Pioneer Park Aviary killings prompt outrage and fundraising

WALLA WALLA-The news of repeated break-ins and killings of birds at the Pioneer Park Aviary in Walla Walla has prompted an outpouring of support and funding from community members.

Walla Walla Police reported that there have been multiple incidents over the past two weeks of someone cutting the netting at the Aviary and killing approximately 12 birds. The City is offering a $1,000 reward for the arrest and convictions of the person(s) responsible for the killing of the birds. The reward money was donated by "Friends of the Aviary."

Walla Walla resident and mother of two, Mariah Gizinski, lives next to the park and was angered by the senseless killings.

"When the information was released on Facebook stating that the birds had been killed, I was just devastated. I went around all day thinking of how someone could do that."

Finding that there was not an easy way for people to donate to the cause, Gizinski set up a GoFundMe page at https://tinyurl.com/yatdep9s where she has raised $2,200 of her $5,000 goal, to date.

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported a total of $28,000 has also been raised in support of Aviary security, replacement birds and updates.