Crowds are Flocking to this Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Center in Kerrville, Texas

Linda and Kevin Pillow have been operating the local Wild Birds Unlimited store in Kerrville, Texas for 11 years. They made a conscious decision to leave their careers in real estate behind and start a new life in Texas. The couple has been actively involved in supporting their local community's conservation and nature education activities.

They have focused their time and resources towards supporting numerous community partnerships through volunteer hours and substantial donations. They have also offered programs and events that help to educate their customers and their community about birds and nature.

Linda and Kevin have been instrumental in rallying their local community to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Despite their efforts, only a handful of lists were initially submitted to their store that first year. However, they were not easily discouraged and have made it their mission to make their community aware of the GBBC.

The main tactic that seems to generate the most customer interest is that the store promotes the GBBC as something you can do at home in your bathrobe. This approach has been very successful, and this past February, they had over 80 checklists submitted to their store.

• They have also been involved with the Riverside Nature Center since the beginning of their journey with WBU.
• They initially partnered with the Nature Center to run a campaign to obtain the funds needed to equip and install a complete bird feeding station.
• They have continued to donate seed every month and help to keep the feeders filled.

The Fredericksburg Nature Center is another organization the Pillows support. It was built and is operated by the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center. This non-profit organization has worked hard to set up trails, blinds, and gardens for everyone to enjoy as they experience 11 different habitats and a plethora of birds, bees, butterflies, and insects.

A friend and one of the Fredericksburg Nature Center's early founders, Bill Lindemann, reports that Linda and Kevin have been active supporters and Nature Center donors as well as vendors and sponsors of its Wings Over the Hills Birding Festival.

To top it all off, the couple launched their very own WBU Nature Education Center (NEC) with a mission to "Bring People and Nature Together through Education." The center boasts exhibits for attracting and feeding birds, including how-to's on squirrel proofing, the contribution of bats, dragonfly identification, and a pollinator corner that celebrates hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

Many nature items are placed on low shelves so children can feel free to touch and play. The Pillows try to organize at least three programs a month at the Center, including special programs just for children. They also offer up the space for non-profit groups, such as the local Kerrville Beekeepers. All activities at the Center are provided free of charge to the participants as well as to the nature groups that need the meeting space.

The Pillows are also a major sponsor of the Run for Riverside - 5K Run and Walk. This event has been very successful, and they are very proud to be partners with everyone at Riverside Nature Center.

"We are very humbled. We put in the nature center because we wanted to give back to the community, which has given to us so many years of support. All our programs are free. That was our main objective. We are surprised at the response and never expected the recognition we have received. We also never expected people to line up at our door to visit the center," said Linda.

Since opening their store, Linda and Kevin have also reached out to their community to partner with local bird and wildlife-focused organizations. One such partnership is with the South Llano State Park. This park in particular is very well equipped for bird watching. The park features four bird blinds, all with solar water features. Every month the store donates seed to keep the blind areas full of birds.

In the words of Bill Lindemann, "The Pillows are wonderful ambassadors for birding in the Hill Country." "We are very fortunate to have them doing what they love to do in our area. Their value to the community goes well beyond their business operations. You should be very proud to have them as the operators of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Kerrville."