A rare Bullock’s Oriole arrived in Ontario in 2015 after being blown off her migration course and was discovered in distress by Birdwatcher Ray Holland, who correctly identified and then rescued a Bullock's oriole in Pakenham, Ont. The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre cared for the rare songbird for two years.

Now with the Oriole finally ready to be returned to its native area, the organization reached out to Air Canada to see if we could help get the bird home, and our Cargo team, with its expertise in live animal transport, stepped up!

Due to the very small temperature range this special bird requires, our Cargo team worked with the Bird Care Centre to obtain the right kennel for the Oriole, and then made special arrangements to transport it in the cabin under the care of Dave Starke, Lead Mechanic – GSE in Ottawa, who had immediately volunteered to fly the bird out.

"When Cargo was initially approached about carrying the bird back to Vancouver, we were excited to a part of its journey," said Sebastian Cosgrove, Manager, Cargo Customer Relations. "We worked with the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre to understand the bird’s unique requirements, and given the sensitive temperature requirements for this little traveller, we then worked extensively with other colleagues and departments to ensure that Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo could welcome this feathered friend onboard."

Dave told us, "Being a landowner, I take great interest in my environment and surrounding nature. I feel if we can all do something for our environment, no matter how big or small that maybe we have succeeded at the end of the day, so I’m just thrilled that I can make this small contribution to help this Oriole get home."