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Starting bird business makes
grandfather happy as a lark:
Photo taken by Damon Higgins / Staff Photographer for Delray Beach Neighborhood Post Newspaper
Bob Tuner didn't get into the bird business to make it rich. He's in it for pure love. In fact, the father of four is a career carpenter and contractor.
"Never in my wildest imagination did I think I'd end up owning a bird shop," Turner, 60, said. "It's been a good change. I love people. I love coming in and seeing the new baby birds each day."
It was a series of unusual circumstances that led to the opening of Brenda's Birds at 324 N.E. Third Ave. 10 years ago.
"We owned the building. It was two apartments in the back and a warehouse in front. The tenants were never paying rent and were even stealing from us," said Turner, who came to Delray Beach in 1969 with Rosemary, his wife of 43 years. " I kicked them out then told my oldest daughter, Brenda, that we were going to open a business, whatever she wanted. I was ready to retire from the carpentry business anyway."
And birds had always been a love of Turner's.
"When I was a little boy I once rescued a wild sparrow. I nursed it back to health then set it free," said the New Jersey native. "For one year the bird always flee back and sat on my shoulder."
That love continued through his grown-up years.
"When I was younger he sent away for quail eggs, hatched it and from there we ended up eventually having more than 300 birds in our backyard," said Michelle Briganti, Turner's daughter and co-worker. "It was his hobby."
It was no surprise to the rest of his family when Turner and his eldest daughter decided to open a bird shop. But Brenda's isn't your ordinary pet shop. Turner gives it a personal touch.
"I want to match the right bird to the right person, or family. For instance, a couple with children would do much better with a cockatiel than anything else," he said. "And if a person's personality isn't that of a bird owner, than I tell them that, too. I don't want to sell anyone the wrong bird, or the wrong pet."
Turner, who runs the store now that Brenda's has a family to look after, also makes and sells his own perches, waling canes and bird feeders.
He's built his own pond out front, which currently serves as a home to a variety of birds as well as a rescued duck and turtle. Rescuing birds is another aspect of Turner's business. On any given week he receives at least one phone call asking for help in rescuing a bird.
"Whenever an injured bird is found we get called to come and get it," said the grandfather of 13. "FPL calls us whenever they need to get birds out of nests form the transformers."
That care is one of the reasons Briganti thinks her dad's store stands above the rest.
"How many other bird stores can you walk in with a bird who has an egg stuck inside them and the owner will take the bird in the back, soak it in hot water and carefully remove the egg? I've seen him do it countless times."
The store, which also makes and bags its own bird food, releases all birds that have brought in from the wild, but also breeds its own. Even Turner's garage at home is dedicated to his bird passion.
"Baby birds are so incredible. Waiting to see what color they are going to be is the best part about it," he said. "But they need to be fed every few hours, so we can't keep them in the store. My garage is their nursery. Right now we have about 45 babies."
As for his favorite bird, Turner chooses the quaker.
"It's got such a fun personality," he said. "It's rough, tough and indestructible. It flies around completely free.
Bob Turner owns Brenda's Birds in Delray Beach: The shop, at 324 N.E. 3rd Ave., opened about 10 years ago. Turner offers boarding services and frequently takes in birds that are sick or injured and nurses them back to health.