For the聽聽in a row, Canuck the crow's -- Vancouver鈥檚 unofficial winged ambassador -- and his girlfriend Cassiar鈥檚 chicks have tragically died.
Condolence messages were flowing on the聽聽Tuesday morning, after Canuck鈥檚 human best friend Shawn Bergman shared the sad news.
Canuck hunting for food for his babies. Photo by Shawn Bergman/Canuck and I
鈥淲ith all of the amazing moments in Canuck's life that I am incredibly honoured to be able to share with all of you; I sometimes have the responsibility to deliver bad news as well. This sadly is one of those times,鈥� he wrote.
Bergman explained that there was an attack on Canuck and Cassiar's nest from an airborne predator last Thursday, May 2.
鈥淭he attack happened going into the evening and over the next couple of days it became evident that the attack indeed was fatal to the little ones in the nest,鈥� he wrote on Facebook.
鈥淲ith the end result being Canuck and Cassiar abandoning the nest and flying off to the Rookery on Saturday night for the first time since eggs were first in the nest.鈥�
He said Canuck and Cassiar were safe and both appeared to be uninjured.
Canuck and Cassiar鈥檚 little ones hatched on April 24, and the proud parents were kept busy with feeding, nest sitting and protecting their babies. With Bergman posting regular updates of Canuck hunting for food.
Bergman said he would be posting further details on what transpired soon.
Last year, Bergman was devastated over the crows losing their chicks, posting on Facebook that it had been an 鈥渆motional rollercoaster.鈥�
鈥淚t is my sad duty to inform all of you that Canuck and Cassiar鈥檚 babies did not survive this year,鈥� he wrote in 2018.
鈥淭o be blunt, I鈥檓 devastated. The parents are doing okay but are visibly sad. I鈥檓 not a crow expert, but I now know what it looks and sounds like when a crow cries.鈥�
This week鈥檚 post has already received more than 1,400 comments and 228 shares from sad Vancouverites.
鈥淭he circle of life can be so heart breaking, especially after last year. So sorry to hear,鈥� wrote Suzanne Martell.
Patti Saunders wrote, 鈥淚 know it's 鈥榥ature鈥� and these things happen, but I feel very bad for Canuck and Cassier (and Shawn) for yet another tragic spring for their wee ones.鈥�
Pam Messerli also expressed her sadness, writing: 鈥淕lad they're ok. Poor birds, all they want is a family and that seems be such a struggle for them.鈥�
鈥淚 know it's just the way of nature but it's still heartbreaking,鈥� she wrote.
鈥淟et鈥檚 hope next time everything goes well for them.鈥�
