world of pet franchises and investment opportunities in 2023! In this episode, we'll leave no stone unturned as we delve into extensive financial details, growth prospects, market trends, and franchise-specific insights for the top 5 contenders: Woof Gang Bakery, Pet Supplies Plus, Dogtopia, Petland, and Wild Birds Unlimited. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of each franchise's initial fees, total investment costs, support systems, and what sets them apart in the pet industry. Don't miss this chance to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to make informed investment decisions for the year ahead. Tired of your job? Thinking of starting or buying a business? Take our Biz Quiz to filter through over 10,000 business opportunities today! https://www.vettedbiz.com/quiz-test/ Need help finding the right franchise? Click here: https://www.vettedbiz.com/franchise-search/ #PETFranchises #FranchiseFindings If you are looking for more information, you can connect with us through our networks:  https://www.vettedbiz.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vettedbiz/  https://www.facebook.com/vettedbiz 

SMary Robson and Christie Lassen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Gardiner, review the biological structure of feathers and their effect on individual bird survival and behavior. (Airdate: October 19, 2022) Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

Everything Birds: Interview With Rich Edie From Wild Birds Unlimited

July is Window Strike Awareness month, so we thought we'd repost this episode from 2021 about how we can prevent window strike deaths. Summary:Window strikes are scary for us and can be deadly for birds. Cheryl and Kiersten shed some light on why it happens and how we can prevent it. Show Notes: https://abcbirds.org www.thezoologicalworld.com/how-birds-see/ www.featherfriendly.com Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

As Jim Carpenter tells it, he was “an unemployed bird watcher” in 1981 when he decided to open a feed store in Broad Ripple called Wild Birds Unlimited. Today, there are 365 franchised locations in the chain founded by Carpenter and his wife, Nancy—and the couple has a jaw-dropping new roost for watching birds. In 2021, they bought a former golf course in northern Zionsville so it could it slip back into its natural state. The decision to buy the 215-acre Wolf Run Golf Club for $5.5 million was a bit of a gamble. The Carpenters were banking on Zionsville officials to buy the land from them—albeit at a discount from their purchase price—so it could be a town nature park. It took about two years, but the town council agreed last month to free up funds to pay $4.5 million for the land—which is now assessed at $6 million—and another $1 million to help prepare for its launch as Carpenter Nature Preserve. Jim and Nancy Carpenter have for years practiced this kind of conservation philanthropy. They hosted the IBJ Podcast outside Wolf Run's old clubhouse—amid a cacophony of songbirds—for an interview to discuss why they took a chance on buying the golf course, how they'll stay involved with the preserve, and how they envision the property evolving. They also provide an update on how Wild Birds Unlimited fared during the pandemic, riding the sudden wave of interest in backyard recreation. The IBJ Podcast is brought to you by Taft.

