20 years now for Bird is the Word

20 YEARS HAS BEEN FOR THE BIRDS

By: J. Leathers

Who could have imagined that 20 years ago, a small unique bird shop, which specialized in baby parrots, would open it's doors for business and still be around today? Sally Haugk, owner of BIRD IS THE WORD, had that vision.

While working for a bird shop in Geneva, Sally purchased a Blue Front Amazon, who she named Polly. With the purchase of Polly came a love affair with parrots that continues to this day. Sally added more birds to her personal flock and began breeding a few pairs at home. Fortunately, Sally was unceremoniously fired from the store after lovingly operating it for over a year and a half in the absence of the owner.

Not long after being fired, and while being squeezed out at home with her many parrots, husband and 4 young children, Sally's entrepreneurial skills (and a touch of revenge), kicked in. The idea for BIRD IS THE WORD had been hatched, and in October of 1992 the doors opened, and she shared a small store front with a dog grooming shop on Water Street in Batavia.

BIRD IS THE WORD opened the same month in which new laws were enacted banning the importation of parrots from foreign countries. Domestic breeding of parrots grew and BIRD IS THE WORD grew too. In the summer of 1994, Sally moved her store to its present location at 30 S Shumway Avenue in Batavia. The new store offered her a large showroom, a large well lit open play area for the birds and customers to interact, a large kitchen/nursery room, 2 breeding rooms and most recently a room to accommodate boarding for parrots.

A larger store meant longer hours and more than one employee. Almost all past and current employees were at one time customers, multiple bird owners and share her love of parrots. Sally has a very loyal staff and almost all previous employees remain customers and friends to this day.

Sally and her staff have loved every minute of hand-feeding and hand rearing tiny baby parrots to fledglings and watching over and over the love affair of parrots begin with someone new, from children to retirees, and seeing the dawning in a persons eyes and face who never realized what wonderful, affectionate pets parrots can be.

Parrots were considered “The” pet of the 1990's and business boomed then. But, like all fads that boom and wane, so goes the bird business. As the economy and people struggle with finances and internet sales take over more and more of the high ticket items, Sally is not deterred and continues with business as usual with occasional tweaks. While not expecting to operate another 20 years, each additional year tacked on will be a bonus.

For now Sally and her clutch of employees will continue the Hen Party at BIRD IS THE WORD.