Hubertus Sparrow

by lia Evanson-Willems
(Merkelbeek Netherlands)

Every year sparrows build a nest over my back door. I counted 5 little fuzzy heads about 4 weeks ago. Yesterday I found a baby bird in my yard in the grass.

How this little one fell out and got as far as he did without a major injury and not being gobbled up by one of the many cats I feed is a mystery.

My husband said to leave it alone and let nature take it's course, but I could not abandon junior to his fate.

I put it in a box with some old towels and since my husband would not help I called his dad. My father-in-law has been breeding finches and canaries for years. Bread dipped in water and good luck was his advice.

I named junior after my father in law, but I think junior just might me a juniorette. I have been feeding Hubert(ina) every 15-45 minutes.

What goes in comes out in a huge squirt at the other end so I guess everything is working inside. Also reading on line how to do the best I can. I am glad school just let out for the summer so I have plenty of time.

Hubert has feathers that seem to be encased in long tubes, and I don't think is at the fledgling stage yet. He has a voracious appetite and is always cheeping softly unless hungry, then he gets very loud.

I will put him outside in his box tomorrow to see if his mom and dad will continue feeding him.