Malnourished Stowaway Discovered in Much-Maligned Rockefeller Christmas Tree

During this dire, lonely time in American history, where the nation is divided by politics and precautionary distancing, it may be time that we embrace one of the stress-relieving remedies that the internet age has brought to us:  Eye bleach.

In ‘net terms, eye bleach exists as a sort of antidote to bad news or the scary, worrisome realities that are being pumped into our homes by the mainstream media.  Often times, eye bleach is produced in the form of cute and heartwarming photographs, or wholesome anecdotes and tales of goodness all around.

And, in a year as explicitly wild as 2020 has been, we could all use a little digital hug every now and then.

This particular story begins with at Rockefeller Center, where an enormous and immaculate Christmas tree has been placed for decades, creating a must-see gathering spots for holiday revelers in The Five Burroughs.

This year, in true 2020 fashion, the tree was initially thought to be a disaster.

In true 2020 form, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree looks like it tried to cut its own hair pic.twitter.com/HEV0OImQ7u

— Chris Ryan ?️‍? (@HiChrisRyan) November 15, 2020

Charlie Brown: I have the saddest Christmas Tree.
Rockefeller Center: Hold my beer. https://t.co/OexnJvaf86

— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) November 17, 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen – the Christmas tree has arrived at Rockefeller Center in NYC. Left pic is how it looked when it was cut down. Right pic is how it arrived.
Welcome to 2020. pic.twitter.com/bKSq87BVP1

— ? Depoetic (@Depoetic) November 17, 2020

The Rockefeller Plaza, NYC. Christmas Tree. It’s a beautiful tree Clark. Thanks Aunt Bethany. pic.twitter.com/kUe9Q7jccl

— ?⚙️Henry W. ?⚒??? (@NavyBuilder) November 15, 2020

And while the tree itself is objectively not cute, its secret stowaway is garnering lots of “awww’s” online.

A tiny owl is recovering after it was found tucked away in the branches of Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree in New York City.

The Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York, said it received a telephone call on Monday morning from a woman who said her husband discovered the owl while working for the company that transports and secures the iconic tree in Rockefeller Center. The 75-foot Norway spruce was cut down last week in Oneonta, New York, and loaded onto a massive trailer before embarking on a 170-mile road trip to Manhattan, along with its feathered stowaway.

Photos of the bird were soon circulating on social media.

They found a small owl inside of this year’s Rockefeller Christmas tree, he hitched a ride all the way to NYC and is now being treated and cared for at a wildlife rehab facility. pic.twitter.com/f4PkBm6MGo

— Allison Esposito Medina (@techladyallison) November 18, 2020

 

The raptor, now named “Rockefeller” is now on the road to reintroduction to the wild.

The wildlife center, which aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release local wildlife back into their natural habitats, said Rockefeller will be released back into the wild once given a clean bill of health by a veterinarian.

“It had been three days since he ate or drank anything,” the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center wrote. “So far so good, his eyes are bright and seems relatively in good condition with all he’s been through.”

At first believed to be a baby owl, Rockefeller was later identified as a Sawhet Owl – one of the smallest species in North America.