About Mark

Mark McKellar is a passionate wildlife biologist and backyard bird feeding expert with over 40 years of bird study and nature education experience. He fell in love with wild birds in June 1983, spending six weeks studying wildlife management at North Carolina State University, where he earned a B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Science in May 1984.

A Life Devoted to Birds & Nature

• Began his career as a field biologist at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, followed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
• In 1989, joined the N.C. Museum of Life & Science as a staff biologist & community educator, creating wildlife programs and training staff to teach about native North Carolina wildlife.
• Became Assistant Nature Center Manager at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, Missouri Department of Conservation, Blue Springs.
• In April 1994, accepted the Executive Director role at the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary (Liberty, MO), spearheading a building and trails expansion through a successful Capital Campaign.
• Recruited by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania as Executive Director in March 1998, then returned to Kansas City thanks to Melanie’s job opportunity.

  

  
  

From Educator to Shop Owner

Mark’s true passion remained in education and outreach. In 2002, he and Melanie purchased the Backyard Bird Center, where they run their shop like a nature center: 

• Offering trusted bird feeders, seed blends, and backyard birding gear.
• Providing practical feeding tips, bird ID advice, and wildlife-friendly landscaping ideas.
• Hosting neighborhood workshops to share the joy of creating thriving bird habitats.
• In 2019, Mark began the YouTube channel - Mark's Backyard Birds as a free informational resource for bird lovers. It now has helped over 19 thousand people!

Mark's guiding philosophy remains:
“Come by and let’s talk birds.”

Want to Chat About Birds?

Whether you’re a beginner or a long-time backyard birder, Mark is always here to share: from choosing the best suet for woodpeckers, to solving squirrel problems, to identifying hummingbirds at sunset.

Let’s talk birds—drop in, reach out, and start a friendly conversation about a bird-filled yard! Join our email or Facebook community and subscribe to our YouTube channel today!