Invest in Your Nest
by Joan Nickeson
“Let me check the map and I will let you know where the hummingbirds are right now…” As we walk into the Wild Birds Unlimited store in East Setauket, owner Brooke Ramirez is helping a call-in customer. This nature shop, located on the west end of Kohl’s shopping center, is about to celebrate its third year in business. They have been a loyal member of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce since their ribbon-cutting grand opening.
Offering backyard bird-centered products and services for customers throughout Suffolk County is second nature to Ramirez. Her parents owned and operated the WBU location in Oakdale until their retirement in 2020. Ramirez, working for them since ’06, bought the store. Decades in the field has honed her appreciation for backyard bird spaces and customer care. As a local bird-feeding expert, Brooke, along with her staff of eight, address the back yard bird feeding needs of customers, making personal deliveries to customers all along the north shore. “Our deliveries allow customers to shop in a way that fits their lifestyle. We want to help facilitate their journey of backyard bird feeding,” says Brooke.
Wild Birds Unlimited, WBU, is a beautiful store for bird feeders, seed and nesting boxes, binoculars and books, artful gifts, lotions and soaps, wind chimes and children’s nature games. Shoppers can get all they need in-person or online. Anyone can sign up for personal texts from Brooke on upcoming presentations and flash sales by texting the two words, ‘East Setauket’ to 855.687.7479. She sends you, ‘just the good stuff’, and this also serves as an opportunity for Brooke to personally answer customer inquiries.
Brooke has donated to our chamber fundraisers, presented at a local library, and offers year round free, public, in-store education series. “WBU is about creating balance in our lives, in our backyards and communities,” said Brooke, “and The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce is active and helpful with that. They are easy to get in touch with and facilitate connections to others for the betterment of the community.”
For information on the WBU, their Owl-Cam, Nature Centered podcast, plans for children’s events and more, check them out at WBUeastsetauket on Instagram and FB, call 631.403.4419, email wbueastsetauket@gmail.com or visit Brooke, Molly, Trisha and the crew at 4046 Nesconset Highway.
Oh, and the hummingbirds are near!
