About the Avalon Bird Park

NAME: Avalon Bird Park
ATTRACTION TYPE: Historic Site
CONCEIVED BY: William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada Wrigley
PERIOD OF OPERATION: 1929-1966
SIZE: About 7.5 acres
ALSO KNOWN AS: Catalina island Bird Park
VICINITY: Avalon Canyon, across from the golf course
LOCATION: City of Avalon, Catalina Island, Southern California

The former Catalina Island Bird Park was a privately owned sanctuary created in 1929 by William Wrigley, Jr. with help from British gamekeeper E. H. Lewis. It was one of the most popular visitor attractions on Catalina Island for more then 30 years.

The bird park was 8 acres in size and featured more then 8000 species of birds housed in 500+ cages. Some of the most popular birds were flamingo, ostrich, penguins, mynah birds,macaws, toucans, peacocks, and eagles. Admission to the park was free.

The park was scaled down during World War II because access to Catalina Island was limited during that war. It gradually declined after the war and was finally closed in 1966. AT that time the approximately 650 birds left in the park were transferred to the Los Angeles Zoo. Today the bird park grounds are part of Avalon Preschool and the entry buildin was turned into the Bird Park Apartments.

Resources

- CIC "A Step Back in Time: Bird Park" Article
- Islapedia "Bird Park Santa Catalina Island" Article
- Santa Cruz Island Foundation "Bird Park 1941" YouTube Video
- Today's Bird Park Apartments Near the Old Bird Park
- Today's Preschool in the Historic Bird Park

More About Attractions on Catalina

Catalina Island Travel Guide

California for Visitors