I got an email from the Wild Bird sanctuary a few minutes ago about Suzu-chan.

I am happy to report that the finch you brought to Wild Bird Rehabilitation was released last week.  It stayed with us for about 1 month, gaining strength and good health.  Thank you very much for your concern!

Say what?!

I wrote them back:

You sent me mail last week saying it died! This is what you wrote on August 4th:

I am so sorry to have to tell you that Suzu-chan did not survive.  This sparrow kept its head tilted, which indicated to us some neurological damage, and it did not respond to treatment.  Our thanks for your kindness.

Which is it?

Everybody was really distressed about its dying. And I thought he had lots of strength when he came in, which is why I was surprised by your initial response. Now I’m surprised by the new email.

Please confirm which is correct!

They just replied:

Urg!  We got our numbers all mixed up.  You were asking about #4470, but the number was really 4770!  Your bird was the one that was released last week, happily so!  And you were right – it had a lot of energy and strength, which increased in treatment, so that it was able to fly free as of last week.  My sincere apologies for causing grief.  Please be happy now!  Thanks.

So I think Suzu-chan is alive. Maybe. I wouldn’t know for sure unless I saw it at this point. And in one email they referred to it as a finch and the the next a sparrow. Though those are interchangeable sometimes I know. For example, Java Sparrows are also called Java Finches.

On another note, Kokita-san tells me Chako is doing fine and will send me a photo. But Purple has become Schrödinger’s cat.