Summary: Join Cheryl and Kiersten as we celebrate Father's Day by talking about some of the best bird dads!  Show Notes:  Emperor Penguins - earthsky.org Cassowary - https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/12/02/2580070.htm Emu - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/emu-parenthood Ostrich - https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/birds/ostrich-facts/ Rhea - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rhea_americana/ https://www.audubon.org/news/five-fathers-day-lessons-really-great-bird-dads Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Let's manifest that money, honey! All about it today with Expert Business Expander and Money Mentor Jenn Kennedy, who is experienced, wise, hilarious and so dynamic at explaining this subject– one that can feel so complex and intimidating (I speak from experience). In this fantastic and life changing conversation, we cover: Her process in buying a house and expanding trust Her house buying mantra There's no “one right way” to manifest What we are calling in when we say “I'm not doing it right” or “I need to figure it out” How she got to where she is today and built what she does Overcoming the ‘shoulds' of money Childhood programming that money is outside of us The stuckness of money in our body The two realities we live in What are your belief systems and how can you dissect and change them? How to find our worthiness Reframing “I don't know how” Understanding and anchoring the understanding of our value Encoding the abundant feeling within our DNA Knowing your responsibility as a million-dollar leader if you're calling in 7 figures and up How she overcomes the moments of discouragement Cultivating a group of people to remind you when you forget Respecting the doubt that comes up and recognizing it's there to teach you something Giving and feeling how good it feels “I'm meant to receive massive amounts of money for what I do” The Law of Compensation Getting in touch with the bigger picture The power of psychedelics What her day is like and how she flows with it and creates in her routine Her bedtime routine and what she dreams of when falling asleep Follow Jenn: https://www.instagram.com/thejennkennedy/ and learn more: https://www.thejennkennedy.com/starthere Hear more from her on other podcasts: https://www.thejennkennedy.com/podcast-features Mentioned in this episode: "Law of Divine Compensation” Marianne Williamson; Hannah Eden; Wild Birds Unlimited; Abraham Hicks "Ask and It Is Given"; "A Happy Pocket Full of Money" Please share, rate, review, subscribe! Let's get you to your HAPPIEST and most RADIANT! Book a call to apply to work together one-on-one:  https://amyedwards.as.me/15mincall Get my new FREE course "The Ageless Mindset: The Ultimate Guide to Look Younger and Feel Happier!" HERE: https://best-you-life.teachable.com/p/the-ageless-mindset-the-ultimate-guide-to-look-younger-feel-happier Get the full course “The Youthfulness Hack: The Secret System to Reverse Aging Fast and Create a New, Radiant You!” Out now! https://best-you-life.teachable.com/p/the-youthfulness-hack Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe – and share with a friend! It means so much! Thank you! And join the mailing list today to stay up to date! https://www.amyedwards.com/  HigherDOSE 15% off with code MAGIC15 and use link:  https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1336029&u=3517348&m=87497&urllink=&afftrack= Glow serum https://shrsl.com/3w0ya Mask https://shrsl.com/3w0ye 10% off WAANDS:https://waands.com/?ref=amyedwards Or use code AMYEDWARDS for 10% off the CERVIX WAND: https://waands.com/products/cervix-wand?ref=GKWwgfA1tYGAd Amy's hair by https://www.thecollectiveatx.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-amy-edwards-show/message

We know the white-wing doves are back in town and not everyone is happy about it! If you're having some high blood pressure moments at your feeder, listen to this classic episode for a few tips to deal with these unwanted visitors. Summary: Doves driving you crazy? Pigeons eating you out of house and home? Grackles taking over your backyard? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they reveal ways to outsmart these pesky visitors. Show Notes: dentification: www.allaboutbirds.org Pigeon guards, feeders, and seed: Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa https://mesa.wbu.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Looking for a unique way to help your feathered friends? Check out this classic episode to find out how your breakfast can help birds. Summary:Cheryl and Kiersten talk about bird-friendly breakfast items! Yes, just drinking a cup of coffee or tea and eating pancakes with maple syrup can help save the future of our songbirds. Listen as our co-hosts tell you all about bird-friendly coffee, eco-friendly tea, and bird-friendly maple syrup. Show Notes:  Bird-friendly coffee links: https://nationalzoo.edu/migratory-birds/about-bird-friendly-coffee https://nationalzoo.edu/migratory-birds/about-bird-friendly-coffee-online https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.emeraldology.com/9-best-certified-bird-friendly-and-organic-coffee-roasters/ Eco-friendly Tea links: www.goingzerowaste.com/sustainable-and-eco-friendly-tea-brands/ www.rainforest-alliance.org https://elephantfriendlytea.com www.fairtrade.net https://www.ethicalteapartnership.org https://inttea.com This blog was also used in our research: www.abirdylife.com Maple Syrup links: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/04/turning-maple-syrup-forests-bird-friendly-habitat https://vt.audubon.org/conservation/working-lands/landing/bird-friendly-maple-project   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

The Heat is on its way. Listen to this classic episode to find out how you can help your backyard birds survive the heat of a desert summer. Summary: Cheryl and Kiersten dive into complicated topic of water in Arizona. Find out where Arizona's water comes from, how important it is to our birds, and learn how we can do our part to conserve water for all our futures. Show Notes: A big Thank You to Rob Clarkson, wildlife biologist, for answering some questions about water conservation in Arizona. Also a big Thank You to Gretchen Beaubier, local naturalist, who contributed information for his podcast as well. “Welcome to Subirdia” by John Marzluff Understanding Arizona's Groundwater: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories Data Center in Mesa, AZ article: www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/huge-data-center-arizona-water-concerns Audubon Near you: www.Audubon.org The Nature Conservancy: www.nature.org American Rivers: www.americanrivers.org Center for Biological Diversity: www.biologicaldiversity.org Water for Arizona Coalition: www.waterforarizona.com Desert Four o'clock pictures: www.wildflower.org   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

