What — and who — are true survivors?
A crow rescued in 2013. A nest of hatchlings in 2025.
Nature never stops amazing us.

Resilience, Jubilation, and Small Miracles in the Summer Shade
Originally published in 2013. Updated in 2025 with a quiet new chapter.

Bird Stories: Of True Survivors From the Trees

Twelve years ago, my son spotted a crow hanging upside down from a tree in our neighbor’s yard — 40 feet up, tangled by a leg or wing, struggling and cawing for dear life.

We didn’t know it then, but that bird would hang on — literally — for over 48 hours. Rescue lines were called, voicemail boxes filled, and hope dimmed by the hour. But still, the crow cawed. Still, it fought. Still, it lived.

That story stayed with me — more than I realized.

This past June, during a random conversation about birds, I found myself retelling the tale — almost to the day, twelve years later.

Now, in a quiet full-circle moment, I’ve been watching another avian story unfold — a bird carefully building a nest into the jasmine creeper on our front porch. No urgency this time, no cries for help — just delicate strength and instinctive hope, woven into a green cradle.

There’s something about this summer — its quiet lessons in patience, in holding on, in flying when you’re ready — that brought it all rushing back – the crow story, I mean.

The Crow Story: The First Tale of Hope

Originally published in June 2013

Day One: Monday Evening

The kids were playing in the backyard when my son noticed something strange: a crow flapping wildly and cawing — high up in a neighbor’s tree.

After watching for a while, we realized it was stuck — maybe by the leg or wing. It hung upside down like a bat… or a caped hero, struggling to free itself.

I searched online for wildlife rescue numbers, called a vet friend (who, unfortunately, was out of town), and left messages with no reply. We went to bed, hoping the crow would somehow manage to escape on its own.

Day Two: Tuesday

The morning caws told us the crow was still there.

I finally reached Wildlife Rescue, who passed me to another group, who promised to notify the city’s animal services. The city called back and said they’d send someone out.

And they did — but the bird was too high, even for the fire truck ladder.
We didn’t know they’d tried until neighbors told us later.

It was heartbreaking to hear the bird’s persistent cries, but also awe-inspiring — it was as if he was calling for help. Several crows came and went during the day, circling the tree. We wondered… were they trying to help him?

Day Three: Wednesday

Still there. Still struggling.

By now, we truly believed those other crows were feeding him to help him survive. It was an incredible thought — solidarity among birds. Nature at its most compassionate.

I called the city again, but they told me I’d have to hire an arborist. I had a busy schedule at work that day, and that left me little time to research and follow up with arborists. And took my kids to work with me that day, for they were at home for the summer. My little bird-loving son was a bit relieved — hearing the crow crying was deeply upsetting for him.

Back home early that evening, we didn’t know what to expect. The crow was still there… flapping weakly, cawing less, fading. I tried calling once more, with no luck.

The Rescue (Wednesday Evening)

Then, around 6 p.m., we heard activity.

Someone was climbing the tree!

It was a relief and a joy to watch. The crow was distressed, but his rescuer was calm — speaking gently to soothe him, before carefully placing him into a netted bag and lowering him down to his crewmate. Our neighbors had found these heroes and made the rescue possible. We thanked them from our hearts.

The crow was weak but alive. His foot and wing were badly injured, but he guzzled water as soon as he was down. His eyes — sharp, curious — met ours.

48 hours — upside down, stuck, calling — and he survived.

It was a moment of true jubilation.

The crow was taken to a local wildlife center for recovery.
A murder of crows — averted.

Twelve Years Later: Another Hope Filled Tale

A Nest of Another Kind

Back then, in 2013, that crow taught us something raw and real about what it means to survive — to not give up even when the world seems upside down.

Now, in 2025, another tale to tell, of feathered friends again. This time, it is these tiny porch nestlings — awkward, vulnerable, and chirping into the summer heat.

So earlier this summer, about a month ago, I noticed that each time I opened my front door, a bird flew away from somewhere on the jasmine creeper right on our porch. After a few such sudden birdly departures, I looked closer, and noticed the bird was building a nest, weaving it carefully into the jasmine creeper on our front porch.

And… there were two eggs within! Two eggs became four. And soon, four fragile, pink nestlings cracked into the world — eyes shut, necks wobbling, beaks wide with need.

We watched them grow day by day:
Eyes opening. Feathers forming.
Tiny bodies stretching, settling, filling up that nest. We were awed and wondered how the birds knew exactly how big the nest needs to be, and how they realized that the fragile looking jasmine creeper could hold the weight of the nest (and its inhabitants) at that spot!!
As for the nestlings — I missed the first flight of all four, but I hope to witness those moments someday with another brood.

