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The old expression “for the birds” traditionally referred to something considered pointless or insignificant. But for Jaime Davis, there is nothing trivial about it. In fact, providing “for the birds” has become her life’s work as well as her passion.
Eight years ago, Jamie and her father, Lou Davis, purchased the Blue Ridge Bird Seed Company in downtown Blue Ridge. After many years working as a real estate agent in the northeast Atlanta area, Jamie cherished the opportunity to build a new life in the rustic charm of Fannin County, where her parents had moved a few years earlier. What she didn’t realize was how quickly she would learn to love the winged creatures she was helping to prosper.
“To be honest, I was burned out in real estate,” she said. “I wanted to try something new. I was looking for business opportunities when I met Tom and Sonia Striker, who founded Blue Ridge Bird Seed Company in 2003. But I didn’t know anything about birds.”
With the help of her father, whom she dragged out of retirement, Davis proved to be a quick student of business, as well as birds.
Each week, a stream of regular customers arrives to purchase seed in 10, 20 and 40-pound bags, as well as in reusable buckets. Davis says her retail shop sells approximately 3,200 pounds of seed a week, of which 2,000 pounds is its trademarked mix: Birdman’s Blend, a generic mix designed to suit a wide variety of birds.
In addition to seed, the store also carries a variety of accessories and supplies, such as bird houses, feeders, books and bird baths.
“With the backdrop of the mountains and the natural beauty, with so many colorful birds, this is a great place to become a birdwatcher,” Davis said. “And we are seeing more young people getting involved.”
In an effort to promote the cause, Davis has enlisted a “master birder,” Suzanne Zuckermann, to lead monthly Saturday morning educational bird walks. For Davis, birding has become a way of life.
“I have eight feeders at home and go through about 40 pounds a week,” she said. “I love every minute of what I do. How many people can say that?”
For more information about the business environment in Fannin County, visit the Fannin County Development Authority at fannindevelopment.com.