It's always a great time for a clean feeder! Listen to this classic episode to find out how to keep your backyard birds healthy. Summary:Disease is a part of nature but we can help keep our feeding areas healthy for our feathered friends. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss the types of diseases we can see at our feeders and how to keep our backyard birds healthy when visiting our feeders. Show Notes: https://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/bird-diseases.html https://feederwatch.org/learn/sick-birds-and-diseases/ https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/bird-diseases-parasites Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Fledging season is here once again, so we've reposted a favorite episode about this time of year. Take a listen and enjoy! Summary: It's fledging season! Cheryl and Kiersten talk about the Do's and Don'ts of what to do when we see a fledging bird out of their nest. Join them to find out how to identify a fledgling vs. a hatchling and how we can best help our backyard songbirds. Show Notes: PDF of Wild Bird Rehabbers in Phoenix Area: https://azwildlife.org/resources/Documents/Wildlife%20Rehab%20Contact%20List.pdf IDing Baby Birds: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-identify-babybirds A Few articles on outdoor cat alternatives: https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/leash-walk-my-cat-ask-the-cat-daddy/ https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/indoor-cat-vs-outdoor-cat/   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

On today's show, Dean talks about spring and interacting with nature from your property. His guests include the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, Richard Armerding, and certified arborist and owner of Bob Loft the Tree Trimmer, Bob Loft. Dean also takes calls and answers questions about homes.

On today's show, Dean talks about spring and interacting with nature on your property. His guests include the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, Richard Armerding, and certified arborist and owner of Bob Loft the Tree Trimmer, Bob Loft. Dean also takes calls and answers questions about homes.

Since nesting season is upon us again, we thought we'd repost a favorite about how we should behave around our backyard friend's nests. Enjoy! Summary: It's Nesting Season again! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about some of the different types of nests our desert birds make and how we can help them be successful this year. Show Notes: Nest Box Sizes: www.nestwatch.org Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birdswww.naturescapes.com   Our New email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products. 

Ken Keffer was born and raised in Wyoming. As a vagabond naturalist, he has done a little bit of everything, from monitoring small mammal populations in Grand Teton National Park to researching flying squirrels in southeast Alaska, and monitoring Bactrian Camels in Mongolia's Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area. He's also worked as an environmental educator in Wyoming, northern New Mexico, coastal Maryland, along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio and Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, and in Des Moines, Iowa. He recently put down roots in Bloomington, Indiana, where he and his wife Heather Ray own the Wild Birds Unlimited nature shop. Ken is currently an officer for the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Learn More Here: https://www.kenkeffer.net  Buy a Knife from Malone Knives: https://bit.ly/3VmikEh   Check Out Badger Claw Outfitters Here: http://bit.ly/3jYeJOA  15% Off Discount Code: podcast1  Get 10% off Absolute Aid Products: https://bit.ly/3px2Jnt  Discount Code: APTITUDE10  Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/Aptitudeoutdoor  More Aptitude Outdoors here: https://bit.ly/2YLp82N  

