Keep Your Eyes Peeled: This Clock At The Thrift Store Is A Bird Lover's Dream

Birdwatching has long been a popular hobby. Although some take it to the extreme, going on expeditions equipped with binoculars or logbooks, sitting on a back porch and watching birds splash in a nearby bath does the trick. If you're lucky enough to have a busy feeder in your yard, which you can achieve by learning how to attract birds based on what they eat, you probably understand the satisfaction that comes with recognizing a previously unnoticed species.

Even if you don't have a window or porch that looks out onto a feeder, it's common to spot birds represented in paintings, stamps, and calendars. One of the most beloved pieces of bird-related art is the Mark Feldstein Original Singing Bird Clock. If you see one in the thrift store, make sure to snatch it up — these clocks are often listed for up to $70 online.

The product was introduced in 1999 and sold 8 million units over the next six years. Although it was discontinued after 2005, it returned in limited editions in 2012 and 2019. Mark Feldstein & Associates manufactures the clock for the Audubon Society, one of the most revered groups in avian preservation, and the clocks come in either an 8-inch or a 13-inch diameter. Each hour is marked with the colorful image of a different bird, and when the hour strikes, you'll hear that bird's call. So, although many might argue that there's simply no need for a clock in your home anymore, this one serves a form and a function — several functions, in fact.

With a little determination, research, and lots of patience, you just might be able to find the original Mark Feldstein Clock or other valuable clock brands at a thrift store, flea market, or estate sale. The first step is to make sure you know how to identify the clock; The original Feldstein does not have any National Audubon Society branding on it, as the two organizations had not yet officially partnered. It has a yellow-tinted background and, starting with 12 o'clock, painted birds include the house finch, the American robin, the northern mockingbird, the blue jay, the house wren, the tufted titmouse, the northern oriole, the mourning dove, the black-capped chickadee, the northern cardinal, the white-throated sparrow, and the white-breasted nuthatch.

If you're lucky enough to find the clock, you only need three AAA batteries to get it going. One powers the clock hands, and the other two power the sound. Make sure to bring along the batteries if you go looking for the clock, because you'll want to be sure that the product still works. You can remove the sound batteries if you want the clock to tick without the sound of bird calls. Keep in mind that it has a sensor, so it won't make noise at night. The Cornell Library of Natural Sounds provided these bird calls and approves of their authenticity, making the clocks a good way for young birders to learn to identify the various species.

Birding only requires a good set of binoculars and a little bit of patience. As you sit on your porch waiting for that American goldfinch to land, you may notice the minute and maybe even the hour hand traveling around the circumference of your Mark Feldstein clock. Or, if you're lucky, the time will pass outside of your awareness, as you are lulled by the flutters of wings and leafy branches knocking in the breeze.

Amateur ornithology wasn't always a serene pursuit. It was once an aristocratic activity, in which wealthy landowners would tramp into the woods with pellet guns or rifles to collect what they called "study skins." These hunts were usually followed by a trip to the taxidermist, who would stuff the skins with sawdust and attach glass bulbs for eyes. The amateur naturalist would then display and study these trophies.

Today, bird decor is far less, well, literal. You can integrate it into your home with a trendy old-world wallpaper pattern, or even invest in an antique lamp designed to look like your favorite bird. Of course, the Feldstein clock is one of the best — and most well-known — ways to merge your birding hobby with aesthetics.