A fledgling bluebird caught in utility wires on Honey Pot Road was rescued by city firefighters. (Photo by David Bogdan)
WESTFIELD – It may not have been the blue bird of happiness but the bluebird rescued by Westfield firefighters was probably happy to be freed from utility wires.
A city resident, Julie Bogdan of Honey Pot Road, saw a bluebird stuck in utility wires and started looking to find a way to free the bird.
The woman said that she had spotted the bird from her window shortly before dusk on Friday and, when she investigated, she found that a bluebird was caught between a cable television wire and the braided steel cable which supports the television transmission line.
Her father, David Bogdan, later explained that “Its head got caught right near where the cable is hung from” he said and said “it was helpless, flapping its wings.”
Julie Bogdan said that she first tried to call the city’s animal control department but, as it was after hours, could not reach anyone so she then called the Westfield Gas and Electric Light Department.
David Bogdan, left, takes a picture of firefighter Roger Bernier as he works from the department’s platform truck to rescue a fledgling bluebird which became entangled in utility wires. (Photo by Julie Bogdan)
She said that the dispatcher, after determining that the bird was not entangled in power lines, explained that G&E workers are not allowed to touch cable television wires but offered to call Comcast and said that somebody would come to help the bird.
However, Bogdan said that she waited for more than a half hour before she called Comcast and, after speaking with a few employees, was told that Comcast workers are not allowed to touch wild animals.
“They said they weren’t trained” to deal with animals and cited insurance concerns, she said.
“The last place I called was the fire department” she said and said that the emergency dispatcher said that he would see if he could find somebody at Comcast to help.
However, Bogdan said, the when the dispatcher called back he asked her to meet firefighters who were responding.
A fledgling bluebird which was rescued by city firefighters after it became entangled in utility wires is seen shortly before its release. (Photo by Julie Bogdan)
The city firefighters arrived with the department’s platform truck.
Deputy Chief Mark Devine was in command and said later “We’ve rescued bats, we’ve rescued squirrels, ducks … but we’ve never rescued a bird from phone wires before.”
Firefighter Roger Bernier was the firefighter who actually made the ascent to the platform to extricate the bird from the wires and found that the bird was alive and not obviously injured.
Firefighter Roger Bernier stands at the top of the department’s paltform truck and holds a fledgling bluebird which he rescued after became entangled in utility wires. (Photo by Julie Bogdan)
“He seemed alright, his wings came up” Bernier said.
“I think the bird was okay” Devine said and said that the bird was left in Bogdan’s custody.
Bogdan said “I assumed that they were going to take the bird” but when they left the bird, which she found to be a fledgling, with her she searched online for advice and learned she should keep the bird warm and calm.
She said that the young bird took some water when she offered it and she wrapped it in a towel before she put it in a box and left it in the family’s warm and quiet barn.
The next morning, Bogdan said, “I saw the mother bird waiting on the light post” and when she opened the box she found the bird was still alive and apparently healthy.
Outside, Bogdan opened the box and, after a few moments, the bird fluttered away, she said.
Firefighter Roger Bernier holds a fledgling bluebird rescued from utility wires in his gloved hand. (Photo by David Bogdan)
“The bird landed on our roof, turned to look at us as if to say ‘Thank you’ and (then) he flew off.”
“It’s good to see them (bluebirds) back” her father said, “we weren’t seeing them for a while.”