Summary: Ground feeding can be quite controversial. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tackle this topic talking about the good and bad, and giving s few tips on doing it responsibly.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Seed Block Recipe: Bird Seed Block Recipe Ingredients                                                    Tools 5 cups birdseed                                             Large mixing bowl ½ cup Bark Butter (optional)*                     Whisk or Fork 1 cup warm water                                         Spoon 2 packets unflavored gelatin                        Mold-muffin tin No sugar added dried fruit (optional)                                   Directions Arrange dried fruit in tin in desired pattern. (optional) Place warm water in mixing bowl. Sprinkle in gelatin. Whisk until dissolved. Whisk in Bark Butter until mostly dispersed (may have few chunks). Mix in birdseed and more dried fruit if desired. Stir until well combined. Spoon mixture into mold and press. Let sit for 24 hours. Gently flip over mold to release cakes. Let sit another 24 hours to dry completely. Store in dry area. Place on flat, heavy plate or flat paving stone. Enjoy watching your birds! *Please do not substitute peanut butter for Bark Butter. Peanut butter has too much sugar and peanut oils which are not good for the birds. Bark Butter is formulated specifically to give birds balanced high protein nutrition with added calcium. You do not need to add it if you don't like. Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to the Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States.  (bird calls and songs play)   Kiersten – Intro: Today's Feathered Desert episode is about a slightly controversial topic and that is ground feeding birds. We're going to talk about should we do it or should we not. It is a very polarized issue especially in the Phoenix Valley where many areas have bans on bird feeding.   Cheryl- First let's start off with a definition of what ground feeding birds is. When we talk about ground feeding birds, we mean putting food on the ground to intentionally attract birds to a specific area. Whether that is loose seed, block seed, or bread (which we do not recommend), if you are placing it on the ground or in a dish on the ground, this is considered ground feeding.   Kiersten – The title of the episode is Ground Feeding: Yah or Nah so let's look at some of the Yah first. When you do ground feed you will get a lot of birds. So, if your goal is to attract birds to your yard, you will definitely do it with ground feeding. The types of birds you can attract in the Phoenix Valley will include House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Inca Doves, Collared Doves, and Rock Pigeons when you ground feed. If you live in the right area, you could attract Gambel's Quail as well. That's all I've got for the Yah, honestly.   Cheryl – Let's move on to the Nah's, then. The first Nah is that you'll attract a lot of House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Inca Doves, Collared Doves, and Rock Pigeons when you ground feed.  These are the types of birds that most people don't want to attract to their yards. They are large, eat a lot of food and leave behind a lot of poo.   Kiersten – Speaking of poo that leads us to Nah number two. When you ground feed, you're encouraging birds to walk through their own, and other birds', feces. Birds are actually very clean animals. They do not want to get their feet or feathers soiled because that directly affects their health and ability to fly well. In the wild, they do not walk through their own feces to get to food nor do they overcrowd an area with a limited amount of food. When we offer them a resource that they cannot turn down, such as a large quantity of food in one place it attracts too many birds that will stay too long and come in contact with a lot of poo. Coming in contact with this poo facilitates the transmission of diseases.  Disease transmission is Nah number three. Ground feeding birds can transmit diseases like avian flu, aspergillosis, salmonellosis, avian pox, and mycoplasmal conjunctivitis aka House Finch Eye Disease. These diseases can spread between birds easily at a ground feeding site because it attracts a lot of birds to one area that might not encounter each other in the wild. The other problem it that many of these diseases are zoonotic which means they can be transmitted from birds to people. People with a compromised immune system are especially susceptible.   Cheryl – Nah Number 4 is how much your neighbors are going to hate you. The larger doves and pigeons that you will be attracting to our yard with ground feeding will not just stay in your yard. They will sit on your neighbor's roof, fence, or trees just as they will do in your yard. When they begin to poo in large quantities or make a lot of noise, your neighbors may get a it upset. Also depending on where you live, the city may have a ban on ground feeding birds. If your neighbor complains the city will get involved.  So…our recommendation is to avoid ground feeding. Using feeders that hang, either tube feeders or cylinder feeders, reduces the number of birds that can eat in one area at one time and limits the amount of food they have access to at one time. Birds that forage on the ground will have access to some of this food also because some of the food will fall on the ground as birds eat. When using hanging feeders, you will attract fewer ground feeding birds.   Kiersten – Now we know some of you really like ground feeding, especially when you have quail that visit your yard, so we have a few tips to allow you to continue enjoying your bird feeding hobby while keeping the birds and yourself healthy and keeping your neighbors happy, too.             One thing you can do is use a good quality food with no fillers or shells that attract nothing but doves and pigeons. Something like a No-Mess food, carried by Wild Birds Unlimited or other specialty bird feeding stores, that contains shelled black oil sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and a bit of millet or a No-Mess Quail Blend that is shelled millet, a tiny amount of cracked corn, and some shelled black oil sunflowers. When you use this food only sprinkle a handful at a time, not the entire 20-pound bag at once. This will limit the resource which in turn limits the number of birds that will visit the area at one time, but you'll still get to see the birds that you love to see.   Cheryl - Another way to responsibly ground feed is to use smaller seed blocks than what are typically sold in stores. The ground feeding blocks typically sold are usually about 4 pounds of seed and attract too many birds. Either break down the larger blocks and use only small pieces at a time, or make your own using a recipe with good quality seed, unflavored gelatin, and Bark Butter. We'll include a recipe in our show notes that is easy to make and healthy for the birds! Put your small, muffin sized seed blocks out when you know the quail will be visiting. This will let the quail eat the block and prevent too many doves and pigeons from showing up.   Kiersten – It think we both side on the side of Nah for ground feeding birds. There is definitely more cons than pros, so we will encourage all our listeners to use hanging feeders when feeding the birds. For a good discussion of tube feeders versus cylinder feeders check out our episode by that name. For those of you who just can't give up ground feeding please consider our tips and check out the recipe for seed blocks in our show notes.    

