Today’s Chirp “hatched” in November of 2018, and as we’ve recently celebrated our 4th year and approach the end of the calendar year, it’s a good time for reflection. Most of all, we can’t help but be grateful. What started as a pop-up tent at a local farmer’s market has become so much more. Chirp is a place where people come together to learn and give, supporting wild birds and each other. Our aim has been to honor nature using wild birds as inspiration. And as we looked back on our results, we were amazed at what we’ve done together as a community of bird and nature lovers. Watch the brief video below to see the joy and impact we’ve made together.

Here’s to the last 4 years at Chirp…and many more!

A Fledgling Chirp Nests in Big Bear Lake Village

Chirp's first location in Big Bear Lake Village on Village Drive, circa 2020.

In 2018, Big Bear locals and husband-and-wife team Randy Putz and Beth Wheat opened the first iteration of the Chirp Nature Center in the Big Bear Lake Village. Their vision was threefold: to support the local wild bird population, bring the community together, and connect people with nature. And the community responded: In the past four years, Chirp has helped thousands of customers and sold tons of bird seed!

Bringing Big Bear Nature Lovers Together with Community Events

Bird lovers on a Chirp bird walk, one of Chirp's community events.

In 2019, Chirp began hosting free events as a way to bring like-minded nature lovers together. That year, our now-popular bird walks and bird talks were “hatched.” Guided tours at local birding hotspots brought family, friends, and the community together to learn about Big Bear Lake’s avian population, including famous Bald Eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, and their eaglets. Bird talks featuring special guest lecturers — world-renowned scientists, authors, and researchers — became a place for us to learn more about the birds and wildlife around them.

That same year, Chirp partnered with local elementary schools and nature centers to get kids out in nature. The goal was to help them learn more about their environment, and teach them to take care of the world around them. Since that time, we’ve hosted dozens of kid’s activities and craft events—but people of all ages are welcome!

Staying Safe and Connected Through a Pandemic

Masked up and socially distanced on a Chirp bird walk during the pandemic.

In March 2020 as the world began to shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chirp quickly developed an action plan. Our aim was to keep our customers safe and happy — and local bird feeders full — through this challenging period. Thus began a regimen of deep cleaning and sanitizing our store and offering expanded online product selection. We also added curbside pickup and free delivery services for local customers.

To keep everyone safe, we also pivoted from live events to virtual, offering bird walks and bird talks on the Chirp YouTube channel. It quickly became apparent that, though most of the world’s activities had stopped, birdwatching was booming. People were taking the pause as an opportunity to step out in nature.

Moving and Expanding Our Nest for More Birds and Birders

Opening the new Chirp location on Bonanza Trail in 2021.

It was 2021 and Chirp needed a larger “nest.” Despite the continuing pandemic, we were busier than ever! We decided to expand our wild bird supply offerings to meet growing needs. This included a larger selection of bird feeders, bird seed mixes and food, birdbaths, bird houses, birding optics, books and field guides, and nature-themed gifts. It also involved moving to a space where we could host larger events and outreach programs to better uplift and support the Big Bear Lake community and our visitors.

In the summer of that year, Chirp moved to our current location on Bonanza Trail in Big Bear Lake’s West Village. The new Chirp store offers an enhanced retail experience, with separate rooms dedicated to wild bird seed (including our custom Big Bear Blend), bird feeders, field guides, and gifts for all ages—including Chirp-brand shirts, hats, and stickers.

This location also features “Chirp’s Backyard,” a uniquely beautiful outdoor theater and event venue for entertainment, with room to gather and grow our live events.

Take the Chirp Nature Center tour:

Coming Together to Celebrate, Connect, and Learn in the Chirp Backyard

Christy McGiveron from Big Bear Alpine Zoo and Hootie the owl at one of Chirp's bird talks in the Chirp Backyard.

In 2022, the Chirp Backyard was buzzing with even more activity than before. The bigger space inspired us to offer even more events. In collaboration with local organizations, artists, and naturalists, we were able to host nature-themed events that celebrated all aspects of wild birds and the natural world. We’ve had the privilege of welcoming prominent naturalists, ornithologists, authors, and even animal ambassadors! This list includes:

Awards and Accolades Over the Years

Chirp's three awards for 2020-2022.

As a result of the efforts by our valued team members, and most importantly our customers (many of whom have become friends), we’ve been overwhelmed with meaningful recognition. Most recently, Chirp Nature Center has been honored with the following awards:

Making a Real Impact with Your Support

Chirp team member Joy holds a bucket of Chirp's proprietary Big Bear Blend seed mix, offered as part of Chirp's Seed Club.

As grateful as we are to be recognized, we’re most excited about our growing community of friends, both feathered and human. Together we’re supporting local birds with:

Flying Towards the Future

Chirp owner Beth Wheat and cherished Chirp team members, customers, and friends gather together to learn more about our local wild birds and how to support them.

Looking forward, you can count on our commitment to offer the highest-quality, local wild bird supplies, and use a portion of every sale to support local and national conservation organizations. And because learning and fun are an important part of our mission, we will also continue to offer a space for like-minded folks to come together and connect with one another and nature — to help “nurture our nature” by:

Observing deeply—Learning more about our world, and how to better support it, by carefully observing local birds and wildlife.

Supporting thoughtfully—Supporting our environment, and each other, by engaging in the common goal of eco-friendly habits like feeding birds, planting native plants, and offering safe habitats for birds and pollinators.

Sharing lovingly—Building stronger communities and healthier natural habitats by sharing our time, energy, and resources to become better stewards of our earth.

Thanks for 4 Years—And Here’s to Many More!

Chirp owners Randy Putz and Beth Wheat pose with celebratory cake for Chirp's 4-Year Hatchiversary in November 2022.

To Chirp’s customers, staff, community, and friends: thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t have done any of this without you!