Well… I just turned 60.

There. I said it. Sixty.

Who would have ever thought I’d make it this far? Certainly not the six-year-old version of me who first discovered birding with my mom. Back then, I had no idea that those early mornings watching birds would become a lifelong passion—or that five decades later, I’d still be looking out the window wondering which bird just landed on the feeder.

Actually, when I was six, my big ambition wasn’t to become a birder.

I wanted a dog.

My mom, however, apparently had a different plan.

She decided that before I could have a dog, I needed to demonstrate that I was responsible enough to look after something living. Her brilliant test?

A bird feeder.

I suppose Mom figured that if I couldn’t remember to keep the feeder filled, there was little hope of me remembering to feed a dog.

So, while other six-year-olds were dreaming about puppies, I was apparently being evaluated on my seed-management skills.

Thankfully, I passed. I finally got my dog when I was 11.

But somewhere along the way, something else happened. That little bird feeder experiment turned into a lifelong fascination with wild birds and nature.

And here I am, 54 years later, still doing it.

I’ve watched generations of birds come and go. I’ve learned their calls, their habits, their personalities and, occasionally, their ability to completely destroy a carefully arranged feeder setup.

I’ve discovered that squirrels possess extraordinary determination, chickadees have remarkable personalities, cardinals know exactly when they look their best, and blue jays have never met a peanut they didn’t like.

And somehow, a childhood hobby eventually became a business. About 25 years ago, I opened the first Urban Nature Store.

At the time, I certainly didn’t have a master plan to build a business that would eventually grow to ten stores. I was simply following something I loved—birds, nature and helping other people discover the enjoyment I had experienced since I was a kid.

Looking back, it’s pretty amazing to think about.

A six-year-old kid who wanted a dog.

A bird feeder.

A lifelong fascination with birds.

And eventually, Urban Nature Store.

But here’s the important part:

I didn’t do it alone. Not even close.

Urban Nature Store exists because of the incredible people who have become part of the journey.

Our Team Urban Nature Store members are the heart of the business. They bring their knowledge, enthusiasm, humour and passion for nature to work every day. They help customers find the right feeder, choose the right seed, identify that mysterious bird in the backyard and, occasionally, explain once again why the squirrel has figured out how to defeat the “squirrel-proof” feeder.

But most importantly, they care. And then there are our customers. You are the reason we’re here.

Over the years, you haven’t simply been customers. You’ve become friends, fellow birders, storytellers and members of the Urban Nature Store family.

You’ve shared photographs of birds visiting your yards. You’ve told us about the first cardinal you saw, the hummingbird that returned after years away, or the owl that suddenly appeared in your backyard.

You’ve brought your children and grandchildren into our stores and introduced them to the wonderful world of nature. And you stood by us through some incredibly challenging times—including COVID.

Your support during those difficult years meant more than you probably realize.

Every visit, every purchase, every conversation and every “How are the birds doing?” helped keep this little birding dream flying. So, as I officially cross the big 60-year milestone, I’m not really thinking about getting older.

I’m thinking about getting another 20 or 30 years of birding under my belt.

There are still birds I haven’t seen. Places I haven’t explored. Stories I haven’t told. And, I suspect, a few squirrels I haven’t yet outsmarted.

I’m looking forward to more bird walks, more mornings with binoculars, more conversations in our stores, more new birders discovering the joy of nature—and hopefully many more years of watching birds with all of you.

When I look back, it’s hard to believe that something that started with a six-year-old boy and a bird feeder has turned into this incredible journey.

So, Mom… thank you for not buying me that dog right away.

And to everyone who has been part of the Urban Nature Store journey:

Thank you.

Thank you for believing in us, supporting us, laughing with us, sharing your bird stories and making every day interesting.

At 60, I may be a little older, a little wiser and perhaps slightly more experienced at identifying birds.

But I’m still that six-year-old kid who gets excited when something unexpected lands on the feeder.

And I hope I always will be.

Here’s to the next 20 or 30 years.

More birds.

More adventures.

More friendships.

And, hopefully…

a lot more bird seed.

See you in the backyard!

Paul Oliver

Founder of Urban Nature Store