When Andrew Severson first learned that one of his long-time accounting clients was preparing to sell her business, he didn’t expect it to change the course of his life. But as he listened to her talk about letting go of Wild Birds Unlimited, a well-loved shop in South Surrey, something clicked.
“She came to me for advice as she prepared for retirement,” Andrew recalls. “The more I helped her through the process, the more I realized – I didn’t want to just help her sell it. I wanted to buy it.”
It was, at first glance, an unexpected pivot: from professional accountant to shopkeeper. But for Andrew and his wife Kimberly, who was also an accountant, it marked the start of a more intentional life - one centred around nature, family and community.
Running Wild Birds Unlimited has since become a family affair. Their two young daughters often join them on weekends, helping out around the store and learning firsthand about the region’s winged inhabitants.
“Our girls love it,” Kimberly says. “We all do. There’s something deeply grounding about pausing to watch the birds gather at our feeders. It’s a slower pace, and a more meaningful one.”
The Seversons haven’t just maintained the store’s legacy – they’ve expanded it into a hub for environmental awareness and education. The shop now hosts seasonal workshops and community events aimed at supporting local wildlife, like the popular spring sessions on mason bees and pollinator health.
“We taught people how to care for mason bees and why pollinators are so essential to our ecosystem,” Kimberly explains. “We’ll likely run another series in the fall about how to overwinter your bee populations.”
The couple has also connected with wider conservation initiatives, including Project FeederWatch, a winter-long citizen science project where participants record the birds visiting their feeders. This data helps scientists track trends in bird migration and population across North America.
“That connection to real scientific work is a huge highlight for us,” Andrew says. “It’s amazing to think that what’s happening in someone’s backyard here in South Surrey is part of something so much bigger.”
While the shop has a fresh new look, the roots remain the same. After taking over in late 2023, the Seversons moved the store just down the street to Unit 1 – 3033 King George Blvd. The new space offers easier access and more parking, but they’ve worked hard to preserve the original store’s charm.
“We knew the old building had character,” Kimberly says. “So we tried to bring that same warmth into the new space while making it more welcoming and practical for shoppers.”
Inside, customers will find an expanded range of products, including solar fountains, birdbaths, feeders, and a wide variety of wild bird feed. There's also a smoother online experience, complete with free shipping across the Lower Mainland on orders over $100.
For more information and helpful tips on attracting local birds, identifying species, and creating your own backyard sanctuary, visit surrey.wbu.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for insight on supporting our local song bird populations and for details on upcoming sales and workshops.