The flightless bird lives

This topic has been addressed on other forums. People have claimed that, in the closing credits, the elf sent the bird to its death because it wasn't provided with an umbrella. I disagree. If you watch that scene carefully you will see that the elf and the bird exchange glances as if they are discussing the need for the umbrella, the elf offers one, and the bird appears to decline. (What I am suggesting becomes more apparent if you watch it with the sound muted). And if you don't blink you can see the bird begin to flap its wings as it leaves the sleigh in the split-second before the scene ends.
So I'm suggesting that the bird did not die. It somehow gained the ability to fly. A little Christmas magic, perhaps? Or merely a continuity error, since these new credits were hastily added to the 1965 broadcast.