A Step Back in Time: Bird Park

Catalina Island's Bird Park

In 1929, Catalina Island’s Bird Park opened its doors, quickly becoming a beloved destination in Avalon. For more than 35 years, this expansive sanctuary captivated visitors with its vast collection of nearly 8,000 birds. Spanning seven and a half acres in Avalon Canyon, across from the Catalina Island Golf Course, it was recognized as the world’s largest bird park of its time. People could wander through free of charge, marveling at the hundreds of bird species—some exotic, others rare—that hailed from all corners of the globe.

At the heart of the park stood a distinctive structure resembling a giant birdcage. This wasn’t its original purpose, though. Once located at Sugarloaf Point, where the iconic Catalina Island Casino now stands, it had served as a dance pavilion. The park itself was the brainchild of Ada and William Wrigley, Jr., a couple with a shared passion for birds and nature.

The park also became an unexpected participant in cinematic history. In 1939, the sound direction team for The Wizard of Oz traveled to Avalon to capture the unique sounds of Bird Park. Over the course of a week, they recorded more than 15,000 feet of birdcalls, chirps, and songs from its diverse inhabitants. At the time, this collection was considered the most comprehensive of its kind. These recordings weren’t just stored away—they were played at different speeds and altered in various ways, adding atmosphere to the film’s famous scenes, including the eerie, unsettling ambiance of the witch’s Haunted Forest.

However, as World War II brought military occupation to Catalina Island, access became restricted, and the park’s popularity began to fade. By 1966, Bird Park closed its gates for good, but the story didn’t end there. The remaining birds were relocated to the newly established Los Angeles Zoo, ensuring they continued to thrive.
Today, visitors to Catalina Island can still glimpse a piece of this rich history. The park’s entrance gate and flight cage remain, repurposed for a new generation as part of the Avalon Cooperative Preschool, a quiet reminder of the island’s colorful past.

View home movie video of Bird Park, circa 1941:

• Catalina Island
• History
• Bird Park