Bird store spreading its wings in valley.

ALTHOUGH customers were surprised that anyone could make a business out of backyard birdfeeding, Jennie Ayers and Kris Campbell, co-owners of Wild Birds Unlimited in Woodland Hills, have managed to capitalize on one of the top hobbies in America. "Seventy million people in the United States create habitats for birds in their backyards," Ayers says. "It even surpasses gardening as a hobby." Ayers and Campbell visited a Wild Birds Unlimited shop in Seattle about a dozen years ago. They promised each other that one day, they'd start their own Wild Birds franchise together. The result is their store at 22110 Ventura Blvd.

While Wild Birds Unlimited does offer typical backyard birdfeeding equipment, like birdseed, birdhouses, and fountains. Ayers said that when they decided to create their own store, Campbell and Ayers sought "a new career in something where we felt we could contribute to society." They speak to community groups and elementary schools, free of charge, because they want to bring more people into the backyard birdfeeding world.

"We're not your typical retail business. People can spend 30 minutes to an hour and a half in our store. But, we can still get you your merchandise really quickly if you're in a hurry. People come in, watch the birds in the aviary upstairs, and they share photographs of birds and other wildlife they discover in their yards. There are no stereotypes among bird enthusiasts. Environmentalists, businessmen, and law enforcers use birdfeeding as a way to de-stress. Often, men who appear quite masculine on the surface come in, and we find out that they're crazy about hummingbirds, because hummingbirds are feisty, as well as beautiful.

"We also try to connect the community to nature through our nature speaker series. In February, a bat biologist came to the store, and gave a presentation to dispel myths about bats. We try to do one bat program each year. When you see how cute they are in person, the preconceived notions about vampire bats (which are not native to the United States) finally fade and people realize that bats are essential for the ecosystem; they can consume thousands of mosquitoes a night.

"We hope to include local bird artists' work in the upstairs room to encourage more community involvement. We're also expanding the product and gift line. We're always on the lookout for better ways to feed the birds. We're encouraged that people still do love nature."