Like other pets, our bird companions sometimes get lost, but it often seems that the fate of a bird is all but hopeless--especially when lost in the mouth of a hawk! Hopeless, that is, unless it's a bird like Austin, a little cockatiel who proved that you don't need to be the 'king of the jungle' to have the heart of a lion.

His body a mere 8 inches long, Austin came to the attention of Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue volunteers after he was seen making a crash landing in a San Jose, California, USA backyard. Sometime after getting outside his home, Austin had been caught and carried off in the beak of a hawk. The hawk was flying with the little bird in its mouth when Austin made a decision. Mid-air, this 8 inch cockatiel, refusing to give up, fought with all his strength until the hawk actually opened its mouth and let go. Austin helicoptered down, crashing into the grass below.

Having watched what happened, a kind person made contact with Mickaboo volunteers who responded immediately, rushing a critically injured Austin to an avian vet for medical attention urgently needed for the multiple wounds he suffered.

With time, one person's compassion, and a quick rescue by volunteers, Austin's injuries healed. Not only did he recover from his ordeal (getting lost, then carried off by a hungry hawk), Mickaboo helped find a forever family that adopted him. His family reports that Austin is a happy little guy who embraces life, often singing for minutes on end without stopping so much as to take a breath. An enormous courage in a small package, Austin reminds us that no matter how terrible the circumstances, when all seems lost, don't give up hope and never stop trying.