Rescuing a crow

[Trek420]

On my way home tonight I saw a few people on either side of the road looking onto the street at what looked like a black plastic bag fluttering on the ground. As I drove by I looked back, saw it flutter and OMG :eek: that's a crow that was hit.

I stopped and pulled over, now what to do :confused: Several cars, trucks came by, at any moment I expected the bird to be hit again and that would be the end of that.

Don't know exactly what came over me but I though "maybe I can save this bird."

I looked for something in the car I could wrap it up in, towel? Nope, old shirt? Nope....only thing I could find in the gym bag was an old old old pair of PI tights.

So the crow had thus far escaped cars passing by, I walked over with the tights and gently wrapped it up. It was compliant but obviously hurt. I put him/her in the front seat of the car :rolleyes: and pulled out the cell phone.

I keep the 24hour vets number programed into the cell. Call them, "we don't do birds call this number", call them and they don't do wild birds call this number, called the number of the local wild bird rescue group and reached a person "uh, we're actually closed so call back and I won't pick up and the recording will tell you what to do" so that gets me to a recording that referred me to another group.

By now I'm thinking I've got a future dead bird. But I call them. They said yes, if you will get the bird to us we will take it into the vet in the morning. :cool:

So I put the crow in a box with a towel :rolleyes: and off we go. These people are up near Skyline in the Oakland Hills so it's a bit of a drive and hard to find them but I do.

I park the car and guess who's feeling chipper enough that s/he's hopped out of the box and is sitting on the rear seat and just kinda looking around? :rolleyes: The crow.

Lina from the rescue group comes out and scoops the bird up, takes it in and they have very nice heated cages.

While I fill out a report she says "look, he's taking water from an eyedropper. That's a good sign" And just to prove the point he takes a couple more sips.

She says his wing looks broken, maybe a leg broken but he has a chance.

[crazycanuck]

What a nice human :)

Thank you for taking the time to help the creature, i'm sure it appreciated it.

C

[salsabike]

Good for you, girl. From those of us who care about such stuff---much appreciated.

[BikeMomma]

Dita -

Thank you sooo much for what you did. You're truly one awesome lady. More than kudos for you! :) :) ;)

~BikeMomma

[plantluvver]

That crow had very good karma, having someone who went through all that phone nonsense for her. Glad you got to see her perk up!:cool:

[RoadRaven]

With a name like mine... I offer particular thanks on her behalf

Raven

[margo49]

Good for you, girl. From those of us who care about such stuff---much appreciated.

Wot she said
[with tears in my eyes]

[Duck on Wheels]

You go Crow Girl! (yet another nickname for your collection). Remember the book "Crow Boy"? I'm sure we both must have read it when we were kids. As I recall it was one that came highly recommended by our mutual Mom.

[KnottedYet]

That's my sweetie.

[telegirl]

What they all said - Thanks for caring enough to do something! And my parrot thanks you on behalf of all birds. :D (Actually, she said 'what's wrong with my bird?", but that translates to 'what a really great thing to do. She must be a really nice person. Thank her for me, would you?')

[sbctwin]

Thank you for giving this nature's creature a chance. You are awesome for sticking it out and getting the bird to a rescue center...Again kudos to you. You are a fine example of what it means to 'care' and the where-withall to follow through, the best you can.

[missymaya]

Thanks for being a good person and helping a creature who needed it. We need more people like you in this world.

[7rider]

Yay. Thanks for saving such a beautiful creature.
Crows are some of the most under-appreciated birds out there.
They all deserve a chance, and thanks for giving this guy his/hers.

[Trek420]

That's my sweetie. :D :p

Yeah, that's me :p :) One of those tree huggy animal loving types. I take it that's ok with you ? :D ;)

I will call in a couple days to see if "Edgar Allen Crow" made it.


You go Crow Girl! (yet another nickname for your collection). Remember the book "Crow Boy"? I'm sure we both must have read it when we were kids. As I recall it was one that came highly recommended by our mutual Mom.

