Going Up?

FLAP volunteers make it their business to rescue migrating birds from inhospitable places but we're not usually responsible for putting them there. Every once in a while, though…

One story goes like this. On her way to work Carolynn Parke noticed a dazed Brown Creeper sitting outside the revolving doors of the Royal Trust tower. She dashed over and scooped up the bird. Neither she nor the security guard had a brown paper bag so Carolynn thought: "No problem! I'll just pop up to my office."

Alone inside the elevator, Carolynn began to examine the creeper for obvious signs of injury. Luckily, none. But as her grasp shifted ever so slightly, the bird seized the opportunity to escape. Paralyzed with horror, Carolynn watched as he flew up out of sight into the elevator's dropped ceiling. He reappeared briefly, sailing past her head, then disappeared once more. By now, the elevator had reached Carolynn's destination, the 43rd floor, but without bird in hand she couldn't get off. She quickly pressed the Close button and the elevator began its descent.

At the lobby level, the doors opened to reveal a group of office employees waiting to be whisked up to work. Carolynn announced that the elevator was out of order and shut the doors. Back up they went, an agitated animal lover and an elusive bird.

The next time they reached the lobby Carolynn was relieved to find that the only person waiting was one of her colleagues. Hearing Carolynn's panic-stricken explanation the woman rushed off in search of paper bags, nets and a security guard, while Carolynn and her lost bird took off in the lift again. She was beginning to wonder how building management would feel about removing the ceiling panels to rescue a bird.

Down to the lobby once more, and this time Carolynn was unable to stop the onslaught of office workers. Trying to remain calm, she informed them that there was a bird on board but it wouldn't hurt them. Needless to say, she was more concerned for the safety of the still-hidden creeper as the doors swung open at one floor after another. Finally, the creeper reappeared, sailing over ducking heads, and came to rest on the elevator wall, just out of reach. The doors were still opening and closing, but the bird stayed put.

And then, by some miracle, a man appeared pushing a dolly loaded with boxes. Wasting no time, Carolynn asked if she might climb up and grab her bird. No doubt fascinated by the proceedings, the delivery man acquiesced. Oblivious to her skirt and high heels, Carolynn clambered to the top and rescued the tiny source of the commotion.

Back at the lobby Carolynn's friend and a security guard were waiting, paper bag and net in hand. Trying to appear cool and collected - "Doesn't this sort of thing happen all the time?" - Carolynn deposited the creeper into the bag and breathed a sigh of relief. In a short while he was released.

To that tiny creature, the elevator was alien territory where survival would be next to impossible. That much is obvious. Less obvious to many is the fact that the bright lights of tall structures are responsible for plunging thousands of migrants into a strange and hostile new world from which they cannot escape without human help.