Little dramas
Little victories
Life is made up of both
Every day.
William picked up something as we walked along London Road this morning.
I only noticed when Winnie crowded in to see what it was and he deftly turned his head away so she couldn't get near.
I stopped quicksticks thinking he had picked up a disguarded chocolate bar or something similar ( our previous Welsh terrier had almost been killed by scoffing a mars bar he found in Hillsborough park) and so I stopped him and ordered he drop what he had picked up.
Out plopped a male sparrow.
I think it must have been struck by a car, as it seemed lifeless and had a bloodied eye, but it raised its head feebly so I picked it up and tucked it into my pocket.
It was still hanging on when I got home and so I tucked it into and old French biscuit tin and placed the tin into the airing cupboard
An hour later, I opened the tin and looking up at me was the sparrow with one bright button black eye.
It flew away over the Churchyard moments later in bouncy and powerful half loops.
How wonderful! I love happy endings.x
ReplyDeletethe birdie shall fly free forever now.
ReplyDeleteI hope William and Winnie feel as relieved and joyful as we do.
ReplyDeleteThat example of a tiny gesture and effort is why people like your Gerald Durrell so much , and come back for more.
ReplyDeleteIn a reversal of fortune my father once shot (SHOT?) a bird which, despite my mother's best attempts, was beyond salvation.
The same summer my father shot (don't ask, I was sworn to silence, though knew what I'd seen) a semi feral big black tom which was, more or less, our neighbour's mouser, the neighbour being a farmer some miles away; all of us being in that paradise called the middle of nowhere. The tom's sin? Raiding the nest of swallows under our roof. I thought it rather harsh. Let nature take its course. But then I suppose one may argue that my father was a force of nature too.
A sparrow, John? To think Italians (or so folklore goes) eat them.
U
I've many Italian relatives Ursula & have never seen any eat a sparrow x
DeleteA lovely happy ending to that story. Quick thinking to put it in the airing cupboard for warmth. I love watching the birds in our garden, the bird feeder is gratefully appreciated by them. P.S. hope you've recovered from your posterior and bleach accident. I'm sorry but I laughed: moral of the story - don't do it again, use Jif instead.
ReplyDeleteIt's a trick ive done with traumatised hens. Keep em warm and in the dark
DeleteLovely victory of a serious drama!
ReplyDeleteTwo things... I love the expression ‘I stopped quicksticks!’
ReplyDeleteAnd for a ghastly moment I thought it was a belated Salvador Dali piccie of your arse hanging over the pan...
LX
I have a " ring of confidence" line measuring four inches
DeleteIt seems William carried the bird so as to protect it.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go that far . He held it like a ball
DeleteExactly. Could have bit it,through and through, but didn't. He was waiting for you to figure out the solution.
DeleteThanks to Williams and your kindness a little soul lives to see another day.
ReplyDeleteWilliam is the gentle soul . He has the mouth of a Labrador
DeleteJust as well he doesn't have the appetite of one!
DeleteVery good Elaine!!
DeleteGood for you. It would probably have died of fright and or cold if you and William had not come along.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear this x
ReplyDeleteGeorge actually saved it, if he hadn't picked it up you wouldn't have seen it. Well done John. I love stories like this.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
Sorry William, not George. x
DeleteGeorge would have eaten it
DeleteSometimes birds are merely stunned and make sweet recoveries.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that William was so gentle.
ReplyDeleteHe does have a gentle soul. Mind you I saw him snap a rats neck when he was a young dog
DeleteMy joy for today - thanks to you and William
ReplyDeleteYou are just like Dr Dolittle!
ReplyDeleteGood for William, saving the poor little bird. I just hope that Winnie wouldn't have eaten it !
ReplyDeleteShe wouldnthave but George would
DeleteThey stun easily I think. Playing dead is second nature to them.
ReplyDeleteYes but once shocked die easily too. I was surprised he was ok. I saved a robin once too
DeleteTrue.
DeleteOne of the little victories of life, indeed - you named it well. Is an airing cupboard a warm place? I'm not familiar with that term.
ReplyDeleteI've googled it - I wish we had such a thing!
DeleteIn the U.K. We have hot water tanks in an airing cupboard usually located near the bathroom. Usually the airing cupboard has slatted shelves where you store the towels
DeleteI've not seen a hot water tank since I was a child - and I'm older than you.
DeleteDidn't you have an Emerson tank
DeleteGod bless you for your kindness! Once a nurse, always a nurse.
ReplyDeleteOh you made me cry :)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a sparrow in trouble.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't lived
DeleteThanks for the sweet story.
ReplyDeleteWell now you've done it. You've put me in a good mood, you Sparrow Whisperer you. My family will be suspicious.
ReplyDeleteGood job it wasn't a blackbird , he couldn't have picked it up
DeleteI'm amazed at William's obedience - he really is a very special dog, and trusts you utterly. A lovely story. Thank you John. Now, can you find time today to go and get a New Loo Seat???!!!
ReplyDeleteWelsh terriers are willfull but trainable . I've taught them all to drop anything on command . George and Winnie are a very different story. You would have to club Winnie unconscious to remove anything in her mouth
DeleteCan you imagine if that sparrow could talk "You are not going to believe what kind of day I just had.......!"
ReplyDeleteYour site is very useful for me,Thanks for your sharing.
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A similar event happened to myself yesterday, although it involved the cat, a blackbird and a recycling box. X
ReplyDeleteYou're a life saver you are. x
ReplyDeleteJohn, You are the sweetest, tough guy in blogland!
ReplyDeleteCindy
Got it in one x
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhh... William saved him! (And you helped.)
ReplyDeleteThat is so lovely it has made me quite tearful.You & your William should be made Saints xx
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat an uplifting story. The mention of the "airing cupboard" took me right back to my Nan's house. We don't have them in CA.
ReplyDeleteAn airing cupboard has saved many a baby animal and in the country a baby lamb
DeleteGood thing it wasn't the cat!
ReplyDeleteMany years ago, before we became aware that chocolate can kill dogs, we put out a bowl of Quality Street chocolates one Christmas. A little while later I found my terrier finishing off the last one, she'd ate the lot. The next day she shit a lot of tin foil wrappers but suffered no ill effects at all, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere there's always a bird singing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful kindness to start my Monday with,
ReplyDeleteThat was nice. Helping paws and helping hands.
ReplyDeleteLoved this happy message . . .
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gesture . . .
Aww ... lovely, lovely William :-)
ReplyDeleteMuch better than the toilet seat post. Thank you for sharing today's happy ending instead of more on yesterday's burnt one. You are so good with all the beasties.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely story John sweet William what a gentle soul.
ReplyDelete