Sometimes life reminds us that everything happens for a reason. Even in the most unlikely moments, something small can change the course of another life.
Two interns were carrying out their usual duties in the snowy peaks of New Hampshire, braving the cold to record weather data. The day seemed like any other until a strange shape in the snow caught their eye.
They squinted against the wind and couldn’t figure out what they were looking at. As they stepped closer, their ordinary morning turned into something unforgettable.
A Discovery On Mount Washington
Winters on Mount Washington are unforgiving. The observatory team faces freezing winds and blinding snow every day to collect their measurements.
One March morning, two interns trudged through the drifts to record snow depths. Little did they know that something small and fragile was fighting for life nearby.
At first, they thought they’d noticed a clump of snow or a fallen branch. The moment it moved, the interns were shocked.
Soon, the interns realized that the clump was a tiny owl lying half-buried in the snow, trembling. Her feathers were coated in ice, and her eyes frozen shut.
The interns quickly scooped her up and carried her inside, wrapping their jackets around her to block the wind.
Once inside the Mount Washington Observatory, they called a volunteer known for her love of birds and asked for help.
A Little Owl With Big Strength
The volunteer placed the owl in a small carrier and contacted New Hampshire Fish and Game for advice. Rescuers soon arrived and carefully transported the bird down the mountain to safety.
Once she was warm and safe, her identity was revealed. She turned out to be a northern saw-whet owl, one of the tiniest owl species found in North America. They are known for their bright yellow eyes and curious nature, and are rarely seen up close.
As rescuers gently warmed her, the little owl began to stir. She stretched and shook the ice from her feathers. The frost that had nearly ended her life slowly melted away.
She wasn’t injured, only exhausted and cold.
After resting and eating, she was released back into the forest near Mount Washington. She was free to fly again.
Everyone at the observatory wished the owl would live a happy life.
“We hope our Northern Saw-Whet owl friend lives a long and healthy life,” the observatory wrote on Instagram.
The interns never forgot that day when they saved a tiny owl’s life.
And somewhere in those New Hampshire woods, a small bird beats her wings through the cold. It is living proof that compassion can warm even the iciest mountain.