Woman and bird: An artist's bond with rescued wildlife

In a charming scene outside a bar on a Slovenian island, a striking woman with a cloud of curly hair captivated onlookers as a crow perched calmly on her forearm. Iva Šulović, an academic painter, was chatting with a man and her teenage daughter, Maša, when the crow, which she had found injured after it apparently collided with a car windshield, fluttered nearby.

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We've learned so much from birds.

Šulović and her daughter have dedicated themselves to caring for injured wildlife. They previously nursed the crow, along with a barn owl, a swallow, another crow, and a wingless gull, back to health. When asked about their frequent encounters with injured animals, Šulović smiled and replied, "We've learned so much from birds."

Listening to Šulović share incredible stories of the human-animal bond, the crow gently pecked at a button on her black shirt. She recalled ancient Egyptian beliefs that animals alone understood the language of the gods, noting that animals in the ancient world were not just prey but also held roles as myths, teachers, friends, guides, and priestesses.

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Crows have incredible memories. They remember who is good to them.

"Crows have incredible memories," Šulović shared, emphasizing their ability to remember kindness. As she spoke, her daughter briefly took the crow to allow her mother to rub a sore wrist, marked by the bird's talons. Both mother and daughter feel the impending departure of the crow, understanding that "love also means knowing when to let go" and allowing the creature to spread its wings.

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Love is also knowing when to let go, allowing them to spread their wings.