Big news from The Bird House!
As we all toasted to the New Year, behind the scenes at The Bird House something major happened! As of today, The Bird House has two new owners, and you just may know them! Liz Magnanti and Patti Pirz are the new owners of The Bird House. Liz and Patti have worked at The Bird House for 14 and 12 years respectively helping customers with their backyard birding needs, finding the perfect gift, giving you up-to-date information about birding and more! If you thought they were already owners that is for good reason.
The Bird House opened in 1994 and has remained under the leadership of its original owner, John Gerhard, since that time. John has always had the mindset of “hire good people, give them some direction, and get out of the way.” Under his leadership and advisement The Bird House has grown into the business you have all come to love and enjoy. The business specializing in bird houses, feeders, and seed. Since then, the store has expanded its offerings to include gardening tools, garden statuary, wind chimes, and unique nature gifts.
As we roll into 2022 we are excited to continue to provide you with the best for your backyard birds. You can look forward to an array of fun new gifts and items for the garden. We are also planning a full calendar of events to enjoy! We, at The Bird House, thank you for your patronage for the past 27 years and look forward to serving you for many more. Our motto is ‘Big enough to serve you, small enough to care.’
The Bird House is a proud member of the Pittsford Chamber of Commerce.
JOHN
The Bird House has satisfied my love for entrepreneurship in a business which adds to the quality of life in our community. I am pleased to be able to offer our customers an enjoyable shopping experience while enhancing their love of nature. Our continuing focus on superior customer service and a growing selection of bird, garden, and gift items is a challenge but a rewarding experience. As of 1/1/2022 I am retiring from the Bird House to enjoy more travel time.
PATTI
“My interest in nature and birds is inspired by my backyard bird feeder.”
The American Kestrel, aka Sparrow Hawk, is beautiful, fast and a little predator. One of my favorites!
My favorite hobbies are gardening dahlias, fishing (catch and release), playing with my three rabbits, and going to Disney World!”
LIZ
Liz is our calm in the storm. As our manager, she has a degree in Wildlife Conservation and has worked at various nature centers as a naturalist and environmental educator. When away from the Bird House Liz enjoys the outdoors, native gardening, baking, button-making and loud music!
EMILY
“Growing up I was always running barefoot outside hoping my mother would forget to call me inside for dinner”
I am currently a student studying athletic training at West Virginia University. I love the West Virginia scenery but for school breaks nothing beats coming home to Rochester.
I love listening to music on my record player, playing with my dogs, watching nature documentaries, and growing my indoor plant collection.
My favorite bird is an ostrich because it is a beautiful bird with character. It is the largest bird in the world and has three stomachs!
QUINN
Since I can ever remember, animals and the outdoors drew me in more than any truck or action figure could ever. I lunged at any opportunity to play outside, discover different kinds of life, and buy hoards of various field guides.
Although birds used to put me a little on edge when I was much younger, my fondness for them has dramatically grown since immersing myself in more nature. My favorite birds have for a long time have been seagulls and pigeons. They’re not only pretty unique in their simple, yet defined look, but their creative behavior among humans and food has always been a consistent source of entertainment for me. Hilarious stuff.
Recently starting my job at the Bird House has been enlightening and I couldn’t imagine a better place to work with the incredible staff that diligently work here every day. I’m excited to gain more and more experience here and I look forward to mixing more seed!
KIM
“My grandfather gave me bird books as a little girl and he had a mulberry tree outside a huge picture window at our cottage where we would bird watch. Cedar waxwings and cardinals would be the frequent visitors. I have fed the birds for as long as I can remember. My dad was an outdoors man and growing up I spent a lot of time with him in the woods watching the birds and animals.
I love spending time with my cows, bunnies, and other pets. I enjoy gardening, crocheting, baking, snowshoeing, and watching birds in my yard.
My favorite birds are wrens! House wrens and Carolina wrens! I love their songs and watching them in the yard along with goldfinches, chickadees, red breasted nuthatches, and catbirds. The thing I love most about birds is their songs and calls, they are amazing.”
LESLIE
“Although I’ve been growing indoor cacti since high school, I didnt’ become a true nature / bird appreciator until I became a big-time gardener 24 years ago. It took being surrounded by my gardens for me to recognize the wonder of birds and nature!
I would have to say that the nuthatch is my favorite bird. He turns mealtime into something different by eating upside down – totally a bird after my own heart!
My favorite hobbies are wine tasting, gardening, photography, flea market / estate sale perusing, pottery, and bird watching.”
ALI
My first word was “bird” – like Bambi! I have always loved birds… if I could figure out a way to channel Disney Princess magic and have them constantly circling around me -while helping with chores- that would be ideal. 🙂 In the meantime, I’m content watching my favorite bird, the cardinal, and other birds and critters at my feeders.
