Writing this story, I know I’m giving away where I like to park when I go downtown but I also need you to know I didn’t go out of my way to find this place. Pacific Place usually has the best price for parking when I go downtown, but I don’t always like the hassle of going all the way down into the underground if I’m only parking for a couple hours. So I park in front of Caffe Umbria on Olive Street (because I also like their coffee) and that’s where I ended up finding Birds Connect quite randomly.
My mom had come with me downtown to pop by my friend’s store Proto101 and my mom loves birds so I saw Birds Connect sign when I was paying for parking and told her to go check it out so I could make sure I concentrated on making sure I did the parking right (I swear you need a degree to park in Seattle between figuring out the payment systems as well as reading all the signs)
Birds Connect turned out to not just be a store but a nonprofit shop/community gathering space that educates the community about birds and how to appreciate, understand and protect them. My mom started chatting with one of the volunteers there and then they offered to show her something cool.
And this is how I gave Birds Connect its unofficial name in our family (I’m sorry but I do call it the “dead bird place” now). The volunteer opened a cupboard and it was full of stuffed birds that have been found and donated so people can see what they look like up close. I’m a bit squeamish so have trouble with stuff like this, but I can see the appeal. My mom was enthralled. She asked so many questions. This place is so perfect for people who love birds.
By the end of our unexpectedly long visit, I was starting to get a bit intrigued too. Apparently Birds Connect even has lunch sessions where you can bring your lunch on Wednesdays and learn about birds from 12:15-12:45pm. (Check their calendar or website, these things can always change) and they have a bunch of outings and field trips too. They have birding adventures where you can go and look for live birds. They have classes for grownups and education kits for kids that you can rent out and a Nature Camp (and yes, it’s currently winter but it’s also time to think about summer camp if you have kids who are thinking of going to camp in the summer) and you can get special pricing if you are a member too.
The gift shop has a lot of cool bird themed things as well, like owl pellets, Emily Lex studio bird watercolor paint books and my mom bought “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan. I’m not sure all the hours and days Birds Connect is open but you can check their hours and days on their website. It feels like a great space to stop by when visiting downtown Seattle. Also, having Pacific Place across the street (and Nordstrom) and Caffe Umbria next door could help make it a whole day’s outing too.
I may even get into birding a little bit now because of this place, we’ll see. I know my mom wants to go back. Are you a Seattleite who loves birds? Have you heard of Birds Connect?
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)