Chehalis, Washington: Yard Bird Statues

The goofy Yard Birds are cartoon mascot leftovers of a defunct chain store.

On the same site as the Yard Birds, there's a giant shoe on the east side of the building now. If you're checking out the swap meet, ya may as well take a look.

The Yard Bird statues are neat and the giant swap meet is very cool. Lots of hidden treasures.

There are two remaining Yard Birds outside, one in the front and one in the back. The largest is probably 30 feet long, and it was being repaired when I was there; workers putting sheets of wood over a wooden ribcage. I looked inside and, funny enough, there was a hammock hanging there. Not sure who would go in to relax. There was a six-foot-long bird inside, too.

"Birdfest 2011" was held in the Yard Birds parking lot on June 25, 2011, to raise the money needed to finish repairs on the Yard Bird statue. Years of weather have eaten a hole into its back, exposing the hollow interior that once sheltered the helicopter of the owners of a quirky surplus store (Santa would use the chopper to arrive every Christmas).

Although the store itself has changed hands several times, Yard Bird has remained, and has in recent years acquired a Bunyanesque status in the region as a kind of folkloric hero. Music for Birdfest was supplied by members of the Ventures, the Kingsmen, and Washington state Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.