Turkish grocer takes baby crow under his wing

By Burak Milli

HATAY, Türkiye (AA) - A greengrocer in southern Türkiye has made friends with a crow chick that he found five months ago hurt and in need of treatment.

Naming his new companion Sakir, 52-year-old Tekin Talsik shared his home and shop in the province of Hatay with the bird until it recovered.

On a diet of vitamins, bird feed, and fresh produce including watermelon and cucumbers, Sakir the Crow is now strong and lively after being nursed back to health by Talsik and his son, Kubilay, who is a bird enthusiast.

“I never put him in a cage. He roams freely,” said Talsik, who says he discounted warnings based on a Turkish proverb: “Feed the crow and it’ll gouge your eye.”

Now close companions, Talsik said Sakir comes with him every day when he goes between home and work. “Sakir is now a member of our household,” he explained.

“We left him a few times in the wild to see whether he would want to leave. Despite the other crows flying around, he hasn’t left us. He proved loyal. Now, we’ve become coworkers.”

But, looking after his winged friend has not come without cost for Talsik, who said: “He hasn’t gouged out my eye but he has done harm to the store.

“He soiled the swipe machine and broke it. We had it repaired.”

Sakir also has an eye for anything shiny, he said, and often tries to snatch the coins out of the register when it's opened.

“Still, we’re friends and coworkers with Sakir, despite the damage,” he added.

A father of three, Talsik added that some customers were surprised to see the crow and have asked to take pictures with him.

Apparently birds of a feather, the grocer and his family are happy to host their new feathered friend.

* Writing by Isil Bas in Ankara