When the video first came in, our hearts broke.
It showed a crow, desperate and stumbling around a yard with what looked like a metal rod piercing straight through his head!
Surely, we thought, there was no hope.
Having just sent the video, the homeowner was now on the other end of the line, distraught and wondering how to help this poor bird. Time was of the essence and our volunteer field rescuer, Richard, was dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, he took one look at the crow and his heart sank. However, having been on many a rescue, he reminded himself that looks can be deceiving. As he gently secured the crow— metal rod and all—he told the finder we would do our best and drove back to The Bird Rescue Center. This unfortunate situation was no one’s fault. It was a freak accident, but now a life hung in the balance.
Once back at BRC, our medical team worked quickly and carefully. We unboxed the crow and gently assessed his head. To everyone’s great surprise and relief—and to Richard’s point that looks can be deceiving—the crow wasn’t impaled at all. But he was miserably entangled.
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With tremendous skill and care, our Hospital Manager, Katie, worked first to free the crow’s tongue and bill. Slowly, and with the utmost delicacy and patience, she literally worked one millimeter at a time. After freeing both the tongue and bill, Katie worked gently and expertly to unwind the twisted metal from the crow’s head and neck. The work demanded tremendous concentration. Though not actually impaled during the initial accident, one wrong move now and things could go south quickly.
Finally, success!
Once freed from the metal rod, the crow was given a thorough exam. He had miraculously escaped life-threatening injuries, nonetheless he had severe abrasions and bruising on his neck, head and the inside of his mouth. Needing to recuperate, he was put on pain medication and supportive care, and given a quiet spot in “Crowville”, an aviary designed specifically for his species.
In just days his bruising healed—transitioning from deep purples and blues to greens and yellows, similar to the healing progression of human bruises. Next, it was time for his flight evaluation. We watched with joy as he passed with flying colors!
On a day deemed a “release marathon” because of the sheer number of birds returned to the wild, Danielle, our Avian Care Raptor Supervisor, took this extremely fortunate crow back to where he was found. The carrier door was barely open when he burst out and flew into the sky.
What looked like certain tragedy became a story of rescue, recovery, and renewal.
And isn’t that what we all need right now?
The world feels unpredictable. Headlines are so full of disaster and division it becomes easy to believe hope is out of reach. But at The Bird Rescue Center, we see something different every day:
• We see birds who arrive broken and leave soaring.
• We see volunteers and donors come together to give second chances.
• We see that, even when the world seems harsh and unkind, compassion still wins.
Our humble hospital is old and worn on the outside, but step inside and you’ll find something extraordinary—a place where life is defended, where expert medical care is provided, and where hope is renewed one bird at a time.
You make this hope possible.
In a world full of fear because so much feels out of our control, this is one place where we can make a real and lasting difference.
When you donate, you make sure that the next time a bird arrives in desperate need—whether entangled, poisoned, or orphaned—we can respond quickly, treat effectively, and offer second chances at life. I hope this holiday season you will join us in turning fear into hope. Please make your donation today. Together, we will keep proving looks can be deceiving—and that hope still soars.
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​Your donation powers expert medical care, specialized diets, shelter, rehabilitation and healing time that our birds need to survive—and to fly free again.
With heartfelt gratitude and deep determination,
A bit about crows…
Crows often get a bad rap. They can bully other birds, harass animals and people, and even hold grudges. Yet they have a lot of positive attributes, too.
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Crows are very familial. Young crows typically help raise their brothers and sisters for several
years. They know each other – their parents, aunts, and uncles – and they can recognize individual humans too!
Highly intelligent, crows make and use tools, solve problems, and parFcipate in activities
simply for the fun of it. And like any other bird, they start their journey here at BRC in desperate need of help.
Personally, I have a soft spot for crows. When they’re babies, they have beautiful blue eyes. And those baby blues get me every time.
As you read this letter, crows may still be gathering in extra-large groups as they do
each fall. The reason remains a mystery. Some hypothesize it’s for protection during raptor
migration, others suggest it’s for communal communication. No matter why, it tends to
happen near Halloween. That, and the fact groups of crows are called murders, undoubtedly contributes to their bad rap. I, however, prefer to think of it as a gathering of the clans and a celebration of family and
friends.
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And yet another reason I love crows.
Ashton Kluttz
Executive Director
PS This crow’s story could have ended the moment we saw that video. Instead, it ended with the beat of wings soaring up through the open sky. With your gift, you can make that same happy ending possible for the next bird in need.
