09/12/2026
We’ve struggled to find the right words for this post, and truthfully, there may never be “right” words for a loss like this. Our ambassador Simon passed away recently, and our entire team is grieving the absence of a bird who meant more to us than we can express.
Simon came to SPWRC in 2017 after a game warden confiscated him from an illegal pet situation. For 25 years, this Chihuahuan raven lived in a wired crate, fed an improper diet, never learned to fly or be a wild bird. His freedom was stolen long before he reached us.
When Simon arrived, he wasn’t comfortable outdoors and didn’t enjoy being in a mew like our other birds. So he made the barn his home. From 2017–2026, that barn belonged to him. He followed staff everywhere, “helped” feed squirrels, opossums, and birds, supervised dishes, and kept us company through long days and late nights. We called him our cat‑dog of the barn and had a personality all his own.
Over the last several months, Simon’s vision and overall health began to decline. When staff found him passed in the barn, our hearts broke in a way we weren’t prepared for. This loss has deeply impacted our staff, volunteers, and interns. Simon touched countless lives, and the impact he made will stay with us forever.
He loved his head scratches, and he’d fall asleep and drool while soaking up every bit of affection. Writing this is painful, and it’s impossible to capture the depth of this loss in words. The barn is quiet now, and nothing feels quite the same without him.
Simon is finally free — flying higher than he ever could in life. We love you, Simon. We will miss you more than words can ever explain.
If you have photos or memories of Simon, please share them below. We know how loved he was by everyone who had the privilege of meeting him.
If you would like to donate in honor of Simon, please click the link below. We hope to create a memorial to honor his legacy and the impact he made on SPWRC and everyone who met him. To our donors, thank you for your commitment to our mission. Whether small or large, every donation helps us care for our ambassadors and give them lives they deserve.
spwrc.org/donate
