Justin Grootboom, 14, Russell Geswint, 15, and Ryan Grootboom, 16, teamed up to scare off other boys who were throwing rocks at the meter-tall bird, which was wandering through a rough area. They then captured the bird and held it until a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization arrived to take custody. Arnold Slabbert, founder of Wildline, the organization that came for the bird, said, “It’s a tough neighbourhood with plenty of gangsters and pit bulls. The bird would not have lasted long if it had been left alone to fend for itself. These kids saved its life. They should be very proud.”
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
So nice to hear good stuff about teens. Their parents should be proud of them and they should be proud of themselves.