Backyard Birds

What Backyard Birds does

Backyard Bird Shop is a privately held, family-owned specialty retail chain founded by Scott Lukens in March 1991 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and currently operating six brick-and-mortar stores across the Portland-Vancouver metro area (Beaverton, Lake Oswego, NE Portland, West Linn, Vancouver WA, and Happy Valley). The company sells bird and wildlife-related products including bird seed, suet, mealworms, and nectar; bird feeders (tube, hopper, squirrel-proof); hummingbird feeders and supplies; Audubon-spec birdhouses; mason bee and bat house supplies; squirrel feeders; birdbaths and fountains; binoculars (Vortex and Opticron); hanging hardware; and nature-inspired gifts and eco-friendly yard solutions. The customer base consists of individual homeowners, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts seeking both products and expert advice for backyard wildlife habitat creation.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, walk-in retail model with no disclosed e-commerce or wholesale channels, complemented by a content library (Bird & Backyard Info), seasonal newsletters via Constant Contact, an Algolia-powered site search, active Facebook presence, and free community events such as guided bird walks, owl prowls, and bat outings. Go-to-market is community-led rather than performance-marketing-driven, with a documented Community Stewards program supporting 11+ regional conservation nonprofits (Portland Audubon, Tualatin Riverkeepers, Friends of Trees, Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve, Nature Conservancy of Oregon, and others).

In November 2016, ownership transitioned from founders Scott Lukens and Molly Evans to second-generation owners Amanda and Colin Brainard (Scott's niece and her husband, a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel). The company employs 35+ staff including multi-decade tenured employees, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no public listing. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is positioned as a profitable, regionally entrenched lifestyle/wildlife specialty retailer whose competitive differentiation rests on staff expertise, curated responsibly sourced products, and community integration rather than scale, technology, or pricing.

Name

Backyard Birds

Legal name

Backyard Bird Shop

Website

https://backyardbirdshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Backyard Bird Shop is a family-owned specialty retail chain operating six brick-and-mortar stores in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, selling bird feeders, wildlife food, birdhouses, binoculars, and nature-inspired products to homeowners, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts since 1991.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Wildlife and Birding Retail

NAICS

Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991)

SIC

Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940)

akta.pro primary industry

Bird Supplies Retail (CRALAHAK)

Keywords

• Bird feeding supplies
• Wildlife habitat retail
• Backyard birding products
• Nature giftware
• Bird feeder retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaverton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Revenue generated from in-store sales of bird feeders, wildlife food, birdhouses, binoculars, nature-inspired gifts, and related accessories. Products include bird seed, suet, hummingbird feeders, bat houses, mason bee supplies, squirrel feeders, birdbaths, and nature giftware.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Backyard Bird Shop operates five brick-and-mortar retail stores in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, selling bird feeders, bird and wildlife food, birdhouses, hummingbird and mason bee supplies, squirrel and bat house products, birdbaths, binoculars, nature-inspired gifts, and eco-friendly home and yard solutions. Stores serve as the primary sales channel, with product sales paired with expert in-store advice, educational resources on the website, and free community events such as guided bird walks, bat outings, and owl prowls that drive customer engagement.

Product overview

Backyard Bird Shop is a brick-and-mortar retail chain operating five physical store locations in the Portland-Vancouver metro area since 1991. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of wildlife observation and backyard habitat products organized into distinct categories: Bird Food & Wildlife Food (seed, suet, mealworms, nectar), Bird Feeders & Accessories (tube, hopper, squirrel-proof feeders), Hummingbird Feeders & Supplies, Birdhouses & Nesting Materials, Mason Bee Supplies, Squirrel Feeders & Houses, Birdbaths & Fountains, Bat Houses, Binoculars (Vortex and Opticron brands), Hookery hardware, Nature-Inspired Gifts, and Eco-friendly Solutions. The stores serve as the primary sales channel, complemented by educational resources, expert customer service, and community events such as guided bird walks and bat outings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bird, Squirrel and Wildlife Food Bird and wildlife seed and food including shell-free options, black-oil sunflower, nyjer thistle, finch mix, peanuts, suets, seed cakes, seed logs, mealworms, and nectar mix, sold to backyard bird feeding hobbyists and homeowners.
• Hummingbird Feeders and Supplies Hummingbird feeders in recycled glass, bottle, saucer, and heated styles, plus nectar, nesting materials, ant moats, bee guards, and cleaning brushes for homeowners and hummingbird enthusiasts.
• Birdhouses and Nesting Materials Birdhouses built to Audubon Society specifications for native species including chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, bluebirds, woodpeckers, swallows, owls, and wood ducks, plus nesting shelves and materials for homeowners and birders.
• Bird Feeders and Accessories Feeders in wood, recycled plastic, metal, and ceramic, including tube, hopper, gazebo, squirrel-proof, suet cage, and seed catch tray designs, for backyard bird feeding hobbyists.
• Mason Bee Supplies Complete mason bee supplies including bee houses, nesting holes, stacking trays, tubes, liners, cocoons, shelters, clay mud mix, bee attractant, and educational books for homeowners and gardeners.
• Squirrel Feeders and Houses Squirrel feeders and houses including nut boxes, jar feeders, corn feeders, chew-resistant feeders, hollowed-out log squirrel houses, and cedar plank squirrel houses for homeowners.
• Birdbaths, Fountains and Accessories
• Bat Houses and Reference Books US-made bat houses in traditional, rustic, and artisan designs including single, double, and condo styles, plus bat house kits and reference books, for homeowners and conservation-minded customers.
• Binoculars Standard, mid-sized, and compact binoculars including fog- and water-proof options from Vortex (Lifetime Warranty) and Opticron (5 Year Warranty) for birders and nature observers.
• Hookery Hanging hardware including shepherd's hooks, cranes, poles, arm toppers, deck bases, wall and deck hooks, and S-hooks ranging from 3 to 58 inches for hanging feeders and baths.
• Nature-Inspired Gifts Nature-themed giftware including kids toys, books, puzzles, jewelry, greeting cards, garden art, rain gauges, thermometers, wind chimes, spinners, garden flags, and solar lanterns for gift shoppers and homeowners.
• Eco-friendly Home, Yard and Garden Solutions Environmentally-friendly products including anti-strike window decals, scare tape, beneficial nematodes, live ladybugs, woodpecker deterrents, and wasp deterrents and traps for homeowners seeking natural solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years operating successfully in the Portland-Vancouver market