Summary: There are so many types of bird feeders on the market and you may be asking which one is best! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss the differences, pros, and cons of tube feeders and cylinder feeders.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean. Show Notes: Tube and Cylinder Feeders: www.wbu.com/mesa Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert's What's That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds we share this amazing desert landscape with.   Cylinder Feeders versus Tube Feeders Kiersten: Intro: Welcome to the Feathered Desert. Today we're talking bird feeders. There seems to be two camps in the backyard bird feeding world when it comes to preferences of feeders and that is cylinder feeders and tube feeders. Sometimes people prefer one or the other and sometimes people use both. So, we're going to talk about the differences today!   Cheryl: Let's start off talking about what each feeder actually is. The cylinder feeders hold seed cylinders that are cylindrical in shape, are made of various seed mixtures, and are held together with unflavored gelatin. At Wild Birds Unlimited store, you can find feeders that hold cylinders of three different sizes, the stackable that looks like a hockey puck, the small cylinder which looks like a pillar candle and is 1.75 pounds of seed, and the large cylinder that is four pounds of seed.               The tube feeder is what you use loose seeds in and those are the feeders with the clear tube and perches for the birds to sit on. There are typically two types of tube feeder. One will have larger ports for seed mixes with larger seeds such as sunflower seeds and peanuts. The other tube feeder is aimed at finches and will have a tiny port that allows only Nyjer seed to come through. You don't want to get these two mixed up because the seeds cannot fit through the port properly.   Kiersten: Okay now that we know what each feeder actually is, let's talk about each one in a bit more detail. I know when we are working at the WBU in Mesa we often get customers who ask which is better. The best answer for that is whichever fits easily into your lifestyle, but there are a few pros and cons to each type of feeder. Looking at cylinder feeders. Pros: Very easy to replace the food. No messy seed you are scooping. Just open the top of your feeder and plop a new cylinder inside. You can change up the type of seed mixture very easily. Just buy a new flavor of cylinder. No need to use up a 20 lbs bag of seed before you try something new. Less seeds fall on the ground to attract unwanted larger birds that will remain nameless. Seed cylinders can last longer than one full tube feeder. Sometimes, depending on which birds you are feeding. Most cylinder feeders are a grid design or open to give birds access to the food, so cleaning these feeders is much simpler than a tube feeder. Although you still need to make sure you are cleaning them. The gris design is also helpful for cutting back on larger birds getting to the food because only smaller birds are good at clinging. Not 100%. Cons: Buying cylinders can be more expensive than buying loose seed. The seed cylinder will dissolve in heavy or all-day rain. It may take the birds a little bit longer to try out this kind of feeder if they are not used to it, but once they know what it is they'll be all over it. Cheryl: Now let's look at the tube feeders. Pros: You can buy four different sizes at WBU stores and that lets you determine how much food you wish to give the birds access to at a time. You can mix your own seed blends if you like. If you don't like a pre-made seed blend you can custom make your own. The style is pretty universal so birds may be attracted to it a bit faster than a cylinder feeder. Although remember that any new feeder can take the birds a little while to use. More nuisance animal deterrent options available. The tube offers better protection against the rain. Cons: It is typically easier for larger birds to use the perches. Depending on how you feel about that you may not like this feeder as well. It can be a bit messier with the seed falling through the ports when a heavy wind blows or a large bird jostles the feeder. Birds can typically eat through the food faster because they don't have to work at getting the seed off of a cylinder of seed. Can be more difficult to clean, but you can use a bottle brush to get down the tube and into the port holes.   Kiersten: Those are some pros and cons to both cylinder feeders and tube feeders that will hopefully make choosing a style easier for you. When you go to your local Wild Birds Unlimited or bird feeding hobby store look at both styles and see which one you like. Ultimately, the best feeder is the one that fits into you lifestyle and is the easiest for you to clean.

