The Happy Birdwatcher Co. customizes every bag based on the birds found in your exact zip code. | Photo by Christopher Willard/Disney via The Happy Birdwatcher Co.
Born and raised in nearby Dunlap, Susan Vandergriff is the passionate birdwatcher behind The Happy Birdwatcher Co., a custom birdseed subscription business.
She’s been on quite the journey since launching her company in 2021, leading her to appear on ABC’s “Shark Tank” on Friday, March 7 at 8 p.m. We recently caught up with Vandergriff to ask her all about how she turned birdwatching into a business.
Each month’s box includes a personalized letter with fascinating facts about the year-round and migratory birds you can expect to see in your area.
Photo by Christopher Willard/Disney via The Happy Birdwatcher Co.
Can you tell us about how you first got into birdwatching?
I first discovered birdwatching in 2019 — and long story short, I was doing an anxiety-reducing exercise where you utilize all of your senses, and when I got to the part where you name things that you can hear, I heard a bird sing... I was really curious to see if there was an app that could tell me what birds were singing — and I was immediately hooked.
I went to the store to buy a bag of bird seed for the first time, and I was so excited, but I was completely overwhelmed. I grabbed a bag and filled my feeders, but nothing really happened, and I didn’t have a lot of birds.
So, I started doing my own research on birds in my area and what they like to eat. I bought a lot of single, premium ingredients and started mixing up some blends. This time when I filled my bird feeder, the activity exploded, I was seeing beautiful birds that I had never seen or noticed before.
Can you speak to the meaning behind the name The Happy Birdwatcher Co.?
I realized how much happier I was feeling with this new hobby around the same time I started seeing several news articles about the connection between birdwatching and happiness. So, that’s where the meaning behind our name comes from, we want people to attract more birds with our blends so that they will feel happier.
Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday | 6-10 p.m. | Lost in Transit | Price of purchase | Wanderlinger Brewing Co. is taking over this train car to bring this New Orleans celebration to Chattanooga, featuring drink specials, gumbo + of course, King Cake.
Wednesday, March 5
Anniversary Dinner | 6-9 p.m. | Spice Trail | $225 | Celebrate The Chattery’s 11th anniversary with a three-course meal — ticket sales support its mission of making learning fun and accessible.
Thursday, March 6
Winter Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga | Free | Learn more about Chattanooga’s efforts to become the first National Park City in the US + how you can get involved.
Friday, March 7
Grand Opening | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Monkee’s of Chattanooga | Free+ | Be among the first to shop curated collections of designer apparel, shoes, and accessories while enjoying sips, treats + opening-day specials.
“Anastasia the Musical” | Friday, March 7-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | ChattState | Free+ | See a local production of this beloved musical that features ChattState students, alumni, and faculty members.
Neon Party | 8-11:59 p.m. | The Dragon Lounge | Free+ | Let’s glow, girls — don your white and neon garb to this black light dance party.
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The City of Chattanooga’s Municipal Election Day. Bring a valid ID and head to your polling location from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to cast your vote for mayor + city council members.
Development
Grundy County officials have broken ground on its Miracle on the Mountain Play Outside Park. The park is planned to become the largest inclusive playground in Tennessee and is expected to be completed by late May 2026. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Kids
The City of Chattanooga’s Community Center Summer Camps will return from Monday, June 2 through Friday, July 25. Registration is open for ages 6-16 to participate in activities + learning opportunities across 16 community centers. Bonus: Explore 20+ more summer camps in the area.
Sports
The Chattanooga Wreckers — the Lookouts’ alternate identity — will return for the 2025 season. The team that honors the city’s history of the towing + recovery industry will be featured in five games this season and will make their debut on Friday, May 9. Get your tickets.
Pets
Pet Paradise Chattanooga will host an open house + adoption event on Saturday, March 8, featuring pups from the Chattanooga Humane Educational Society. You can enjoy light refreshments, tour the space, and have one-on-one time with the dogs.
Small Biz
We’re gearing up for Small Business Week, a celebration of local enterprises from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. If you own a local small business, let us highlight you by filling out this form by Sunday, March 16.
Biz
Small business owners, employers, and hiring managers — if you’re struggling to find the right candidates, it’s time to try NOOGAtoday Job Board. Post your first job listing for free + get connected with top-quality local talent.
Job
Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring over at our newest market. We are looking for a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at the NOVAtoday and lead the charge in crafting daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
Category
Arts
Murals you can’t miss
Isn’t this mural beeuitful? | Photo by NOOGAtoday
Chattanooga’s tour of murals showcases some of the most talented local artists in our region. While our original mural guide features 18 art pieces, we wanted to take a look at some of the murals done by women in honor of Women’s History Month.
“Pollinator,” 321 Chestnut St. | By Joy Taylor
This mural is part of the Creative Discovery Museum’s “Buzz Alley” exhibit, dedicated to the importance of native bees’ roles as pollinators.
“Change Starts in Your Own Backyard,” 10 W. MLK Blvd. | By Steffi Lynn
Lynn’s message behind this mural is “You have the power to make positive change — no matter how big or small,” right where you are.
“Communal Kaleidoscope,” 1409 Market St. | By Alecia Vera + Briah Gober
Displaying an abstract look through a kaleidoscope, this mural also depicts themes of togetherness.
“What Lifts You,” 1501 Long St. | By Kelsey Montague
This mural is one of the city’s most popular selfie spots, with the perfect space for you to stand in the middle of two wings.
A cast-iron smash burger press. Made from high-quality cast iron, this grill press uses pressure to improve flavor and texture, get restaurant-quality sear marks, and speed up cooking time of fish, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
If you’re looking for a new lunch spot, I highly recommend the recently opened food truck Wei to Go. My family and I ordered everything off the menu to try out, and it was absolutely delicious. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but you have to order the Szechuan boiled beef if it’s on the menu.
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