Al Wergeles

Al Weregles, formerly known as, The Birdman is a character in Home Before Dark. He is portrayed by Alex Zahara.

Biography
Al was an odd child who didn't quite fit in with others in Erie Harbor. He liked birds more than he liked people and tried to stick to himself, earning very few friends in the process. Others took notice of his strange behavior and attachment to winged creatures, specifically Matthew Lisko, Richie Fife, and Frank Briggs Jr., who taunted Al over his attachments. They claimed the only reason Al loved birds was because they were the only thing who could love him back. They nicknamed "Birdman", an unfortunate name that stuck with him into his adult years. The bullying reached a breaking point and Al was withdrawn from public school in 1988, instead, becoming homeschooled. He set up a camera in town to record the activities of the birds, and unknowingly caught Richie Fife's Disappearance on tape. He brought his findings to then-Sheriff Frank Briggs Sr., who paid Al $40 to keep quiet about the tape's existence since the case was open. He warned that legal actions could be taken against Al if he spoke about it too soon. Al obeyed but was further made an outlier in the community, with rumors circulating around him almost constantly.

Season 1
In "The Bird, Man", Hilde requests that Principal Collins give her a copy of the VHS tape that caught Richie Fife's Disappearance. Collins is reluctant at first but gives them 10 minutes to make a copy. Hilde understands and, once Collins is gone, she grabs the tape. Donny records the TV screen from his cell phone. A little boy appears in the beginning tape, thought this part wasn’t in the copy Hilde had. She knows that face - it’s Al Wergeles from the alumni board at the school. Spoon knows him as Birdman. As they interview people around town about Birdman, they learn surprising information. The school science teacher Mr. Sipple didn’t teach Birdman because one day the boy disappeared from classes, with Meena believing he was homeschooled. Some of the many rumors behind his nickname were that Birdman was caught mutilating birds while others said he had a whole freezer full of dead birds in his house. Hilde thinks his parents took him out of school because he was a danger to himself and others - classic serial killer markers. Al was even arrested for damaging a bulldozer at a construction site and had bad blood with Richie Fife. Birdman apparently kicked beat Richie up one day after school, but no one knows why he did it. Donny states Birdman’s still alive and working at the creepiest place in town.

The trio searches for Birdman at the old carnival site where he works off-season security. Hilde goes off on her own to investigate and ends up inside a haunted house where she tries to catch up with Birdman. She finds him outside the house with Spoon and Donny, merely admiring a flock of birds. Hilde asks Birdman why he smashed the bulldozer; he explains the loggers were planning to bulldoze his favorite bird watching tree. He did what he thought was right. He reveals that Hilde's father, Matt, gave him the nickname Birdman whilst bullying him. He used to draw sketches of birds. Hilde apologizes as she didn’t know. He admits that he hated it at first but it’s who is now. She asks why he set up the camera on the street, asking if he was watching people. He never watched people only birds - he found birds more interesting then humans. He set up the camera to watch the birds and unknowingly caught the kidnapping on camera. Hilde asks why he didn’t give it over to the police. He did give it to Sheriff Briggs in the hopes it would free Sam and help Richie come back. Al didn't give the tape to Briggs right away as he thought Richie was just messing around and wasn't really missing. Briggs told him not to tell anyone about the tape as the case was still open, otherwise, Al could be brought up on charges of obstruction or worse. Briggs then gave him money for his trouble - $40. Al reminiscences that the $40 ruined Sam’s life, and Al's, in the end.

Matt learns of Hilde's investigation into Birdman and arrives at the carnival later that night in search of Birdman and Hilde. Birdman tells Matt that Hilde's gone, and Matt accuses the man of doing something to Hilde. Birdman merely explains that she left for the clambake. The exchange triggered a memory for Matt. When the boys were young, they named Al “Birdman” because he was in love with birds, with Matt, Richie, and Frankie believing a bird was the only thing that would love Al back. They stole his bird statue and taunted him with it. Now, Matt apologizes for the bullying he did to him as a kid since Al didn’t deserve that. Al remarks that’s the first time Matt ever called him by his name, and they shake hands.

Season 2
In "I Believe You", Hilde, Donny, and Spoon, bike to Al Wergeles’s house to have him look at the bird. They explain it’s not eating and he’s glad they brought him here, as the formula will help. They are worried that the bird has whatever caused the flock to die last night. He’s confused as to how many birds died, with Spoon explaining there were hundreds of them all over the lawn. Al is sure he would have heard about it. Hilde was about to publish when the power went out. Donny and Spoon explain it was at the Woodruff Mansion and they made everyone leave out the back door so no one could post pictures. Al asks if this bird was part of the flock, but Hilde explains the situation about the tree. She worries the bird is sick with what killed the flock. Al asks Hilde to take him to see the dead birds.

By the time they arrive, the lawn is clean of any birds. He’s worried as if there’s that many dead birds there would be a wider investigation, and he would have to call animal control. Spoon finds a feather but Al refuses to let the boy touch it. He gives gloves to Spoon and Donny so they can pick up any other feathers. He tells Hilde to look after Walter and try to get him to eat.

That night, Al inspects the feathers and sees a strange pollen on the feather. He suddenly sneezes, which takes him back to his childhood when he watched birds in a field. The next morning, he takes Hilde, Donny, and Spoon to the Pinewood Park where bulrushes grow. He explains that the only thing he's allergic too are bulrushes. They stand at the brink of the pond in shock - all the fish are dead. Al’s contact at animal control didn’t have any reports on dead birds so nothing makes sense. Hilde wonders what this could all mean, but Al just wants to get them out of there for now.

Personality
A quiet and reserved man, Al strives to live a simple life with just himself and his birds. He always had a hard time connecting with others which made him a target for the more popular and arrogant boys in school. He was bullied for liking something different than others, with is art being destroyed, figurines stolen, and a mocking nickname being given to further is status as a pariah. Al didn't let this get to him, and instead, he sought to do the right thing when he found a tape of Richie Fife's disappearance. Despite Richie being Al's main antagonist, he still wanted to do right by Richie and the stranger Sam Gillis. Al is also intellectual as he created his own surveillance headquarters in his home at a young age, and is in charge of monitoring the rides at the carnival.

Physical Appearance
Al is a tall man with a hulking stature, large hands, and broad shoulders. He has graying hair that is shortened, round glasses, and wears overalls. He had soft brown eyes and an odd way of carrying himself, perhaps due to being made into the town pariah.

Notes and Trivia

 * Al is the person who recorded Richie's abduction, though the recording was an accident as he was trying to watch birds from home when the event was caught on tape.