Dozens of birds spread their wings at refurbished Steckel Park Aviary

Danny Real was watching as Ventura County Animal Services returned about 50 birds to the Steckel Park Aviary Tuesday. “I’ll be helping to take care of them,” said the Junior Ranger as he eyed a two geese that had already been transferred from traveling cages to their refurbished home just north of Santa Paula.

An avian shriek split the air that kicked off a dialogue of chattering, coos, squawking and a loud “Hello!” among the birds — doves, parakeets and cockatiels and a cockatoo, among them — that had already been unloaded. “Hello” indeed: just last year the debilitated aviary was almost shuttered. 

When the community learned that the county had plans to demolish the aviary, citizens rallied and “Save the Steckel Park Aviary” — led by Mitch Stone and Councilman Ralph Fernandez — was created. A formal ribbon cutting is in the near future.

Steckel Park — named for the Mayor who donated the parkland in the 1920s — has been a home to the aviary for decades, a destination visited by families, individuals and organizations. VCHCA PIO Adrienne Stephens recalled a decade ago campout with the YMCA Indian Guides, kids who were preschool to young teens who “visited the birds… the transformation is astonishing, it’s beautiful now.”

Ron Van Dyck, county parks director, said the cost of the aviary is probably about $182,000 when the 4,400 hours of volunteer labor, donated materials, county staff time and other costs are factored in. Original estimates were about $150,000 and although initial talks made it seem the center might be downsized it was kept at the original 170’ by 45’ size; new are ADA ramps, decorative post fencing and plantings to shore up the Santa Paula Creek bank just east of the aviary that has threatened the facility in the past. 

Van Dyck said as the DG groundcover becomes compacted it will still allow drainage. He is also pleased at the results: “There was a lot of expertise” in the volunteer pool that donated labor and materials including concrete and dumpsters.... The bulk of the hours was stretching the mesh,” different densities that cover the cage exteriors from top to bottom. 

Van Dyck said although the footprint of the aviary remains the same, the number of cages was reduced slightly: “It was opened up to give the birds more room,” he noted. 

Plants were carefully selected to be specific for the various bird species. Several of the birds, although indoor species were “grandfathered in” by Mother Nature during their previous stay, but Van Dyck said future residents would strictly be of the outdoor variety from an approved species list.

Some species are now caged together and enjoying the company, which could also now be applied to the community and the county, which initially had butted heads over the aviary. The birds were moved to the county shelter in September and work began.