2008-08-20 - Annapolis Mayor Proclaims "Wild Bird Center Day"

Glen Echo, MD - Wild Bird Centers of America hosted their annual convention in Annapolis, Maryland from August 5 until August 7. Mayor Ellen Moyer proclaimed Wednesday, August 6 "Wild Bird Center Day" during a lunch attended by the Mayor and announced by the Town Crier.

"Every year Wild Bird Centers of America and its franchisees gather together to recognize franchisee achievements and exchange ideas to enhance business practices." states Henrik Lehmann Weng, CEO, Wild Bird Centers of America. Mr. Lehmann Weng continues, "Annapolis was the perfect backdrop for such an event as its connection to nature, its green initiatives and its community involvement mirror the values of Wild Bird Centers of America and its franchisees."

Founder George Petrides, Sr. opened the first Wild Bird Center retail store in Glen Echo, Maryland. Annapolis is just one of many local cities in the Delmarva region to feature a Wild Bird Center store.

Wild Bird Center stores offer top-quality birdseed and exclusive seed blends proven to attract a variety of wild birds to customer’s backyards. In addition to an extensive selection of feeders, birdbaths, nest boxes and other bird feeding products, Wild Bird Center stores offer a variety of backyard and nature-oriented gifts, and binoculars. Customers especially enjoy the stores’ relaxing atmosphere, water sounds and bird songs in the background to ensure a special shopping experience

Established in 1985, Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. WBCA (www.wildbird.com) is a specialized franchisor with more than 80 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Each Wild Bird Center retailer is dedicated to helping customers enjoy a better backyard bird feeding experience; by providing the finest, field-tested products, outstanding customer service, and expert advice. Wild Bird Center stores also serve as an active community resource, providing demonstrations, educational workshops and children’s programs.

For more information contact Barbara Beck, Director of Marketing/Communications, barbara@wildbird.com, 301-229-9585 x202

2008-07-17 - WBC Franchisee Receives Roger Tory Peterson Award

Jamestown, New York - James M. Barry, President of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History awarded William Fenimore, author, educator, naturalist, field birder and Wild Bird Center franchisee, the Roger Tory Peterson Nature Education Achievement Award. This prestigious award was announced on July 1, 2008 in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Roger Tory.

The Roger Tory Peterson Nature Education Achievement Award is a national award given to individuals and communities in order to stimulate others to improve and expand the quality of nature education programs across the country.

Fenimore explains, "Birding has been the pathway for me into a life long enjoyment of the natural world. It has been my passion to share the joys of birding, especially with young children whom I hope will follow in a similar path."

Bill has been a very successful franchisee with the Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. in the Salt Lake City, Utah (www.wildbird.com/stores/lay) area since 2001. He conducts seminars and workshops educating the public about birds and their critical habitat needs, and he leads birding field trips for clients from around the globe.

Mr. Fenimore is a birding advocate who expresses his enthusiasm through involvement with numerous programs and organizations, including as a leading organizer of the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, author of "Bird Sighting" a weekly Salt Lake Tribune column, vice-chair of the Utah Division of the Wildlife Resources Advisory Council, and now author of the Backyard Bird state identification guide series.

Bill also serves as Trustee and Board member of such diverse organizations as the Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation, Ogden Nature Center and Utah Wildlife Board Nominating Trustee (appointed by Utah Governor Jon Huntsman). The American Birding Association recently honored Fenimore in June 2008 with the Ludlow Griscom Award, its prestigious honor for outstanding contributions in Regional Ornithology.

Established in 1985, Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. WBCA (www.wildbird.com) is a specialized franchisor with more than 80 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Each Wild Bird Center retailer is dedicated to helping customers develop a better backyard birding experience, by providing the finest, field-tested products, old-fashioned customer service, and expert advice. Wild Bird Centers also serve as an active community resource, providing demonstrations, educational workshops and children's programs.

For more information contact Barbara Beck, Director of Marketing/Communications, 301-229-9585, x202.

2008-06-03 - WBC Awards Winners of the National Youth Photo Contest

Glen Echo, Maryland -- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) proudly announced the winners of the first annual 2008 Youth Refuge Photo Contest, a digital photo contest showcasing America's national wildlife refuges and the diverse wildlife that depend on them. Wild Bird Centers of America sponsored the contest by donating premier bird feeders to the first- through third- place winners in each age category.

