We’re Kindell and Josh, the proud owners of Wild Birds Unlimited in Kanata and Ottawa. Our love for birds, nature, and community led us to open our first store in July 2020, followed by the Ottawa location in July 2022.

Originally from Thunder Bay, we’ve always felt connected to the outdoors. After years in nursing (Kindell) and HR (Josh), we followed our passion for sharing the joy of backyard birding with others. Now, we spend our days helping fellow nature lovers create thriving backyard habitats, one feeder at a time!

When we’re not in the store, you’ll find us at our country home with our two daughters, a pack of pets, and plenty of birdwatching from the porch. We can’t wait to hear about the birds visiting your backyard!

I love interacting with our customers and hearing all about their birds—they truly feel like family! The staff here make every day fun, and I’m always learning from their incredible knowledge.

My favourite bird is the Northern Flicker. Mine even has a name—Norman Fletcher!

I joined the flock shortly after Wild Birds Unlimited opened, and it all started with my indoor cats. I put up my first window feeder to keep them entertained, and before I knew it, I was just as fascinated by the birds as they were! That one feeder sparked a whole new passion for me.

When I’m not at work, you’ll find me enjoying a craft beer, practicing yoga, or spending time with my grandkids—my favourite little flock!

Joining WBU marked my third career change! After years in marketing, graphic design, and early childhood education, I found a place that would allow me to combine all my skills while diving deeper into my love for bird feeding and nature. I enjoy connecting with customers, especially those new to birding, and sharing my knowledge. It's incredibly rewarding to see their excitement grow as they learn something new, and even more special when they return to share how much they're now enjoying the hobby.

My favourite backyard bird is the Black-capped chickadee. From their variety of calls ("cheese-burger" is the best!), to their assertiveness at the feeders boy does this little bird have personality, and is not afraid of showing it.

Although I've always enjoyed nature, I didn't know a lot about birds before I joined WBU. One of the biggest, and most important things I've learned is that immersing oneself into nature purposely (particularly birding), can have a profound positive impact on your mental health. Birdsong is proven to calm the nervous system, and you can "bird" from anywhere, even watching a live feeder cam from your living room.

I am thrilled to officially become part of the amazing WBU flock! I’ve been welcomed as an honourary member for many years, as my position as the Wild Bird Care Centre’s Education Manager allows me to collaborate with WBU on many wonderful events, both in-store and out on the trails. To further fulfill my passion for educating people about wild birds, I’ve accepted the incredible role of Community Ambassador at Wild Birds Unlimited. This new position allows me to do even more of what I love most — sparking curiosity, inspiring learning, and connecting people through our shared love of wild birds and backyard bird feeding.

Like many in Ottawa, my love of birds began at a young age with the unforgettable experience of feeding Black-capped Chickadees from my hand along local trails. That moment of wonder grew into a lifelong passion. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to gain unique, hands-on experience with wild birds through my work at the Wild Bird Care Centre, while my university studies complemented this practical knowledge by exploring the ecology, natural history, and interconnected lives of birds and the other species they depend on. But my greatest joy has always been talking to people about birds! Sharing fun facts, listening to fascinating stories, and celebrating those special moments of connection that we have with wild birds and nature.

You might spot me in either store, at community events, or behind the scenes working on creative projects, all with the goal of encouraging more people to discover the joy of wild birds and building a stronger, more connected bird-loving community.

When I’m not entirely focused on wild birds, I enjoy competitive speed puzzling, Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), and spending time outdoors gardening, hiking, fishing, or paddling. And when the leaves start changing colours, my enthusiasm for Halloween really takes flight!

If you have ideas you would like to see in-store or in the community, I would love to hear from you! Please reach out at [email protected].

If you’ve ever admired the beautiful artwork on our community board—or spotted a tiny mushroom sketch tucked somewhere in the store—there’s a good chance Kate’s behind it.

Sweet, soft-spoken, and endlessly creative, Kate brings a calm and caring energy to our flock. She has a deep love for all things nature—whether it's birds, trees, mossy trails, or the occasional fascinating fungus.

Her sense of humour is as magical as her art, and she’s known to brighten the room with a quick, clever comment (often delivered with perfect timing).

Kate is also a customer favourite—her kindness, curiosity, and quiet enthusiasm for the natural world have helped spark many a new birder’s passion.

Whether she’s helping someone find the perfect feeder, chatting about mushrooms, or getting distracted by a cool crow on her walk to work, one thing is certain: we’re lucky to have her.

I love talking about birds and hearing other people’s bird stories—especially when they bring in pictures! Working at Wild Birds Unlimited is such a fun environment where people are friendly and always ready to laugh.

The Northern Flicker is one of my favourite backyard birds—he even has a heart on the back of his neck! They also do a cute little mating dance, sometimes called the Wicka dance.

My love for birds started early. I got my first birdhouse when I was nine—my great-grandmother wrote my name on the back of a sweet little house so everyone would know it belonged to me. That was the start of a lifelong collection!

My love for birds started when I was young, thanks to my Grandpa teaching me how to identify different species. That early interest grew into a lifelong appreciation for birds, nature, and the great outdoors. Over the past few years, I’ve become even more passionate about birding—learning more about identification, food preferences, and behaviours. I feel very fortunate to work at a store that brings all of these interests together!

Outside of birding, I am a professional, classically trained musician. My main instruments are piano and pipe organ, and I also conduct choirs. Naturally, this has sparked my fascination with bird song and identifying birds through their unique melodies.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography (especially birds!), cooking, exploring nature, following current events, playing golf, and spending time at the lake. I look forward to meeting you and helping with all your birding needs!