In an attempt to make the cinematic land of Oz as close to Baum's vision as possible, the production staff paid particular heed to a passage Baum wrote in which he described "birds of rare and brilliant plumage [which] sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes." Though many of these birds are never directly part of the story, movie staff temporarily obtained the birds from the Los Angeles Zoo at an estimated cost of $15,000. According to a 1939 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, MGM sound staff went to Catalina Island to record 15,000 feet of tape of birds singing to incorporate into the film's soundtrack.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
