Rescuers reach out to baby crow

A young crow was caught by leg in a tree branch at Maakri St, central Tallinn yesterday. Fire truck showed up to solve situation and bring bird down.

Alarm Centre had a lady call them over the phone who has this excellent view of a crow’s nest right from her third floor window.

«Crows do nest here every year, and we always watch them and are fans of the young ones growing. Last year, they had two raised up. There’s two this year too, and one got in trouble,» she said.

There was a red ladder-equipped truck that pulled up first. Having surveyed the scene, they called for one with a cage lift – easier to use in a narrow one-way street.

The cage hoisted up two rescuers who, arriving at nest-level, disentangled the leg and stuck the bird in a cardboard box brought along.

The box was put in the truck which took off in unknown direction. It all happened while the old crow and other offspring were nowhere to be seen.

Northern Rescue Centre press rep Indrek Hirs said saving beasts and birds in trouble is part of their job, but people always come first.

«Should human lives get endangered while a bird-rescue like this is going on, the commando closest to scene will respond, or otherwise rescuing the crow will be discontinued and the crew drives off to rescue people,» he explained.

«If indeed the crow was stuck in a way impossible for it to break loose on its own, the call was totally justified. If an animal of bird is caught someplace where it can’t get out unassisted, rescuers are truly needed. Let’s say, if a bird is caught in branches or some artificial structures, or a dog has fallen in a sewage well, or a cat has crawled behind a radiator and can’t get out,» listed the press rep.

Mr Hirs went on to detail that things are altogether different with cats in tree tops unwilling or unable to come down. In cases like that, rescue operators may decide not to show up as the animal isn’t explicitly stuck and has the opportunity to descend.

«Then again, if the cat’s been up there for five days suffering from dehydration and what not, then the trouble is deep enough as to necessitate rescue,» he added.

«There have been the occasions when I have felt to ask some who called if they’ve ever seen a feline skeleton up a tree. As a rule, all cats always come down on their own eventually. Come to think of it: why is the cat up there? For the fear of coming down. And the fear is caused by being stressed out anyway,» related Mr Hirs, advising to allow cats-in-trees the time to calm down and come down.