The summer Sunbirds: a dying breed
The Sunbird program dwindles as students crowd Rexburg housing
- posted: 26 June 2007
- scrollnews@byui.edu
This summer, Rexburg hosts not only college students and EFY goers, but 300 “Sunbirds” as well. Every year, the Sunbirds—retired couples and residents of Arizona, California and Florida —migrate to Rexburg to escape the heat.
Since the Sunbird program began 30 years ago, Sunbirds have come to enjoy the scenery, warm days and cool evenings.
“They enjoy the location and being close to fishing areas. They also love being in a safe community and being able to interact with the BYU-Idaho students,” said Donna L. Benfield, executive director at the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the Sunbird program.
While staying in Rexburg from April to September, Sunbirds live in student apartment complexes like Alpine Chalet, Brookside Village and University Courtyard Apartments. Living in these complexes provides easy access to campus, where Sunbirds go to walk around the track, eat in the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center and do genealogy in the David O. McKay Library.
Ruth Johnson, activities coordinator for the Sunbirds at University Courtyard Apartments, comes every year to make the stay in campus housing enjoyable. Potlucks, bridge games, movies in the lounge and Saturday-morning coffee are among the activities on her list this year.
“I love Rexburg and all its activities. I just enjoy working with people,” Johnson said.
The 39 Sunbirds staying at University Courtyard Apartments this year also visit senior centers for lunch and bingo and attend local talent performances at the Rexburg Tabernacle on Wednesdays.“We fish and we hike. We just love it here. We love every minute of it,”
BYU-I housing and resources aren’t the only features drawing Sunbirds to Rexburg, however. They also come to enjoy golfing, fishing, hiking, biking and tennis. Donna Mailes of Mesa, Ariz. and her husband, Eldon, have been coming to Rexburg for 13 years.
“We fish and we hike. We just love it here. We love every minute of it,” said Mailes. Sunbirds, like the Mailes, also travel to West Yellowstone, Mont.; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and Sun Valley, Idaho.
At its peak in the late 1990s, the Sunbird program attracted over 2,000 visitors each summer. However, since Ricks College became a four-year university in 2001, the number of Sunbirds has decreased due to limited housing. Last year, the program attracted an all-time low of 150 Sunbirds.
To accommodate both the new track system at BYU-I and to rebuild the organization, the Chamber of Commerce has created a mini-Sunbird program, which runs during the six-week break between summer and fall semesters.
The city hopes to attract more visitors with this mini-program, not only because of the $3-5 million impact the Sunbirds have on Rexburg’s economy, but also because of their personal contribution to the community.
“The Sunbirds come from all walks of life and have a lot of experience. They bring a wealth of information and knowledge about life in general,” Benfield said. 
