The Connection

The Bird Feeder Celebrates 20th Anniversary

When Roger Ritter and his wife Gail opened The Bird Feeder in Reston in 1993, they filled a consumer niche for a community of fellow bird and wildlife lovers in Reston.

“People who live in Reston, because of all of the natural and preserved areas here, have a strong interest in wildlife,” said Ritter, 62, reflecting on their decision to open The Bird Feeder at 1675 Reston Parkway, inside of what is now the Home Depot shopping center.

For 20 years, bird lovers have come to The Bird Feeder for their backyard garden and bird watching needs. Ritter, who lives in Leesburg, says the store sells “anything for the backyard” —from birdseed, feeders, houses and baths to garden art and gifts.

“We have always tried to carry products that we would use ourselves. Additionally we wanted [the store] to be a source of information for people so that when they come in and have questions, we can help them,” said Ritter.

Gail Ritter, a bird behavior and product expert, opened the original Old Town Leesburg location in 1991, while her husband was still working for Mobil. He watched as the store moved to another location in Leesburg and saw continued success, and in 1993 he left his corporate job to pursue his goal of owning and managing a small business. The Ritters opted for the Home Depot shopping center location in Reston.

“Corporate life was great, it was very good to me, but this is better,” said Ritter, adding, “And I like the independence and casual dress.”

In addition to selling a variety of products for bird lovers, The Bird Feeder also sponsors wildlife tours and bird walks around Northern Virginia. The store regularly partners up with organizations such as Reston’s Walker Nature Center and the Northern Virginia Audubon Society for events at Runnymede, Stratton Woods and Algonquin Regional parks, to name a few.

Reston resident Perry Macdonald, who also serves as an administrator and bookkeeper for the Northern Virginia Audubon Society in Annandale, has been working at the store for about a year. “Both of these jobs have combined beautifully, and I get to work with the same people who appreciate the environment, birds and other animals,” said Macdonald.

While Roger Ritter owns and runs the Reston business, he also assists his staff in helping his customers with their specific needs. He feels that this level of attention is necessary for small businesses like The Bird Feeder geared toward wildlife lovers.

In Reston, a community for whom one of the founding ideals is “That beauty — structural and natural — is a necessity of the good life and should be fostered,” The Bird Feeder is a fixture for the area’s naturalists.

“I think it’s a perfect fit for the community values of Reston of balance, environment, green space, and responsibility. It’s a very natural fit for Reston,” he said.