Susan and her amazing staff welcomed us to her store called Wild Birds Unlimited in Sudbury MA. She has been at this location for over 30 years. This place is dangerous folks, in a good way, as there are so many great things to buy! Susan also owns another store in Woburn MA. Backyard feeding of birds is so fun. Check out their info at: www.sudbury.wbu.com & www.woburn.wbu.comHOT items for the Winter: Hot Pepper Bird Food, helps with squirrels Be seasonally savvy when feeding wild birds. In the Winter they need more FAT.  Water is also very important to provide for wild birds for their overall health. Kelly & Kim went shopping after the podcast....guess what they picked up? Thank you for listening!Podcast Jingle Podcast Jingle Created by Kim Mixed by Kostas www.itisRUFFoutthere.com

Summary: In this episode we tackle some listener questions at the end of 2022.   For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.   Show Notes: Liberty Wildlife: https://libertywildlife.org Wild at Heart: https://wildatheartraptors.org Parrots as pets: https://naturalencounters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/companion-parrots-final.pdf https://avalonaviary.com/is-a-parrot-right-for-you.aspx High Quality Bird Food: www.wbu.com/mesa   New Podcast: tenthingsilikeabout.podbean.com; or search Apple podcast and Spotify for Ten Things I Like About...   Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com   Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com   Transcript Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert's What's That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds we share this amazing desert landscape with.   Kiersten - Hello everyone! We thought we'd end the year with a listener questions episode. These are some questions we've heard several times from different listeners. We're going to jump in feet first with Cheryl and our first question.   Cheryl – Can I buy an owl as a pet here in Phoenix?               We know it sounds crazy but we have had more than one person ask us this. You cannot legally buy any bird protected under the Migratory Bird Act as a pet in the United States. That includes Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Great Horned Owls, or any other owls naturally found here in Arizona. It is a federal offensive to own the birds or house them in your home without proper permits from Arizona Game and Fish and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. If you are seeing advertisements or have heard from people that it's legal, you are being misinformed. People who are trying to sell them to you are breaking the law and have most likely taken them out of the wild illegally, as well. Besides being illegal, it's also a great disservice to these beautiful animals to take them away from their homes.               Beyond this being illegal, we don't really know why someone wants an owl in their house as a pet. You have to feed them mice, baby chicks, and ground up horse meat to provide them a well balanced diet. If you do not, they can develop metabolic bone disease which makes their bones brittle and is a terrible way to slowly die. We know this is a harsh topic but we want to make it very clear why having an owl as a pet is a bad idea.               Remember these birds are also called raptors for a reason. They have large, sharp talons on their feet that they use to catch prey. Those don't stop being sharp or dangerous just because you decided to keep them as a pet.               There are so many other reasons why they make bad pets. Basically, we wanted to let you know that owls as pets are illegal and are an extremely bad idea, as well as unfair to the bird. If you see advertisements for owls for sale here in the Phoenix Valley, please report it to Arizona Game and Fish so they can get these birds back to where they need to be. If you are interested in working as a rehabilitator for owls you can help at organizations such as Liberty Wildlife and Wild at Heart and become a licensed rehabber. We will list contact information in our show notes.   Kiersten – Do the wild lovebirds found in the Phoenix Valley make good pets?               The answer to this is definitely no. Our resident lovebirds do descend from pet birds but they have lived in the wild for many generations and have re-wilded themselves. They are now wild birds that have no interest in living in our homes nor do they need our help to survive. They know just how to make it on their own out there in the desert. It is completely okay to offer supplementary bird feeding stations in your yard as many WBU customers do.               We have had some reports that people may be capturing wild lovebirds and selling them as pet birds. There is no law against this as there is with the owls because these lovebirds are not native to North America. They are native parrots of Africa that were released in small numbers about 35 years ago here in the Valley. But they are still wild animals that do not deserve to be taken out of the wild and forced to live out the rest of their lives in a cage in someone's house.               If you are interested in lovebirds as pets, please seek out a reputable breeder who breeds captive born lovebirds responsibly. These will make better pets because they are used to people interacting with them closely and have never experienced life in the wild. Capturing wild individuals will stress them to the point that it can impact their health, leaving them open to disease and shortening their lives. To make sure you are purchasing from a breeder on the up and up, ask to see their breeding setup and the parents of the birds you will be purchasing. You should see obvious signs of the birds pairing with each other such as living in a cage together, making their own nests, and even raising the young themselves. If the person you are buying from refuses this request move on to someone else. Also, if the price of the birds is too good to be true, it probably is someone who is capturing them from the wild and wants to sell the birds as soon as possible.               Choosing to have a bird for a pet is something that is not for every household. I know there are a ton of social media videos that make it seem like it's easy and super fun to have birds living in your house, but it's not for everyone. Please do your homework before you chose this animal as a pet. We will post some links in our show notes to a few insightful websites that can help you make an informed decision.   