The subway attracts all walks of life, whether it is a businesswoman in a hurry, a local homeless man, kids causing a raucous, or a majestic, injured swan. For New Yorkers, this is just a normal Thursday at the metro.
Good Samaritan and wildlife lover Ariel Cordova-Rojas was celebrating her 30th birthday when she found an injured swan. She was enjoying her day at the Wildlife Refuge on November 5th when she noticed this swan who seemed unalarmed by her presence. “She didn’t move at all… Swans are normally very aggressive and very territorial, so I knew something was wrong.” In a hurry, she scooped the 17-pound swan up in her jacket and hitched a ride to the subway.
"I just couldn't leave her there" — former WBF rehabber Ariel Cordova-Rojas, who came upon a sick mute swan while birding on her bike @jamaicabaywr. Ariel didn't know that others had reported the swan days before, but volunteers hadn't been able to find her.
📷: Josh Spector pic.twitter.com/2KgDjR4JiB
— Wild Bird Fund (@wildbirdfund) November 10, 2020
She traveled all the way to Brooklyn with the ornate feathered swan where she met with her contact from the Wild Bird Fund. Somehow, our feathered friend was suffering from lead poisoning as well as a bacterial infection. However, our buddy is now in good hands with nice new digs and another swan friend to recover with.
Ariel noted how the city often has a bad rep for having a lack of community, but it is often misconstrued with the general business and commotion. This is just one perfect example of a community getting together to help another disenfranchised New Yorker out.