I don't remember "Crow Boy" but I'm sure it was good. TE, our mutual Mom retired as a reading therapist for the school district so we all read early and the best childrens lit.


What they all said - Thanks for caring enough to do something! And my parrot thanks you on behalf of all birds. :D (Actually, she said 'what's wrong with my bird?", but that translates to 'what a really great thing to do. She must be a really nice person. Thank her for me, would you?')

Telegirl, not a problem. Tell your parrot I like birds, I have a two bird-feeder house, just got a bird bath and am trying to plant stuff that birds like.

Hopefully E.A. Crow makes it, if not on some level he knows humans tried. Thanks to

www.yuwr.org

And the phone stuff was frustrating but in hindsight I'm real comfortable getting through the maze of getting things done on the phone and "phone trees" which are the polite thing to call voice mail he)).

[bmccasland]

Trek420,
And when you're riding your bike and get swooped by a crow it just might be Edgar Allen coming by to say "Thank you."

Let's here it for good karma, and warm fuzzy healing hearts!

You might have also called your state Game & Fish Department, they either have their own Vet or have numbers of rescue groups.

[Trek420]

Trek420,
And when you're riding your bike and get swooped by a crow it just might be Edgar Allen coming by to say "Thank you."

Let's here it for good karma, and warm fuzzy healing hearts!

You might have also called your state Game & Fish Department, they either have their own Vet or have numbers of rescue groups.

bmccasland, I called them.

We have a county wild animal rescue that normally is really good. They have a Vet at the location etc. That's the one who said "woops, we're closed, didn't mean for you to get a live person. I gotta get home to American Idol. Call back and you'll get the machine."

Fortunately I called yuwr.org first and she said "If you don't get through to the county call me back and we'll take the bird"

[KnottedYet]

Hey, maybe I should work that extra day and send some $$ to YUWR.

Black Surly bike.... black crow.... one more dark day at old job....
(and the Edgar Allen Poe connection.)

[Duck on Wheels]

Hey, maybe I should work that extra day and send some $$ to YUWR.

Black Surly bike.... black crow.... one more dark day at old job....
(and the Edgar Allen Poe connection.)

Yep! Nevermore!!

[Trek420]

Hey, maybe I should work that extra day and send some $$ to YUWR.

Black Surly bike.... black crow.... one more dark day at old job....
(and the Edgar Allen Poe connection.)

Sorry for the thread detour TE, I wouldn't work the extra day unless they budge on Cobra. ;) :) That and GF cake for your last day :D :cool:

[KnottedYet]

They've already offered gluten-free brownies.

I think this is the cosmic balancing act (or karma) waving at me: I will work that day, send some support to the YUWR, spend some on the Surly, and leave the old job with a clear conscience.

Besides, I like crows.

[maillotpois]

What a great story! I love the visual image of the crow hopping around on your backseat, telling you to change the radio station, saying "When are we gonna be there?!" etc.

[smilingcat]

Another animal lover yayyyy!!!

thank you thank you.... thank you....

smilingcat

[Trek420]

What a great story! I love the visual image of the crow hopping around on your backseat, telling you to change the radio station, saying "When are we gonna be there?!" etc.

"Turn off that classical stuff, it's not soothing at all. Back on KFOG, they're playing Counting Crows" :p


They've already offered gluten-free brownies.

I think this is the cosmic balancing act (or karma) waving at me: I will work that day, send some support to the YUWR, spend some on the Surly, and leave the old job with a clear conscience.

Besides, I like crows.

Knott, you could leave your job today with a clear conscience, you've done your bit and given them your all. GF brownies are the least they should give you. How about a huge party and can we say Cobra?

I hope the little guy makes it, he was a trouper. Will keep you posted if/when I find out. I was not one for crows, like song birds, humingbirds that kinda thing. But now that I've looked one right in the eye, crows seem inteligent.

