Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
Illustration By Melody Stone / Capital Public Radio
Illustration By Melody Stone / Capital Public Radio  

Roadside Distractions

 

Roadside oddities that catch our attention and then fade into our rearview mirror.

Series and Project Archive

 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Yuba City's Bird Man

  •  Bob Moffitt 
Friday, June 30, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

What’s seven feet tall, has six feet and rainbow feathers? The Bird Man of Yuba City holding two scarlet macaws over his head as a part of the newest addition to our Roadside Distraction series.

On just about any day, in the evenings, on the weekdays and in the mornings on the weekends, you will likely find Kenneth Du walking with a bounce in his step down Stabler Avenue in Yuba City.

He’s hard to miss. There’s the red hat with the flap in the back, black socks, red shorts and a scarlet macaw with nearly every color of the rainbow on each gloved hand. At every corner, he stops, lifts either Hope or Care above his head, lowers the bird, kisses it, and then does the same for the other.

062317Birdman 2(P)

He got his first bird in 2009. But like the fountain pens he collected and now designs, he wanted more from this hobby.

“I felt having birds wasn’t enough. I’m an active person. I wanted to do more than just raise birds. So, I decided, hey, let’s try walking around the neighborhood with birds,” Du said.

And that’s how he came to be known as the Bird Man.

He started by walking short distances at first. It didn’t take long to realize five-pound birds get heavy quickly.

“The first few months of doing this, I couldn’t even sleep. Both of my hands were numb. I just got so sore, working muscles I didn’t even know I have,” Du continued.

He has five Facebook pages, each devoted to a different topic, like the 14 marathons he's run, poetry (He claims to be the "Father of Modern Poetry"), sunglasses, and his title of "Grand Prince of the Ancient Imperial Du Dynasty."

But, the one that gets the most attention is “BirdMan & Averxise” an exercise program he invented. He says he combined aviary and exercise to come up with the name. He has even written a manual.

063017Birdman ParrotP

“Averxise is a new, original concept: It’s walking, playing, exercising with birds. They fly on command. It’s kind of like walking a dog except you’re flying a dog,” Du explained.

A macaw-walking, fountain-pen making, poetry-writing, marathon-running grand prince is quite the roadside distraction indeed.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 yuba cityBird Man

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Roadside Distractions Stories

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

A Riverboat That’s Not Afloat: The Old Spirit Of Sacramento

October 7, 2016

Johnny / Flickr

Why Is There A Self-Cannibalizing Hot Dog Statue Perched On A Building Off Alhambra Blvd.?

August 5, 2016

Dixon Public Library / Archives

Milk Drinking Competitions, Wind Storms, Flying Cars Under The Smiling Neon Cow

March 4, 2016

View All Roadside Distractions Stories  

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

In Turkey and Syria, outdated building methods all but assured disaster from a quake

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

How a new law is bringing more attention to natural carbon sequestration

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

In Turkey and Syria, outdated building methods all but assured disaster from a quake

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

How a new law is bringing more attention to natural carbon sequestration

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.