Cheryl – What should I do about my bird feeders when it rains?               This is a great question but not often one we have to think about outside of monsoon season here in the Phoenix Valley. If the day calls for light, passing showers you don't have to do much of anything. Both tube feeders that hold loose seed and cylinders that are exposed to the rain will be fine, if it is only light rain. After the weather has settled, go out and shake your tube feeders with the loose seed. If the seed shakes and does not clump, no moisture has gotten inside and the seed will be fine for the birds to continue to eat. If you have clumping seeds, you need to throw those seeds out, clean your feeder and put fresh seed in. This will help prevent the growth of mold that can be detrimental to the bird's health and yours.                 If we have a heavy rain or rain that lasts all day, cylinders made with seeds and gelatin will dissolve. Plan ahead and take those feeders in or you will have a messy, goopy clump of food on the ground the next day that no one wants to eat. For tube feeders, it depends on where you have them hanging. If they are under a tree or awning that gives them some shelter from the weather, they will probably be fine. Just check them once the weather calms down as we discussed before. The same advice goes for your suet feeders. If they are in an area where the rain will get to it, the suet will crumble out of the feeder. Purchasing a weather guard for use during monsoon season can also be a great way to shelter food if you have a pole system in the middle of your yard.               Do not worry about the birds during the rain. Most often they are hunkering down in a tree somewhere waiting out the rain themselves.               While we are on the subject of cleaning, after a rain you should also clean out and refill your bird baths. In case something has washed off a roof or trees that might have chemicals in them that are bad for the birds, you don't want them drinking that or bathing in it.   Kiersten – What is the difference between Wild Birds Unlimited seed and seed I find at the grocery store or hardware stores?               Cheryl and I have gotten this question a lot over the years. We both use seed from Wild Birds Unlimited and as many of our longtime listeners know we are both currently employees of a WBU store. Having said that, we both used seed from WBU before we began working at a store because they have a no-waste guarantee and use human grade seed in their mixes.               So, the difference is that WBU does not allow any seed that will not readily be eaten by songbirds in the seed they sell. Other stores, and by other stores I mean stores that do not focus on outdoor bird feeding, because there are other specialty stores out there besides WBU that carry excellent seed as well, other stores do not care how much inedible seed is in their mixes. Seeds such as milo, cracked corn, wheat, and canary seed are all items that the songbirds we want to attract will not eat. They will just sit at the feeder and toss it to the ground digging through the mix for the handful of seeds they will eat.               Then this attracts doves and pigeons which most of us do not want flocks of in our yards.               The seed at WBU will be more expensive but you are paying for seed that they birds will eat and not filler they will not eat.               Let's talk specifically about Nyjer seed, now. This is the small black seeds that fit in finch feeders and are often sold inside socks already at other stores. Is WBU Nyjer better than other stores? Without any bias on my part, the answer is yes. WBU imports Nyjer from India which is where this aster plant grows natively. The plants are healthy there and abundant which makes their seeds robust and full of nutrients. Some farmers have figured out how to grow this seed in NA in large enough fields to make it worth their while and birds will eat these seeds but the aster plant does not grow as well here, so the seeds lack some of the nutrients of the India seeds. If you give the finches a choice between the India seeds and the NA seeds they will pick the India seeds. I've seen this in my own backyard!   Cheryl – Why do the birds in the city eat French fries and potato chips but the ones in my yard leave that stuff alone and only eat the seeds I offer in my feeder?               This was a question from one of our co-workers and such an insightful one we thought it demanded a bit of discussion. We believe there are two reasons for this difference. One is that many of the birds that have adapted to living in the city are grain eating birds such as House Sparrows, Grackles, and Starlings. In the wild, these birds will eat different types of grains as well as seeds. French fries and potato chips are only a hop, skip, and jump away from a grain.               Many of us do have house sparrows at our backyard feeders but why would they eat poor quality food, like French fries, when they have the high-quality stuff, like black oil sunflowers seeds, that is in the feeder.               A second reason is probably cultural. The city birds learn to eat French fries and potato chips from their parents, while the backyard birds learn to eat from our native plants and our bird feeders.   Kiersten – Closing – We hope this episode has answered a few questions for all our listeners and as we say goodbye to 2022, we hope you'll keep enjoying the birds in 2023 by getting outdoors to watch our feathered friends, maybe join a citizen scientist group or two, and keep listening to The Feathered Desert.               Before we sign off Cheryl, do you mind if I make a shameless plug for the other podcast I started at the end of this year?               For those of you who like learning new things about all types of nature, I've started a podcast called Ten Things I Like About…and it's all about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. I'll be talking about the pangolin, the vaquita, and many other animals you've probably never heard of. Each topic consists of ten-episodes that are ten-minutes a piece and Cheryl occasionally co-hosts with me! So, check it out in 2023.

