Nature vs Nurture: Ebenezer

Last Friday I came home from work early because I was exhausted. From the minute I got home and sat on the couch to relax (and hopefully watch someone be named a "Baby Daddy" on Maury Povich) Bing would not leave me alone; begging for a walk. Sigh, fine. On my way back into the house, through the front door, I heard this "peep, peep, peep" noise. Naturally curious, I looked down I see a tiny bird laying on the sidewalk in my lily plants. I looked around to see if I could spot the nest he had fallen from and, when I moved a leaf on my lily, (where he was resting) I saw that he was laying next to an egg and another bird just like him, who didn't survive the fall. There was also a large adult sparrow circling the scene so, I figured this baby was hers.

Of course I did what any animal psycho would do and scooped him up. Frantically, I began making phone calls; the Audubon, my vet, Petsmart, the Human Society... nobody would take him and a couple people even told me, "well, it's just a house sparrow, those are a dime-a-dozen, just lay him back where you found him and let nature take its course." Um, no.

Finally, after several phone calls, I had found a woman who would take him as she rescues birds all over the state but, I would have to immediately drive him over to her work (which was about 30 miles North) and I needed to be there by 5pm when they closed. I put him in a shoe box, threw in a nest I found a few years ago, named the bird Ebenezer and hopped into the car. On my way I called Aaron who was just getting out of school, explained the situation and went to pick him up so he could drive while I held the baby (the only time he didn't peep and seemed calm was when he was in the palm of my hand.)

We arrived just in time and dropped Ebenezer off to some unknown person. I cried a little bit because I'm certifiable and we both left, not knowing the fate of this weak itty-bitty birdy. This morning I called the lady I gave him to and she reported he's doing very well, he is indeed a sparrow, and should be ready for release in a couple of weeks.

With a little help from me nature did indeed take its course.