Longtime bird-watching enthusiast George H. Petrides Sr. opened his first Wild Bird store in 1985 in Cabin John, Maryland. In 1990 the company began franchising. In addition to its Wild Bird Centers of America Inc., the company also offers Wild Bird Crossing stores designed for smaller markets. Besides selling bird watching and feeding equipment and gifts, Wild Bird Centers and Wild Bird Crossings provide demonstrations, kids' programs and other educational events. Wild Bird Centers has locations throughout the United States and Canada and is now based in Glen Echo, Maryland.