George Petrides Sr., founder and chairman of Wild Bird Centers of America says his organization shares the NWRAs mission, stating, We support conservation programs and strive to improve the national wildlife refuge systems, making them more birder-friendly while educating birding enthusiasts to better understand the roles and benefits of our national wildlife refuge system. We are honored to be a part of this contest, particularly since it educates children, the future stewards of our planet, to be more environmentally aware.

Evan Hirsche, President of the NWRA agrees, More than ever, it is so important to ensure our young people have an opportunity to connect with the outdoors; photography is an excellent way to build kids' appreciation for our national wildlife refuges and the natural world.


The top five prize winners in the Senior Youth Category are Joshua Gahagan of Oakham, MA (First Place), Ian Davies of Medford, MA (Second Place), Zachary Peterson of Ipswich, MA (Third Place), Peter DellaVecchia of North Salem, NY (Fourth Place); and Shane McVeigh of Homer, AK (Fifth Place). The top five prize winners in the Junior Youth Category are Bryan Goslin of Vancouver, WA (First Place), Erin McBride of Fairview, WY (Second Place), Rebecca Bartels of Farwell, NE (Third Place), Warren Smith of Starkville, MS (Fourth Place), and Liam Coddington of Huntsville, AL (Fifth Place). Visit http://www.refugenet.org/contest/2008YouthWinners.html to view all of the winning entries.

In addition to receiving bird feeders from Wild Bird Centers of America, all senior category winners received field guides from Houghton Mifflin and all junior category winners received a giant stuffed manatee and a years supply of Wild Puffs Cereal from Barbaras Bakery.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association wishes to express its great appreciation to all photo contest sponsors, including Wild Bird Centers of America, Houghton Mifflin and Barbaras Bakery for providing prizes and would like to recognize Zenfolio for hosting the contest on its website, www.zenfolio.com. The NWRA also thanks the photo contest judges who contributed their time and expertise to selecting the winners. They are Matt Poole, Randy Robinson, and Wil Hershberger.

Established in 1985, Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. is a specialized franchise system with more than 85 stores nationwide. Each Wild Bird Center retailer is dedicated to helping customers build a better backyard birding experience, by providing the finest, field-tested quality products, old-fashioned customer service from fellow bird enthusiasts, and expert advice. Wild Bird Centers also serve as an active community resource, providing demonstrations, educational workshops and childrens programs. For more information, visit the WBCA website at www.wildbird.com or call (800) 945-3247, x202.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, nationwide membership organization. For more information, visit http://www.refugassociation.org.

2008-04-17 - WILD BIRD FRANCHISEE RECEIVES LUDLOW GRISCOM AWARD

Glen Echo, Maryland - The American Birding Association has selected Wild Bird Centers of America franchisee William Fenimore, owner of the Wild Bird Center of Layton, Utah, as this year's recipient of the prestigious Ludlow Griscom Award.

The American Birding Association (ABA) Ludlow Griscom Award is one of five ABA awards that recognize various contributions dedicated individuals make to the cause of birds, birders and birding. The ABA Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions in Regional Ornithology was bestowed on Bill Fenimore for his contributions to dramatically advance ornithological awareness throughout the state of Utah.

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2008-04-01 - Wild Bird Center Customer Wins Top Prize in Photo Contest

Washington, D.C. , April 1, 2008 - National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) recently announced the winners of the 2008 Refuge Photo Contest, a digital photo contest showcasing America's national wildlife refuges and the diverse wildlife that depend on them. The winners were announced in celebration of the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuge on March 14, 1903, and mark the third year of this exciting contest.

Amateur photographer Dr. Mack Barham of Monroe, Louisiana won top honors in the contest, which received more than 2,000 images from over 150 refuges from 45 states and territories. Dr. Barham, a Wild Bird Center customer, gave Monroe franchisee Sissy Miller and Sean Miller a sneak peek of his photograph before submitting it for entry. Barham's winning photograph is an amazing shot of egrets captured in fog at Black Bayou Lake Natural Wildlife Refuge. Barham claims, "Really, that shot was an accident. I wasn't there looking for anything like that, but when I saw the egrets, and then the fog, I knew I wanted to shoot it. It is one of the most unique photographs I have ever gotten." To read more click here