This story wasn’t as dramatic as the crow’s.
No cries for help. No ladders.
But it was no less full of wonder.

This morning, the nest is quiet.
They’ve all flown away.

No dramatic takeoffs — just the slow, steady miracle of growing up and letting go.

Jubilation (Then and Now)

Twelve years ago, jubilation came with flapping wings and a sharp-eyed crow, finally free after 48 hours of struggle.

Today, it arrives more quietly — in the jasmine vines that sway gently in the summer breeze, where four tiny birds once beat their wings against the edge of the world.

The nest is empty now.
But the story lingers in the leaves.

Haiku Moments

Struggle
Stuck upside down but
not without meals — family
flew by feeding him.

Flight
From egg, to open
sky — two wings, one tiny heart
beats against the breeze.

Departure
Jasmine nest now still.
Empty, yet full of their flight —
echoes in the leaves.

Thursday 13: E is for Everything

Originally written in June 2013, when the letter “E” was the theme for Alphabe Thursday (a weekly meme now retired), and paired with Thursday 13. In July 2025, I’m revisiting this list — updated a bit to reflect today, but still celebrating the letter E and the endless enigmas it holds.

1. Everyday Miracles – A crow rescued. A nest emptied. A summer remembered.
2. Empathy – What we felt for a bird stuck 40 feet above the ground, and for tiny beaks wide with hunger. Watching animals survive makes us more human.
3. Endurance – 48 hours upside down in a tree. Four hatchlings making their way into the world.
4. Echo – Of the crow’s caw, of flapping wings, of memories that rise again, years later.
5. Edelweiss – In the summer of 2013, my kids had been singing this song (it was part of my daughter’s spring recital in May). I love the song — and The Sound of Music remains an all-time favorite.
6. Enid Blyton – Her books filled my childhood with wonder, and deepened my love of reading. I know her legacy isn’t without blemish — some of her writing has rightly faced criticism for outdated or offensive portrayals. Still, like many readers of my generation, I credit her stories with opening a lifelong door to books and imagination.
7. Epcot Center– A favorite Disney park, still on my “must revisit” list — full of learning, imagination, and unexpected memories.
8. Estival – Meaning “of or relating to summer.” Perfect for this story.
9. Empty Nest – A literal one on our porch. A metaphor, too. It feels both sad and right.
10. Everything Else – Because some marvels don’t fit neatly in a list.
11. Esperanto – A language created to unite the world — still tempting to learn. (Thought about it in 2013. Haven’t started. Maybe by 2037?. Talk about long-term goals!!!)
12. Enigma – Life, nature, survival, earth, each of us — all still remain mysterious in a myriad ways.
13. Euphoria, Excitement, Enchantment, Entertainment – Just a handful of joyful “E”s that make life brighter — and blogging more fun.

And Everything Else “E”

(Because stopping at 13 is never easy when the world is full of “E”)

E-words from the Phrontistery – Eyeservice, expromission, exonym, evection, euonym, estival, epizeuxis, eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious, eigne, em, email… A treasure trove of obscure words I fell into one summer. Some will make your head spin (in a good way).

Emblems – Symbols and logos can carry deep meaning. Seeing a familiar one in an unfamiliar place can feel like an unexpected hug. (Bonus tip: Look up hidden meanings in famous logos — prepare to be amazed!)

My family – My DH is most thoughtful and loving, thinks and acts; my son plays piano and is a budding ornithologist; my darling girl is just darling, naughty, and smart!
→ How is this about “E”? Look again — there’s no “E” in that sentence. 😉
(A wordplay challenge sentence from 2013!)

Redoing this for 2025 –

My family – my DH is still caring and full of thought; my son plays piano, was into birds, cars, and bricks, but now it’s all about AI, film, coding, and such; my darling girl is still darling — a bold, smart, kind girl-knight with a dash of mischief.

E, the letter itself – The most frequently used letter in English, but nowhere near the top when it comes to words that start with it. (S wins that race – source).

Words beginning and ending with E – A personal favorite when I play word-building games. Try it sometime — it’s sneakily tricky and surprisingly satisfying.

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you witnessed a quiet act of survival lately? Seen a moment that surprised you with its strength? Or remembered an old story… just when you needed it most?

Finally, if you reached this point in my post, thank you for reading.
This story first took flight in 2013 — and twelve years later, found its wings again.

And don’t forget to keep watching the trees. For, like I have seen for myself, there are more tales waiting there!