Firefighters saved more than just a baby bird

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

This rescue may not be as dramatic or heroic as the one this morning made by Anne Arundel County Firefighters on the Bay Bridge but you couldn’t tell that to the elementary school children that witnessed this rescue.   There was no helicopter hovering overhead and no video captured like the Bay Bridge rescue that should win many awards.  It was just 150+ students, staff, firefighters and a baby bird.

Personnel from the Berwyn Heights Fire/EMS Station were participating in a career day at the local elementary school on Thursday, May 26.   An excited student quickly alerted others that a baby bird had just fallen from its nest and was on the ground, helpless and chirping in distress, a horrifying sight for the students.  Over 150 children looked anxiously at the firefighters to see what they could possibly do to save the poor baby bird.

Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Timothy L. Barden and Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Stephen I. Reeves knew that they needed to act, if not for the compassion of the bird but for the children that were not taking their eyes off of the bird and them.  

Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant Michael V. Nasti stated, “Barden and Reeves, without hesitation, jumped into action and rescued the bird.”  Nasti described what happened, “The firefighters first put on their gloves and gently picked up and cradled the bird.  The pair used a small ladder from our unit and placed it up to the nest.”

The firefighters could sense the tension from the children as they moved carefully with the baby bird in hand.   The bird was placed gently back into it’s nest as the students and staff roared with applause and cheered for their heroes and the happy ending.

Career Day proved to be a big success.  To the students, the firefighters saved the baby bird, however, the crew knew it was for the children the bird was saved.  Job well done!!!

Images are courtesy of PGFD

Truck 814 from Berwyn Heights attended Career Day at the local elementary school

A firefighter cradles the young bird while another firefighter retired a ladder 

The bird is placed back into its nest much to the relief of the students