When I’m not at The Bird House, I’m most likely teaching yoga, hanging out with my husband, cuddling with my Chihuahua or tending to one of my thirty-plus houseplants. I also enjoy gardening, decorating, doodling, reading novels and writing haikus.
RACHEL
“I’ve always loved being outside, and I figured studying environmental science at RIT was a good fit. I have more knowledge about ecosystems but working here is really helping me learn about birds.
My favorite birds are crows. I think they’re really pretty and I’m amazed by how smart they are and by their sense of community.
My favorite hobbies include baking & cooking, playing guitar, and hanging out with my cats.”
TRISH
Trish is a teacher’s assistant and also volunteers her time at Tinker Nature Park. As an avid backyard birder, Trish is great at answering any of your birding questions! When not at the Bird House, she loves keeping in touch with her six grandchildren.
DON
Don developed his love for birds as a customer of The Bird House for over twenty years. Don loves helping people! With his many years of knowledge and experience with birds and nature, he is able to solve problems and make sure you find just the right item you’re looking for.
Don also shares his love for nature as a Docent at the Seneca Park Zoo. His favorite bird is the Black Capped Chickadee because it can be seen year round and he enjoys its song.
When not at The Bird House or the Zoo, one of Don’s passions for the past 35 years is playing competitive softball across the country. He also enjoys spending time with his lovely wife, beautiful daughter, and Westie, Luna.
LAURA
“As a child, I always brought home frogs, baby birds, snakes, salamanders, etc. to take care of and raise. I have always loved dogs, cats, and horses (all creatures, really). I learned about nature and animals through camping, hiking, travel, adventure clubs, scuba diving, and studying marine sciences and plants in college. Naturally watching birds and learning their behaviours has evolved from my interests in nature and the world environments. It is a lifelong passion!
I love cardinals. I love their beautiful color, their song and behavior. I love how the male comes to the feeder and feeds his mate and offspring. It is so endearing and beautiful to watch.
In my downtime I enjoy skiing, hiking, bird watching, water sports, cross stitch, stained glass, watching hockey, cars, and cycling.”
JIM
My passion for birding began after an Achilles tear severely curtailing my physical activities. I had read about the Braddock Bay Hawk Watch in a newspaper article and looking for a sedentary activity, decided to check it out. Shortly after arriving I was amazed to see a Bald Eagle, Tundra Swans, and hundreds of migrating hawks. I was at once “hooked”. My birding interests gradually expanded, and I especially enjoy watching and listening to owls, warblers, and waterfowl.
My other interests include sports, reading, frequenting area parks and refuges with my wife Carole, and enjoying our two cats.
KILLIAN
When I was six years old I saw a Pileated Woodpecker come to my grandmother’s back yard. My grandmother told me that if I stretched my arms out that’s how big it’s wings were. I was immediately fascinated with birds. I endeavored from that day forth to learn as much as I could about birds.
When I’m not at the bird house I’m either at Mendon Ponds Park birding, learning origami, baking cookies or brownies and caring for my gecko. Most times however you’ll find me with my head in a book reading up on an assortment of topics, from mythology, narratology and history all the way to science fiction, fantasy and dystopian.
PAULA
The natural world is a wonder to me and birds are one special part of it. I always kept birdhouses and feeders outside my classroom windows during my long career as an elementary school teacher.
One of my great joys was instilling a love of bird watching to my students. Any lesson could be interrupted for an exciting bird sighting!
SABRINA
“I have always loved all kinds of critters but it was my first environmental engineering class at Cornell that illuminated the connections between pollution, the environment & wildlife. My interest in birds began when I first saw a Jamaican Tody when I lived on the island.
The kingfisher is one of my favorite birds due to their distinctive profile and being ingenious nesters. I also like pelicans because they are amazingly graceful flying right above the water’s surface.
I enjoy gardening with native plants, watching documentary films, and yoga.”
KRISTY
Even though I grew up in the woods, I didn’t develop a strong interest in birds until I moved to Rochester, where parks provided regular encounters with new species that sparked my curiosity. Now I garden with native ecosystems in mind, and I take great joy as new visitors find my little urban garden.
I also love baking, knitting, and music, especially Classical and early music.
In late January 2022, The Bird House was thrilled to welcome Orion, our fabulous new furry employee! Although his official job title is Security Specialist, he prefers his unofficial job as Greeter! A stray who had resided at Lollipop Farm for only four days when he adopted us, 4+ years old Orion is a people cat and has already adapted to his new home. Come in say “hi,” pet him, hear him trill and maybe he’ll even do a “wheelie” for you!
STAR – In late August 2021 we lost our beloved Star, our long-time store cat. He was adopted from Lollypop Farm to fill the role of mouser extraordinaire for about 14 years. He will be sorely missed.
