Utah named a bird pavilion after him. The reason why will make you smile.

Calvin Wilson’s 37-Year Reign at Tracy Aviary

In 1938, Tracy Aviary had a bird problem. They had no one to run the place until Calvin Wilson came from Los Angeles for $120 a month.

Wilson moved his family into a small house right on the grounds and got to work. For eight years they lived among the birds, then moved nearby but kept the job.

He took care of more than 500 birds plus seals, monkeys, and one bad-tempered ram that kept breaking fences.

Rain or shine, Wilson grabbed his feed bucket and did his rounds. After 37 years, he finally stepped down in 1975.

The South American Pavilion named in his honor still stands at Tracy Aviary in Utah, where his story lives on.

Los Angeles Zoo Sent Their Bird Expert to Utah in 1938

Calvin Wilson packed his bags and headed to Salt Lake City in 1938 after city officials couldn’t find anyone local to run Tracy Aviary.

They recruited him from the Los Angeles Zoo, paying him $120 monthly to become the aviary’s first superintendent.

Wilson knew how to care for exotic birds and animals, skills nobody in Salt Lake had. The city needed him badly to look after their growing collection of rare birds.

Home Sweet Aviary Became Reality for Wilson Family

The Wilsons moved into a small house right on the aviary grounds, giving their daughters Janeal and Claudia a truly unique childhood.

Living there let Calvin take care of the birds around the clock and keep the place secure. The family stayed on-site for eight years, with Calvin jumping up at all hours for animal emergencies.

Their kitchen table became the center of aviary planning and record-keeping.

One Man Army Ran Everything Until 1942

Calvin worked completely alone for his first four years, doing every job himself for over 500 birds. He fed them, cleaned cages, gave medical care, and fixed everything without any help.

His day started before sunrise, lugging heavy feed buckets and pushing wheelbarrows full of greens to hungry animals.

He worked through snowstorms, heat waves, and rainstorms. He also kept all the records, ordered supplies, and answered visitor questions.

Beyond Birds: Calvin Cared for Monkeys, Seals and More

Despite the “aviary” name, Calvin took care of monkeys, seals, and hoofed animals too. He learned what each new animal needed to eat and how to handle them safely.

Seals needed special water checks and fish prep. Monkeys required secure cages that stopped escapes but gave them room to move.

When Calvin didn’t know something, he wrote letters or made rare phone calls to bigger zoos for advice.

Building Better Homes for Feathered Friends

Calvin oversaw projects that changed the aviary from basic cages to proper zoo homes. He created winter housing to protect tropical birds from Utah’s cold mountain weather.

He built areas to keep new birds separate during their six-month waiting period, especially imported parrots.

He also made monkey enclosures, walkways around the seal pond, and rock shelters for barbary sheep, all while watching his budget.

Ram on the Rampage Created Constant Headaches

The mouflon ram became Calvin’s biggest problem, breaking through fences no matter how many times Calvin fixed them.

This wild sheep used its strong curved horns to attack and wreck containment barriers.

Calvin spent hours fixing bent metal posts, broken wire mesh, and damaged gate hinges. While other animals stayed put, this ram seemed to take fences as a personal challenge.

Family Moved Off-Site But Calvin’s Dedication Never Wavered

After eight years living at work, the Wilson family moved to South Salt Lake, giving his daughters a more normal childhood.

Calvin kept up the same level of care, now adding a daily drive to his duties.

The move changed him from live-in caretaker to professional superintendent, though he worked just as hard.

He still arrived before dawn and often stayed late, especially during breeding seasons or when animals needed extra attention.

They Named a Building After Him While He Still Worked There

The Calvin D. Wilson bird pavilion opened in June 1970, a special honor given five years before he retired.

This big eight-sided building had 42 winter-housing cages and 14 display spaces for visitors. The modern facility had everything Calvin worked toward – proper housing, smart design, and better views for visitors.

The naming honored his thirty years of service while he could still enjoy seeing people use the space.

Feed Bucket in Hand Through Rain, Snow and Heat

Janeal remembered her father heading out in all weather, “off he went with a feed bucket on his arm and a wheelbarrow full of greens.”

Calvin never complained about working outdoors during Salt Lake City’s freezing winters or hot summers.

His daughters watched him walk through snow to reach bird shelters. Animals ate on schedule regardless of holidays, weekends, or personal convenience.

Four Decades of Service Ended in Summer of 1975

Calvin finally retired on July 1, 1975, after transforming Tracy Aviary from a simple bird collection into a respected zoo.

His 37-year career spanned from the Great Depression through World War II and into the modern zoo era. He left behind proper infrastructure, established quarantine protocols, and professional operating standards.

The small facility he joined in 1938 had grown into a regional attraction with diverse species and specialized habitats.

Visiting Tracy Aviary, Utah

Tracy Aviary at 589 E 1300 South in Liberty Park honors Calvin Wilson, who ran the entire facility alone from 1938 to 1975.

He lived on-site with his family and cared for over 500 birds plus seals, monkeys, and a troublesome mouflon ram that kept breaking fences.

Visit daily 9am-5pm for $7.95 adults, $4. 95 kids. Winter Wednesdays cost just $1 from November through March.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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