Today we've got a year-end wrap up with our Rock Stars Paul Pickett, CDO of Wild Birds Unlimited, Susan Boresow, CEO of Massage Heights, Diane Phibbs, EVP and CCO of Franchise Update Media, and Matt Haller, CEO of the International Franchise Association. We're reviewing 2022 and looking ahead at Business and Franchising in 2023. The panel discusses areas where they're focusing and deploying resources for franchise development, marketing, and staffing. And we'll make some predictions about the economy, sales, government, multi-unit and multi-brand franchise systems, social media, and more. Thanks to Hughes, Northeast Color, and Serviceminder. Shoutouts to Ashley Schuetz, CG Funk, #AFDR, #FLDC, #IFA2023, Brian Beers, #ElonMusk, #openforopportunity

On today's episode, we speak with Wild Birds Unlimited Chief Development Officer-EVP of Franchising, Paul Pickett. His career with Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU)has perfectly combined his love of birds, nature, and people. Paul joined the WBU team as the first full-time employee in 1989, shortly after graduating with his Master's Degree in Biology/Ornithology from the University of North Dakota. He has over 30 years of experience in working with potential franchisees as they join the WBU team and manages all of the real estate and legal responsibilities for the WBU system. Paul is a frequent speaker at franchising conferences and sits on the IFA's Franchise Relations Committee, Convention Committee, and Franchisor Forum. Additionally, Paul is one of the co-founders of the IFA Pride Council. One of the highlights of his career was chairing the 2018 Franchise Update Leadership and Development conference. In 2020, Paul was honored to receive the IFA Women's Franchise Committee Crystal Compass Award for his significant contributions to leadership within the franchise community.

Randy interviews Richard Edie of Wild Birds Unlimited.

In this episode, hosts Bobby and Cole are joined by Bo Lowery -- Vice President of Marketing at Wild Birds Unlimited. Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) is a 41 year old brand with more than 350 retail locations around the U.S. and Canada, with the goal of helping you find joy in your environment by inviting birds into the backyard. Bo has been with WBU for more than 20 years, and has been a part of their digital marketing transformation. In this podcast, you will learn where they started with email marketing (as the first enterprise customer of ExactTarget!), and how they have evolved their marketing strategy and used creativity and personalization to engage with their customers. (Also, be sure to listen for three bird fun facts shared by Bo!)

“Franchising is for everybody.” Mark Jameson of Propelled Brands and Paul Pickett of Wild Birds Unlimited share the mission of IFA's Pride Council, how franchise systems can be more inclusive of the LGBTQ community, and their own personal stories of rising to leadership positions in franchising while being authentic. And moderator Rikki Amos gives an overview of The IFA Foundation and The Diversity Institute. Special Guest: Rikki Amos.

In this episode, John & Brian recorded live from the Wild Birds Unlimited annual conference where our store owners gathered for their annual migration to refresh, learn and find new treasures. You'll hear some fun as well as heart-warming store owner stories. Who knows? Maybe one of them is from your neck of woods (or backyard).