My first memories of birding, of nature really, were born in what I like to think of as my “prime.” I couldn’t have been much more than five years-old, tagging along-side my grandfather, and casual wild bird admirer, “Papa B.” Together at his small kitchen table we enjoyed each other’s company during most summer afternoons, and that of the wild birds we could watch through his small kitchen window.

During those days I learned two important things about Papa B. First, he seemed to find a source of pride, and maybe even peace, from this simple act of caring for and identifying the many boldly-colored wild birds who would stop for a brief moment at his feeders (cardinals and blue jays were his favorites). Second, he found an even greater source of frustration in trying to keep his rivals, the “damned squirrels,” off of those same feeders.

If he had devised one, he must have concocted a thousand different contraptions of various levels of technical sophistication to deter the squirrels from raiding his precious seed stash. Milk jugs, soda bottles, platforms, flanges, strings and springs all spent time adorning his feeders at one time or another.

Yet the squirrels always prevailed.

Papa B’s daughter, and my mother, had always shared in his love of nature, and growing up I cannot recall a time that we did not have at least one feeder visible from our kitchen window. In fact, she can still be found feeding just about any creature that dares to venture far enough into the back yard to obtain it. No matter if a blue jay or finch, chipmunk or deer, or even Papa B’s nemesis…those damned squirrels.

This seemingly simplistic pastime, wild bird feeding, has in its own small way afforded me a great many things. It is now my time to contribute in some small way to nature, it is now my pleasure to enjoy the little things in life, and now my turn to pass down these fond memories as seen through my kitchen window.

I hope that you enjoy Sweet-Seed. Thank you and happy birding.

Mike Cerio Founder Sweet-Seed Micro Batch Bird Feed

PS: What are your earliest birding memories? Who was the person that got you started feeding wild birds? Send us a tweet and let us know.