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife RefugeminorOthers · 1 January 2021Nonprofit partnership providing financial support and in-kind donations to support wildlife conservation and education programs.
• Friends of TreesminorOthers · 1 January 2021Community nonprofit supported with donations to support urban tree planting and environmental restoration efforts.
• Jackson Bottom Wetland PreserveminorOthers · 1 January 2021Wetlands preservation nonprofit receiving financial support and in-kind donations from Backyard Bird Shop.
• Portland AuduboncoreOthers · 1 January 2021Long-standing partnership with Portland Audubon. Founder Scott Lukens served as Board Member. Current owner Amanda Brainard volunteers on the Board of Directors and participates in Birdathon events.
• Prescott Bluebird Recovery ProjectminorOthers · 1 January 2021Nonprofit focused on bluebird conservation receiving community support through donations.
• Tualatin RiverkeepersminorOthers · 1 January 2021River conservation nonprofit supported with financial donations and community engagement.
• Vancouver Audubon SocietyminorOthers · 1 January 2021Regional Audubon chapter receiving community support for bird conservation programs.
• The Nature Conservancy of OregonminorOthers · 1 January 2021National conservation organization receiving donations to support Oregon wildlife and habitat protection.
• WaterWatch of OregonminorOthers · 1 January 2021Water conservation nonprofit supported through financial donations and community partnerships.
• Oregon Public BroadcastingminorOthers · 1 January 2021Public broadcasting supported through in-kind donations for community education programming.
• Portland Fruit Tree ProjectminorOthers · 1 January 2021Gleaning nonprofit receiving donations to support community food access programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart: Large specialty pet retail chain carrying bird feeders, seed, and supplies as part of a broader pet assortment. Comparable customer overlap but as a generalist incumbent rather than a bird-specialty retailer.
• Lowe's: National home improvement retailer carrying bird feeders, bird baths, and outdoor wildlife supplies within its garden/outdoor category. Comparable product overlap but no specialty expertise or curated assortment.
• Petco: National pet retail chain offering bird food, feeders, and accessories alongside a full pet assortment. Comparable touchpoint for the same household customer but lacks Backyard Bird Shop's specialty curation and Audubon-aligned expertise.
• Home Depot: National home improvement retailer that stocks a meaningful selection of bird feeders, birdhouses, bird seed, and related outdoor wildlife products within its garden department. Competes on convenience and price but lacks expert-led specialty service.
• Chewy: Large online pet retailer (NYSE: CHWY) selling pet food, feeders, and supplies across all pet categories including birds. Comparable end-customer demand but operates as a mass online platform with much broader assortment and lower price positioning.

Direct peers

• Wild Bird Centers of America: Specialty retail franchise focused on bird feeding and backyard wildlife supplies, founded in 1993. Closely comparable product assortment (bird seed, feeders, houses, optics) and target customer (homeowner hobbyists).
• Wild Birds Unlimited: Largest specialty bird-feeding retail franchise in North America, selling bird seed, feeders, houses, and related wildlife products. Directly comparable to Backyard Bird Shop in product mix, customer base (backyard bird enthusiasts), and educational/expert-led retail model.
• Duncraft: Long-standing specialty retailer (founded 1952) selling bird feeders, bird houses, bird seed, and wildlife supplies via catalog and online channels. Comparable core category and customer base, though operates primarily as a direct-to-consumer mail/online retailer rather than brick-and-mortar.

Others

• Perky-Pet: Leading consumer brand of bird feeders, bird houses, and bird food sold through mass-market retail channels. Functions as a supplier/brand that competes for shelf and online visibility rather than as a direct retail competitor to Backyard Bird Shop.
• Audubon Society (Portland Audubon / National Audubon): National and regional nonprofit conservation organizations that share Backyard Bird Shop's target audience of backyard bird enthusiasts. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than competitor, but increasingly sells native-plant merchandise and bird-friendly product recommendations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BackyardBirdShop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backyard-birds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backyard Birds