What started with one birdfeeder spiraled into a full-blown obsession, and I just found out Evansville has an entire store for birdwatchers!
How One Birdfeeder Purchase Sparked a Brand New Hobby
If you had asked me five years ago what I thought about birdwatching, I would have said, “Uh, people think that’s fun?” Fast forward to 2025, and what started as a simple birdfeeder purchase has turned into an accidental hobby, and I love it.
Last spring, I purchased a birdfeeder to put in my backyard just to see what the hype was about. I thought if anything, my son would have fun watching birds out the window and helping me keep the feeder full. That quickly turned into me sitting on my couch watching all of the birds that would come to my feeder, and googling to try and identify what each little bird friend was.
Below were my first two feeders and first birdhouse. That tree now has a few more feeders hanging in it.
Eventually, my feeder would empty really quickly, so I obviously had to buy another bird feeder to help my little feathered friends out. One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, as of this year, I have multiple bird feeders and a birdhouse in my backyard. It’s safe to say, I get the hype.
An Evansville Hidden (But Really Not So Hidden) Gem for Birdwatching Fans
Recently, my friend Amanda shared a post on Facebook that made my jaw drop because, is this Heaven?! She said she had been meaning to share about a local business for a while, but finally had the chance to stop by and do just that. The business is called JCS Wildlife.
JCS Wildlife in Evansville
JCS Wildlife began as a hobby for Jen and Chris, as a way to de-stress. Chris would make birdhouses, and his wife and sons would help him sell them. This hobby turned out to be a big idea because it has turned into a huge online business for them! While they are a well-known online store in the birdwatching community, I had no idea they had a storefront in Evansville!
They have everything from birdhouses, birdseed, bat houses (which is something I have got to get for my yard, I love those little spooky pollinators), birdfeeders, electronic birdfeeders, and more. I mean, if you enjoy inviting small wildlife friends to your yard, they’ve got it!…