For the Birds

Camilla is praying for a puppy, but her parents say no - the Parker family's pets have a way of meeting terrible ends, and Dad doubts she's ready for the work. Then she and Matthew find a helpless baby blue jay abandoned on the sidewalk, and suddenly Camilla has her chance: a bird named Dexter who needs feeding every twenty minutes from sunrise to sunset. Meanwhile, the normally peaceful birds in the park keep dive-bombing Eugene, who tries everything from a football helmet to letting Connie shave his head... only to find them still swooping. Caring for Dexter is harder than Camilla ever imagined, and even with Whit's help, the little bird grows weak and cannot be saved. Heartbroken, Camilla learns that doing her very best doesn't put the outcome in her hands - that belongs to God. It's a wild, feathered adventure about responsibility, compassion, and trusting God with what happens next.

Found on Take It from the Top Album 51 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

N/A Welcome to Whit's End A guided tour of the town of Odyssey and its beloved shop Whit's End gets an extra dose of adventure when Wooton Bassett locks himself out of his own house.

1 of 2 0655 The Inspiration Station When Whit's new invention shows people their best selves, Connie's newfound serenity and Matthew's well-meaning tinkering both spiral into trouble at Whit's End.

2 of 2 0656 The Inspiration Station When a machine at Whit's End offers instant inspiration, Whit must help a discouraged young inventor and an over-eager Connie discover what real growth actually requires.

0657 Clutter A family garage sale grinds to a halt when every Parker discovers that nothing they own is quite easy to let go.

0658 Game for a Mystery When a boy's beloved handheld game vanishes from its hiding spot, an aspiring young detective takes on her very first case.

0659 Target of the Week When Matthew becomes the school bully's designated victim for a week, he decides to stop being afraid and get even - with consequences he never saw coming.

0660 For the Birds When Camilla rescues an orphaned baby blue jay to prove she's ready for a pet of her own, she discovers responsibility demands far more than she imagined - while Eugene wages a baffling battle with the park's suddenly hostile birds.

0661 When You're Right, You're Right Certain she knows best, Emily takes charge of her brother's romantic gesture - whether he wants her help or not.

0662 Grandma's Visit When Grandma Lucia arrives in Odyssey with news that Aunt Rosalita's wedding will happen at the Parker home that very week, the family's frantic hospitality is stretched to its breaking point.

0663 Finish What You... When Olivia takes up guitar lessons, a preschool play, and a birthday promise all at once, she discovers that good intentions alone can't stretch her time far enough.

1 of 3 0664 The Jubilee Singers When Olivia dismisses school as pointless, a portrait of Frederick Douglass introduces her to the students of a struggling university whose only hope may be the songs they carry.

2 of 3 0665 The Jubilee Singers A Fisk choir and their determined director set out on a perilous tour to sing their school out of debt, facing hostility and hardship at every stop.

3 of 3 0666 The Jubilee Singers With Fisk University on the brink of collapse, a weary group of student singers must decide whether to keep performing on a grueling tour that has cost them their health, their dignity, and nearly all hope.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 4 more roles

3 featured characters

Eva Parker Amanda Troop Camilla Parker Sydney Shiotani David Parker Marc Evan Jackson

1 supporting role

Susie Ellie McCusker

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Paul McCusker Writer · Director Phil Walton Writer Jonathan Crowe Sound Designer Bob Hoose Producer Dave Arnold Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Camilla wants one of the puppies a friend is giving away, but her parents refuse. The Parker family's earlier pets have met a remarkable series of unfortunate ends, and David doubts that Camilla is ready for the work of caring for a dog. Camilla begins praying that God will remove what she calls the family's pet curse and give her a chance to prove her responsibility.

Meanwhile, normally peaceful birds begin diving at Eugene in the park. Unable to discover what he has done to offend them, he starts wearing a football helmet outdoors.

Camilla and Matthew find a helpless baby blue jay on the sidewalk with no nest nearby. No shelter will accept it, so the Parkers reluctantly allow Camilla to care for it. Wooton advises them about food and warns that a baby bird may need feeding every twenty minutes from sunrise to sunset. Camilla names the bird Dexter and vows to do whatever the demanding job requires.

Camilla quickly learns that responsibility leaves little room for anything else. Whit agrees to care for Dexter during school hours, while Camilla handles the frequent feeding at home. She hopes her success will earn her a puppy, but David reminds her that the family never made that bargain and that Dexter must eventually be released.

Eugene learns that adult birds may be attacking because they are protecting nearby nests. A specialist also suggests they may be attracted to his hair as nesting material. Desperate to walk through the park safely, Eugene lets Connie shave his head.

One evening, Dexter becomes weak and stops eating. A veterinarian says there is little the family can do except keep him comfortable. Camilla blames herself and fears the supposed curse has returned. David explains that baby birds often do not survive under human care. Camilla's loving effort still matters, but prayer does not guarantee the result she wants. Faith means trusting God with the outcome.

Dexter dies during the night. Though sad, Camilla understands that responsibility is difficult and that doing her best cannot place events under her control. She has shown compassion to a helpless creature, and she accepts that the rest belongs to God.

Eugene believes his bald head has made peace with the birds, only to find them still swooping at him. His haircut has not solved the mystery after all.

Around the story

The host segments that opened and closed the broadcast.

Closing

After the story, Chris jokes around with bird puns, saying the adventure was "egg-citing" and that she is glad Eugene is finally free of his hairy burden. Another voice in the studio interrupts and asks what she is doing, and Chris admits she is "winging it" before being told to wrap things up because it is time to "fly the coop." Turning serious, Chris says that in between the dive-bombing birds, the family curses, and the wild hair clippers, she hopes listeners noticed what Mr. Parker said about God knowing what's best. She points to a verse in Matthew 10, where Jesus says that not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing about it, and that people are worth more than many sparrows. Chris connects this to the story by saying that just as Camilla held that little bird in her hands, the Creator is holding us in His hands - and that is the best place for us to be.