[Python]

I hope the crow makes a full recovery. Just wish there were more people like you Trek. The world would be a much better place.

[Pax]

Onya for doing the right thing, hope E.A. Crow makes a full flightful recovery!

[bmccasland]

Trek420 "But now that I've looked one right in the eye, crows seem inteligent."

Corvids are very intelligent. AND they like to play - I think it was a on a National Geographic special about Yellowstone, where they filmed crows (or ravens) sliding down a snow bank, then flying up to do it again and again. The only reason anyone could come up with was that the birds were playing. Like mammals have a corner on that market.

Here's hoping E.A. makes a full recovery!

[spokewench]

Oh yeah! The ravens/crows around here love to get out in the high winds and dive bomb each other in the drafts. They are a ball to watch. They are just playing! Their very smart too, even use small twigs, etc. as tools to obtain food!:D

[RoadRaven]

yes, corvids are very intelligent

In fact, scientific studies (book at work sorry, can't quote for you) have shown that crows are the animals who can count the highest.
One test was by sending a bunch of people into a building, and sending a bunch out.
Most animals will have no problem once people have left, they see people leave, they assume all people have gone...
Crows however could count the people - so if 10 people went in, and only 9 came out, the crows would not be tricked into thinking the building was empty. Pretty cool, huh?

Unfortunately, ravens can not count quite so well as crows... :( close... but not quite...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Trek, so did a very good deed.
Hey you know even if he doesn't make it, -you still took him out of a very frightening and dangerous situation and put him in a safe and gentle environment instead. :p

[Trek420]

Unfortunately, ravens can not count quite so well as crows... :( close... but not quite...

You could change your name to RoadCrow :)

[snapdragen]

Good for you Trek. I love crows - the beasties are so big here I swear I could put a saddle on one and ride it to work!

[trickytiger]

I take this to mean that you found a new, happier place to work? :o Happy for you.... and sad for me! Who is going to make me wash towels and hand weights now?


Hey, maybe I should work that extra day and send some $$ to YUWR.

Black Surly bike.... black crow.... one more dark day at old job....
(and the Edgar Allen Poe connection.)

[KnottedYet]

Girl, you are gonna be working your tail off doing patient treatments! No more laundry and cleaning for you!

(you can thank me later... :D )

[kjay]

Great to hear about what you did, Trek, and I hope for the best for the raven. I rescued a hummingbird once and took her to the Peninsula Humane Society where she rehabbed. I was able to pick her up to release her in the area in which I live. I'll be looking forward to your update.

[Trek420]

Edger Allen The Crow didn't make it.

He made it through the night and when taken to the vet it was found he had a compound fracture of the major bone in his wing, sticking through the skin. She says he would have never flown again. They decided the best thing to do was put him down.

The gal from the rescue agency said the same day they got a baby crow, so circle of life, that sort of thing. And that if I had not come along, and he'd managed to get off the road he would have lingered or perhaps been eaten by a dog or cat.

[teigyr]

oh I am so sad about that but at least you helped him, poor guy. And I am so happy that there are people willing to help, it is people like you (and most people on TE) who help make the world a better place for beasties and others.

[KnottedYet]

Awww... sh#t.

Knot-with-tears-in-her-eyes

[KnottedYet]

I'm still sending $$ to Yggdrasil. More $$ = more critters get help. (even if it's a painless way to die safe and warm instead of getting tortured and eaten by some other animal)

::blows nose and snurfles::
Here's a song for Edgar - "Little Bird" by Annie Lennox (no link, sorry)

[margo49]

You *did* the Right Thing At the Time.
And you shared the story which is the best because we all need Good News (as opposed to the Usual News).
The *result* was never in your hands *anyway*. You did what you could.

[emily_in_nc]

That's so sad...but thank you for being so kind -- you did all you could have done, and more than 99.99% of people would have done.

A fellow bird lover :(