NORTH COUNTY —— One of the Wild Animal Park's most popular attractions, the Free Flight Bird Show, produced its last three shows on Friday.

The show has entertained millions of visitors and featured more than 50 different trained birds during its 28-year history, park spokeswoman Yadira Galindo said.

The birds, all of which are trained to fly outdoors, range from a cockatoo that plucks dollar bills from audience members, to a vulture that opens fake ostrich eggs.

Produced by Escondido-based Berwick Productions, the show's contract was not-renewed because the company had decided it was time to part ways, Galindo said. She would not elaborate.

A new, different free flight show entitled "Frequent Flyers," will be developed by the park next month to replace the original.

"Berwick just decided it was time to do something different," Galindo said. "We have hired six new bird trainers and will start to finalize a new show in early January once all of the personnel have arrived."

Joyce Romero, a visitor assistant officer at the park, said she was surprised and saddened by the sudden announcement of the show's cancellation.

"This will be a hard transition and a lot of people would have preferred to know ahead of time," Romero said. "We have some regulars, especially senior citizens who will be sad to see it go. All of the staff here wishes Berwick the best, they have been the best of neighbors."

Galindo, however, said that the new show will be a good change and that the park is always trying to find new and exciting ways to educate the public about conservation efforts.

"The new show will have different species including a rare Andean Condor, African Crowned Cranes and an African Fish Eagle," Galindo said. "While the new show is being planned, visitors will be able to see these birds being trained in various parts of the park."

The "Free Flight Bird Show" was included with the price of the park's admission and featured three daily shows throughout the year, and five shows during the summer months when the park is open late. Galindo said the new show would also be free and have essentially the same schedule.

The Free Flight Bird Show was originally started by Ray Berwick, the same animal trainer who trained dogs for the "Bengi" roles in Hollywood films, Galindo said. Berwick passed away in 1990 and the show was sold by his widow in 1994 to two long-time Berwick employees, the current president Gary Price, and vice-president Sunni Black.

"We had a great and long run at the park and touched a lot of people with the Free Flight Show," Sunni Black said Friday. "The decision to leave was very difficult and hard to make, but after weighing all of our options, it seemed like time to go. The birds will come with us and we are hoping to do some local, educational shows while we look for a new permanent home for the show."

Berwick Productions produces another show at the Wild Animal Park, "Lorikeet Landing," a popular attraction where visitors can purchase cups of nectar that attract Australian parrots, which land on the guests to feed. Black said that Lorikeet Landing would continue at the park, and that it was a wonderful way for guests to interact with wild animals.

Park employees planned a small send-off for the staff of the "Free Flight Bird Show," Romero said.

"We will celebrate with some cake and flowers this afternoon," Romero said on Friday. "Sunni Black and Gary Price and the rest of the Berwick staff did a wonderful job with the show over so many years. They were willing to do anything to educate the public, including showing the birds to children after the shows."

Contact Edward Graham at 760-761-4414 or egraham@nctimes.com