HOLIDAY SHOPS: Wren & Sparrow
A passion for birding led to Amy Gardner and Lisa Benoit opening a shop that does more than supply local birders, it's growing a community.
By Sophie Hubbard
REPORTER
Birding: the identification and observation of wild birds in their natural habitat as a recreation.
Amy Gardner was no birder until a visit to Deep Creek, Maryland, where she noticed platforms on the edge of the deck. “What are those?” she asked her husband. He poured out bird feed and from the moment the birds approached, Gardner was entranced. The colors, the movement, and the binoculars in her hands formed a bond that would come to affect the birding community in downtown Fredericksburg.
On February 14, 2021, Gardner and her business partner, Lisa MarkowczBenoit, combined their complementary strengths to open the beloved shop Wren & Sparrow. “Lisa is the person who knows the most about birds that I’d ever met in my entire life,” said Gardner. MarkowczBenoit brought a lifetime of birding knowledge, while Gardner contributed her MBA and business savvy with a willingness to soak up everything she could.
MarkowczBenoit officially retired from the business in 2024, though Gardner still turns to her with questions. “Every day I learn something new,” Gardner says. “I learn it from customers, from online courses through Cornell, from reading. Birds, migration, seed…there’s always something.”
Wren & Sparrow is stocked with a carefully picked selection of seed, unique bird feeders, gifts, and other products designed to enhance interactions with birds. But the shop quickly became more than a retail space. During the pandemic, interest in birding exploded, but so did problems. Birds were getting sick because of improper care due to many people online ordering seed and feeders without guidance. Wren & Sparrow wanted to change that. “When you come here, you get people who are involved in the industry,” Gardner told the Advance. “We can answer questions and help you take care of your backyard birds.”
The business’s mission is simple: create a place where people can talk about birds, learn about birds, and feel welcomed by a knowledgeable, caring community. The customers reflect that same spirit. “Everyone who comes in is so kind,” Gardner says. “They care about the environment, the birds, each other, and they care about our community as well.”
To Gardner, the impact of birding stretches well beyond the activity itself. It can reduce stress, ease anxiety, support those coping with PTSD, and bring real joy. She said, “It’s such a happy thing … helping someone enjoy a hobby, or taking away stress for 20 minutes while they fill their feeders.”
Wren & Sparrow’s role in the community has grown over the years. It organizes and leads bird walks for the Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation Department at Old Mill Park, held the first and third Tuesday of each month from November through May. In just an hour, groups often spot 20 to 25 species.
At the heart of everything for Gardner is this guiding thought: “When you want to see things and invite things into your yard, you’ve got to be a good steward,” she says. “If you’re unsure how to feed or care for your birds, come talk to us. It’s a fantastic hobby. It’s good for you personally, it’s good for the community, and it’s good for the birds.”
Whether you’re seeking gifts, backyard inspiration, or simply a moment of joy with birds, Wren & Sparrow at 807 Caroline St, is a place to connect, learn, and celebrate nature up close.
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I love Wren & Sparrow even though I can't get there too often. This cold weather is the perfect time to start or continue feeding birds as they really need the extra calories to survive And the fact that there is less green on the trees/landscape makes it easier to see them visit your feeders!