A pair of PPL Electric Utilities lineworkers are being praised as “heroes” for the work they did recently to rescue a bird that had gotten itself caught in an overhead utility line.

Justin Steidinger, a troubleman, and Dan Thomas, a journeyman lineworker trainee, were called to assist in the bird-saving mission after a homeowner in the Coplay area of Lehigh County spotted the bird stuck overhead.

The woman called PPL Electric and asked about the possibility of using their bucket trucks to get in the air and assist the sparrow.

Steidinger and Thomas were in the area and obliged, eventually determining that the bird managed to get its toe stuck in a communication line, apparently by getting its foot inside of a piece of wiring that holds multiple communications lines together.

Thomas said he and Steidinger both raised their bucket trucks to the line and were able to safely remove the bird in seconds.

“She was really happy that we came to bring the bird down safely,” Thomas said.

Wildlife rescue advocate Barbara Miller praised Steidinger and Thomas for their “magnificent” work, took it from there.

Miller, who has a capture and transport permit from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, had provided instructions to the woman who made the initial call to have the bird placed in a box so it could be transported and evaluated. Miller wanted to make sure it was safe to release the bird. Sparrows must have both legs and feet to be able to survive.

She transported the bird to Renae Yeager, a retired PPL employee who is also a licensed songbird rehabilitator.

Yeager examined the bird and determined the sparrow had a bruised – not broken – toe and could be cleared for release.

Miller, who is also part of a statewide network of volunteers known as Wildlife in Need, then brought the sparrow near the location where it originally got snagged in the wire and let it free.

“I took it about 100 yards from the line where it got stuck and let it fly out of my carrier into the trees. She snuggled in there and roosted and rested for the night.”

Miller said the work the lineworkers did that day was “a big deal.”

“In a situation like this, it’s not just the bird that’s suffering,” Miller said. “It is truly heart-wrenching for people to have to see an innocent, beautiful animal thrashing and dying on a utility line when it could be freed.

“These two guys should be proud of themselves. They made a miracle happen.”