Roberta Beyer has loved birds since she can remember. Growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, “ my love of birds began as a child and I joined the Audubon Society when I was 8 years old. I used to sit out on our back porch with a small tape recorder that I had and I would record the mockingbird that was in our big cottonwood tree. My mom nicknamed me Bobolink (they called me Bobbie otherwise) because I loved birds so much.”
It is exactly that love of birds that inspired the fun, whimsical store and e-store, dedicated to birding and bird lovers, she now owns, The Fat Finch. “I wanted to become an ornithologist when I grew up, but somewhere along the way I turned to other things, (mainly the grownups were telling me what to do!). So, I studied music in college and after that went to Law School and was a lawyer for 20 years in Albuquerque. I burned out doing that and never really loved it, so after my parents had both passed away, I decided it was time to do something that took me back to birds.”
“I started an independent birding store in the Las Cruces area in 2004 and it was called Bobolink”. (Aptly named) “I did that for two years and was hooked, but I wanted to return home to Albuquerque.” So, she did. “In 2007 I decided to start a store here and named it The Fat Finch. I just thought it was a cute and catchy name. “She started her online store at the same time and has been building it ever since.
I hope you love birds, too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.
– Emily Dickinson
Besides carrying essentials for bird feeding and bird watching, Roberta takes great pride in finding interesting and beautiful gifts with birds and nature as the theme.
“One of the things that was unique about my store is, that besides carrying all the essentials for birdwatchers (birdfeeders, birdhouses, books, etc.) I pride myself in finding beautiful things inspired by birds. I love paper (cards, giftwrap, etc.) and that’s how I found Rossi. I have a great rep and he introduced me to the line. I love the quality and design of the Rossi papers, especially because of their European elegance. They sell well for me and I know that many of my customers use them for projects and journaling, not just as gift wrap.”
Roberta loves the new holiday bird wrap from Rossi and hopes to feature it during the Christmas Season.
“Besides running my store, I have now become a certified wildlife rehabilitator and volunteer regularly at our local wildlife rescue center. I rehab birds which is, on its own, more than a full-time job.”
“Give food to the birds, you will then be surrounded by the wings of love, you will be encompassed by the joys of little silent hearts!” –Mehmet Murat Ildan
To visit this mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, go to:
www.fatfinch.com
