Woodstock Chimes new Rust-Themed Collection

Woodstock Chimes, a leading manufacturer of precision-tuned wind chimes, will debut its latest collection, Woodstock Rust, during the summer market season.  The 10-piece collection combines the company’s signature quality sound and design, including wood and precious stone accents with rusted metal elements for an earthy, contemporary look. The rust finish also offers a natural beauty that warms the steel elements with a brown, weathered texture.  Woodstock Rust, comprised of bells and wind chimes, will be showing at various markets including Atlanta, New York and Dallas.

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News from Wild Bird Centers of America

Wild Bird Centers of America have announced two changes in their chain of retail locations. One is the transfer of ownership of the store in Charlotte, NC, which will be taken over by Mike and Sally Godwin in August.

The other is a new franchise planned for Kirkland, WA, to be opened in September or October by Bill Hager and Anne Dolan.

Contact Neil Gladner, Vice President of Retail Operations at the company’s headquarters in Glen Echo Maryland, for addresses and contact information. (301) 841-6419 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Two new bits of news to report from Princeton University Press.

Trogons by Joseph Forshaw, illustrated by Albert Gilbert, has received two awards. The book was published in a limited press run, made even smaller by an unfortunate shipping accident, but there are still a few copies available. This one would be a handsome addition to any connoisseur’s library.  Check it out.

The second book, All About Birds: A short illustrated history of ornithology by Valerie Chansigaud is reviewed at Birder’s Library. Read more.

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New Research Center

Starting with the April issue of Birding Business, selected articles will be posted by topic in the new Research Center.

We will be expanding the content in the Research Center with additional articles and white papers of interest to retailers and manufacturers involved in the wild bird industry.

A complete list of topics from the April issue and the Publisher's Note is available online.  Subscriptions to the magazine are available free to those involved in the industry.

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Carl Zeiss Sports Optics

Zeiss Field Days are back!  Following the very positive customer feedback from last fall’s field days promotion, Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is bringing it back with even greater savings on its award-winning optics for birders, hunters and outdoorsmen.  From June 1 – Dec ember 31, 2010, Zeiss is offering a $100 mail-in rebate for customers purchasing a Victory 8x26 T* PRF Laser Rangefinding monocular and Victory Compact binoculars, which won the coveted Outdoor Life Editor’s Choice award. In addition, customers will find significantly lower shelf prices on the Victory FL binoculars and Conquest 8x40 and 10x40 binoculars.

Read the complete release.

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New iPhone app aids Haiti Relief Efforts

The authors of our field guide to Haiti and the Dominican Republic have created an iPhone app and all proceeds go to the disaster relief effort.

The app is the brainchild of Kent McFarland, biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies who says,

With nearly 100 million birders in North America alone, we hope this will be a way for all of us to easily contribute to Haitian earthquake relief efforts and learn about the island’s amazing birdlife at the same time.

The app features 58 of the over 300 birds found in the field guide and all proceeds from sales will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and Partners in Health to support the continued disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

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Quick Tip for Store Owners - Thanks to Hank Weber

Don't Miss a 35% Tax Deduction
The newly enacted Health Care Bill has a little-known provision that benefits store owners.  If you pay premiums for health insurance (for yourself and/or employees) you may get a 35% federal tax credit under the new law. 

There are only three criteria:

1. You must have less than 25 employees.

2. Their  average annual salary must be less than $50,000.

3. You must pay 50% of the insurance premiums.

Check with your accountant or tax advisor to learn how you can benefit from the new law.  It is too good to pass up.

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Princeton University Press announces the new Crossley ID Guide.

This new guide is a departure from the standard guide format. Looks like it will be a huge success. Here is a video of the author discussing the new guide.

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New Wild Bird Consortium Formed

BirdStars.org is a consortium of leading bird organizations renowned for their expertise and comprehensive information about wild birds.

Members include:Birdzilla.com. Bird Education Network, Environment for the Americas, National Bird-Feeding Society, National Wildlife Refuge system and Wild Bird Centers of America.

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Booming Growth

The group of Americans aged 55 and older now represent 1/4 of the population - 76.6 million people - up 21% since 2000. Experts predict that by 2014 that number will become 26%.

And get this... many of them are planning for a retirement centered in learning and nature. Golf is becoming passé with the aging boomer generation, coming in dead last in a survey of top-10 retirement goals conducted for a national association of home builders. Hiking and nature watching are gradually taking over.

The post-career destination of choice for the soon-to-retire set is still somewhere in the sun belt, but Florida is well down that list with North Carolina holding top spot.