email: roadarch@outlook.com

Other Bird Statues (page 4)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Yard Birds
Chehalis, WA
The first Yard Birds store opened in 1947 in Centralia, WA. There were three other locations in Olympia, Chehalis, and Shelton, WA. The only store still open is the one in Chehalis. The first magpie statue was built in 1969 at the company's Chehalis store. The statue was 60 feet tall and destroyed by a fire in 1976. The statue shown in the first row above is about eight feet tall. There were about 20 of these Yard Bird statues made but they are apparently all gone except for possibly one in a private collection in Centralia, WA which may be gone and another one at the Lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis, WA.

The larger, decoy shaped bird at the Chehalis store is about 60 feet long and originally served as the company's helicopter hangar. I believe it was built in the early 1970s. The statue was restored in 2013 and was being restored again in 2015 when these photos were taken. The two statues shown in the bottom row above are located inside the store. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Black Bird
Medford, OR

2008:
2015:
This Black Bird is installed in the parking lot of the Black Bird Shopping Center. It was built by Lee Hobbs who was inspired by the Yard Bird in Chehalis, WA (see above). This statue is about 29 feet tall and holds a fishing pole. For more, see this website. [map]

Vulture [gone]
Pomona, CA
This Vulture appeared to be made of foam. He stood in the parking lot behind the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center. These photos are from 2008. By 2011, the statue was gone.

Buzzard
Key Largo, FL

2009:
2020 and 2021:
This Buzzard advertises for the Buzzard's Roost Grill & Pub. In 2009, he was installed on top of a car on Highway 1. By 2011, the statue had been restored and installed in the restaurant's tiki bar patio.

More Buzzards:
Springfield, MO [map]

Bluebird of Happiness
Vilano Beach, FL

2010:
2021:
The Bluebird of Happiness was built in the 1940s to promote orange juice sales and installed in Vilano Beach. The statue is about eight feet tall and was originally painted orange. Later, the bird was moved to Newt's Motel where he was painted blue and was given this name. He was moved several times after the motel closed and deteriorated. The statue was donated to the town in 2008 and moved back downtown to this chain link cage. The statue was restored in 2011. It was moved to the foot of the Vilano Beach Pier. For more, see this website. [map]

Other Birds
(page 1)		 Other Birds
(page 2)		 Other Birds
(page 3)		 Other Birds
(page 5)		 "Classic" Roosters Roosters & Chickens
 Turkeys
Geese, Ducks,
Coots & Loons		 Eagles Roadrunners Chicken Cars
Animal Statues Main Page