BIRD DOWN! MEDIC! Someone bring me a knife! Get the Ladder too!!

Okay, well that isn't how this story started.... but this is.

There was a scuffle and a harsh knock on the door. The crack in the open doorway brought in the light as well as the worried voice. "Ma'am there is a bird hanging from your barn roof stuck by a piece of string." The words made my ears perks as I could hear the muffled voices through my closed door. "Hey! Get a ladder." I could hear her voice from below the winding staircase as I opened my door and scurried to put my boots on.

The flapping was obvious as I left the house and walked towards the bard. The poor thing had a bunch of string around it's foot and it was scarred to death of me as I approached it with a ladder. The creature had about 10 feet of string around it's foot so it was all wrapped around the roof of the barn and couldn't get free. First things first, I grabbed the string and then the bird with both hands and wrapped him in my hoodie so he wouldn't hurt himself as I freed him from the roof. The ladder barely reached the top so balancing while untangling with one hand and holding the beautiful woodpecker with the other. Finally I was able to break the last 2 pieces and climbed down to safety.

(Wore gloves to protect the bird and myself... at least while catching it.)

Placing one of my gloves over its head to calm him I quickly grabbed a pair of scissors and started to get to work on cutting the knots that remained on his foot.

Seeing that one of his toes was nearly severed and also broken I was careful not to complete the severe as well as to remove the string embedded in the toe.

He was so understanding I was trying to help him and his relaxed posture made work go by quickly!
(Almost done!)

As I continued and then thought I was done, my heart broke as I realized there were several rings of string around this bird's foot. (This was not the first time it had gotten stuck in string) I started to gently and precisely cut the string as it was so tight I could barely see it.
I took this pic at about 15min after working on him. At this point, he had not moved an inch.
(Look at him lying so good and still!)

Yea yea, I took my gloves off! Haha, by then he was so calm I know he wouldn't hurt me and I needed the extra agility to work on the tightened knots. The poor bird had his toes fused together from the previous string (maybe wire I couldn't tell honestly). I made the decision to cut the fused part at the last cut. When I did, his foot unfolded and he shook his head and fly to the top of my blinds!

I was shocked and impressed, he looked at me and seemed to sigh and relax. since it is winter time, I am going to give him shelter for a few hours so he gets his strength back. I am sure he will appreciate a warm safe place to hide from the crows, and hawks.

Free and clear! No more string.

As I typed this and got everything together for the post, he calmed down so much that I could pet him and he would even peck at me and fly around the room. I felt confident in letting him off to fend for himself so after a little bit of heartbreak... here you go.