B.C. man helps injured birds with cuddles, CPR and a book of paintings
As Paul Lewis draws a picture of a bird outside this summer, he recalls painting inside that winter, when he was startled by something smacking into his window.
“Bang! What the heck was that?!” Paul recalls. “I looked outside and there was snow on the ground so he stood out like a sore thumb.”
It was a bird. But when Paul tried to help it, there was no response.
“He was all limp and looked like he was dead,” Paul says. “I’m like, maybe he’s not breathing.”
So Paul brought him inside and started performing CPR on the bird.
“Started little breaths on his mouth,” Paul says. “And pumping his little chest.”
Before he shows us what happened next, Paul says he’s gone above and beyond for other inured birds, like that time he spotted a bird stunned in the middle of a busy street.
“I stopped traffic. He was going to get run over,” Paul says. “I ran out, picked him up, and brought him into my car.”
Paul comforted the bird in his vehicle. It cuddle closed to him, before flying away on his own.
And then there was that other time that Paul rescued a baby bird from a curious cat.
“(The bird) sat on my hand. (Then) his mom and dad were kind of chirping and squawking so I put him on a branch,” Paul says. “They came right over and puked up a little berry into his mouth and I was like wow!”
After the baby ate the berry, Paul says he put out his finger to try and give it a goodbye pat.
“He jumped back on my finger,” Paul smiles. “And I was like, ‘You are the cutest little thing in the world.’”
Which brings us back to when Paul tried to bring that other bird back to life by placing his lips to its little beak.
“He started blinking,” Paul says. “So I was like, ‘Alright! He’s alive again!’”
Alive, but far from lively. So Paul sat with him, gently petting his head, and started showing him paintings of birds in a book by iconic Canadian artist Robert Bateman.
“As soon as we go to the (paintings) of robins, (the injured bird) came back to life! He was like, ‘Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!’ And I’m like, ‘Oh! You like robins, eh?!’” Paul smiles before laughing. “Maybe he knows a robin, I don’t know!”
What Paul does know is that the bird seemed inspired by it all, and before eventually flying away, seemed to express his gratitude.
“I just love how he looked back and gave me the cutest wink and then he flew away,” Paul smiles. “And I was like, ‘Alright! Good luck!’”
As Paul finishes that drawing of the bird he says he brought back to life, he’s reminded that if we take the time to notice what’s around us, and respond to what we see, we just might find that even our small actions make a big impact.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7028745.1725663146!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Pakistani citizen arrested in Canada, charged with plotting terrorist attack in New York
A Pakistani citizen who resided in Canada has been charged with plotting a terrorist attack at a Jewish centre in New York City.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick dies after collapsing outside Winnipeg courthouse
The Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has died after collapsing outside of the Manitoba courthouse Friday afternoon, according to multiple sources.
Woman who was denied a liver transplant, after review highlighted alcohol use, has died
Questions are being raised about the case of a 36-year-old Ontario woman who died of liver failure after she was rejected for a life-saving liver transplant after a medical review highlighted her prior alcohol use.
Montreal man given $664 fine for tying dog to parking meter while grabbing a croissant
A Montreal man who tied his dog to a parking meter while he entered a bakery is now facing a hefty fine for breaking a law he had no idea existed.
Canada-wide warrant issued for woman in fatal Toronto shooting
A 36-year-old woman is wanted for first-degree murder following a shooting near an after-hours club in Toronto earlier this month.
Molson Coors ends diversity, equity and inclusion policies, moves to 'broader view'
Brewing company Molson Coors says it is dropping its diversity, equity and inclusion policies and taking a 'broader view' in which all employees know they are welcome.
Selena Gomez is a billionaire
Selena Gomez can now add becoming a billionaire to her long list of achievements.
Teen girl charged with attempted murder after student set on fire at Saskatoon high school
A 14-year-old girl faces an attempted murder charge after a 15-year-old girl was doused in a flammable substance and set on fire at a Saskatoon high school Thursday.
Victim of Vancouver stranger attacks had surgery to reattach severed hand: police
The surviving victim of a pair of stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday has undergone surgery to reattach his hand after it was severed in the assault, according to police.