Photo courtesy of PARKER FAMILY Birder Gordon Parker, left, of Reedsville, spends time checking out the sights with son Michael and granddaughter Paige this past July on Solomons Island, Md.

REEDSVILLE — When Gordon Parker was determined to find a way to distract his two young sons from becoming couch potatoes.

The Reedsville man thought he found the answer when he purchased a four-inch plastic bird feeder with suction cups that would stick to their playroom window.

“I wanted them to look at the birds instead of watching TV,” Parker explained. Seemed good in theory, except there was one problem.

Dear old dad was the one who ended up getting hooked.

“I was fascinated with the birds coming to the feeder,” Parker recalled. “I had no idea what they were. But I was amazed you could look in a book and tell what birds were

at the feeder.”

Of course, this was before the advent of the Internet.

Eventually, the interest in birds led Parker, now age 69, to open up an outdoor wild bird shop — Honey Creek Bill and Beak, located on Electric Avenue in Lewistown. The shop remained in business for nine years until Parker retired earlier this year.

Parker will speak to the Towpath Naturalist Society of Juniata and Mifflin County about birding during a program called “Backyard Birding,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Fellowship Hall, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lewistown. Attendees should use the rear entrance.

Imagine waking up to the sweet melodies of songbirds, watching vibrant flashes of color flit among the branches and capturing stunning photographs of birds right in your own backyard. Backyard birdwatching isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way to bring the wonders of nature up close, providing moments of tranquility as well as educational opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned birder capturing the perfect shot or a curious novice identifying your first finch, creating a haven for birds in your backyard can be deeply rewarding.

Parker believes there are two important aspects to backyard birding: feeding and putting up birdhouses. His presentation will cover a lot of best practices as well as the different types of materials to use, seeds, locations, etc. “Where you live makes a difference and the time of year,” he added.

Want to know more? You’ll have to stop by and listen to what Parker has to say. He said people’s interest in backyard birding really has taken flight over the past 15 to 20 years.

“During COVID, when people couldn’t go anywhere, they found out they had a lot more going on in their backyards than they thought,” Parker said. “It went up 1,000 percent.”

His shop was somewhat of a casualty of COVID. “I had to close my shop for three months during COVID,” Parker recalled. “I was taking orders and delivering bird seed to pay my bills.

“I remember the first day we reopened was the busiest day the shop ever — more so than Christmas or Mother’s Day — it was awesome,” Parker said.

Unfortunately, business was downhill after that. Supply chain issues affected availability and he has trouble replenishing popular products. When it seemed like conditions were improving a bit, skyrocketing inflation scared away many of his loyal customers.

“People had other things they needed to spend their money on,” Parker added.

Still, his shop’s website featured products like that plastic window bird feeder, which he claims are no longer available. It was prominently displayed on the site. “If you want one of those little window feeders, they are right to the left when you walk in the shop,” he said.

Even the Russia-Ukraine conflict did its damage as Ukraine is one of the world’s largest sunflower producers. “It made them hard to come by,” Parker said.

He believes backyard birding remains a go-to because it’s an ageless activity, meaning adults — either parents or grandparents — can spend time outdoors with today’s youth. “It’s a way to get them out to know nature more,” Parker said.

Parker admits he can identify most of the birds that are native to Pennsylvania backyards. “There are some birds that migrate through here that catch me off guard,” he quipped. “But for the most part (I know them). I was an old dog learning new tricks.”

Despite his prowess at identifying birds by sight, Parker certainly isn’t as proficient at hearing their calls. “I still have a lot of learning to do,” he added. “I’m flabbergasted how they (die-hard ornithologists) can pick out birds by their calls.”

Parker is also a member of the Blue Bird Society of Pennsylvania and is the Mifflin County coordinator for the group.

The Towpath Naturalists always welcome new members and guests. Annual dues are $10. For more information, call (717) 248-0883.