A baby bird that escaped the clutches of a hawk flying over Coquitlam in July is the star attraction on a Christmas card raising funds for the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC (WRA).
With a beak wide open in a squawk — or maybe in anticipation of something to eat — the cedar waxwing is featured on the card because it looked so energetic and happy, and seemed to represent the best of the holiday season, said WRA spokesperson Yolanda Brooks.
"I was looking through our image library for inspiration and I came across this amazing cedar waxwing that looked like it was singing for joy," Brooks said. "We've had a really positive response; it's a card that makes you smile."
The fledgling bird wasn't always so happy. It was injured after a hawk grabbed it from its nest, along with its sibling, then dropped it onto the hood of a car on Raven Court in Coquitlam.
While its sibling succumbed to its injuries, the young cedar waxwing, suffering an abrasion on its beak, was rescued by a couple that turned it over to a neighbour, Eric Simmons, who is married to a WRA board member.
When the bird got to the centre, it had to be fed every 30 minutes but, after two weeks, it was able to feed itself. The bird thrived in care and was released within a month of its traumatic brush with death, according to Brooks.
"It came in as a nestling without many feathers but it developed feathers, and once it can self-feed, it can go outside with the other waxwings," said Brooks.
In August, after a month at the shelter, the bird was released.
A volunteer photographer, Paul Steeves, captured a shot of the feisty bird during its recovery.
The cedar waxwing Christmas cards are available in packs of five for $7.50. The card is part of a collection of Christmas cards and calendars being sold to raise money for the organization, which treats more than 5,000 wild animals each year. They are available from Wildlife Rescue’s office at 5216 Glencarin Dr. in Burnaby. They can also be ordered by phone on 604-526-2747, Ext. 502 or online at www.wildliferescue.ca. All proceeds will go directly to WRA.
