Little Lopsy fluttered into our home and our hearts one Saturday morning this summer.
Little
Lopsy
fluttered
into
our
home
and
our
hearts
one
Saturday
morning
this
summer
.
My husband went out to do something, and when he opened the door there was a great flutter on the ground and something came into the living room.
My
husband
went
out
to
do
something
,
and
when
he
opened
the
door
there
was
a
great
flutter
on
the
ground
and
something
came
into
the
living
room
.
It was clear that whatever it was was hurt.
It
was
clear
that
whatever
it
was
was
hurt
.
I was in a bit of a shock and didn't know what to do next.
I
was
in
a
bit
of
a
shock
and
did
n't
know
what
to
do
next
.
Fortunately it calmed down and tried to hide itself in a corner.
Fortunately
it
calmed
down
and
tried
to
hide
itself
in
a
corner
.
I realized it was a sparrow chick.
I
realized
it
was
a
sparrow
chick
.
There are a few sparrow nests under the roof of our apartment, and this little fellow must have fallen out and hurt itself.
There
are
a
few
sparrow
nests
under
the
roof
of
our
apartment
,
and
this
little
fellow
must
have
fallen
out
and
hurt
itself
.
It was also very young, and obviously far from ready to leave the safety of the nest.
It
was
also
very
young
,
and
obviously
far
from
ready
to
leave
the
safety
of
the
nest
.
I ran to the place and found a box.
I
ran
to
the
place
and
found
a
box
.
Having read somewhere that one shouldn't touch a baby bird with one's hands, I picked the chick up with a hand towel and put it in the box.
Having
read
somewhere
that
one
should
n't
touch
a
baby
bird
with
one
's
hands
,
I
picked
the
chick
up
with
a
hand
towel
and
put
it
in
the
box
.
I placed the box outside the front door in the hope that the parents would try to feed it.
I
placed
the
box
outside
the
front
door
in
the
hope
that
the
parents
would
try
to
feed
it
.
They never came near it and I brought it inside.
They
never
came
near
it
and
I
brought
it
inside
.
I placed the box on a table and it slept for about twenty hours.
I
placed
the
box
on
a
table
and
it
slept
for
about
twenty
hours
.
We later learned that it is quite normal for a hurt bird to sleep so much after undergoing such a hurt experience.
We
later
learned
that
it
is
quite
normal
for
a
hurt
bird
to
sleep
so
much
after
undergoing
such
a
hurt
experience
.
When it finally woke up we carefully examined it for wounds, but fortunately there wasn't any.
When
it
finally
woke
up
we
carefully
examined
it
for
wounds
,
but
fortunately
there
was
n't
any
.
It had hurt its right wing and leg, which meant it must have landed on its right side when it fell out of the nest.
It
had
hurt
its
right
wing
and
leg
,
which
meant
it
must
have
landed
on
its
right
side
when
it
fell
out
of
the
nest
.
We named it Lopsy.
We
named
it
Lopsy
.
After doing some research we felt there was a chance that it might survive, but we weren't sure that it would ever be able to fly.
After
doing
some
research
we
felt
there
was
a
chance
that
it
might
survive
,
but
we
were
n't
sure
that
it
would
ever
be
able
to
fly
.
A hurt bird doesn't stand much of a chance of survival and could fall easy pray to cats, other animals.
A
hurt
bird
does
n't
stand
much
of
a
chance
of
survival
and
could
fall
easy
pray
to
cats
,
other
animals
.
Was it fair to allow it to live if it meant keeping it in a cage its whole life?
Was
it
fair
to
allow
it
to
live
if
it
meant
keeping
it
in
a
cage
its
whole
life
?
It was a hard decision, but we decided to give it a go.
It
was
a
hard
decision
,
but
we
decided
to
give
it
a
go
.
We started off by dripping drops of water into its mouth.
We
started
off
by
dripping
drops
of
water
into
its
mouth
.
It was very thirsty and drank quite a bit.
It
was
very
thirsty
and
drank
quite
a
bit
.
Next we fed it with bread soaked in water.
Next
we
fed
it
with
bread
soaked
in
water
.
Our household routine soon revolved around Lopsy who needed to be fed about every three hours during the day.
Our
household
routine
soon
revolved
around
Lopsy
who
needed
to
be
fed
about
every
three
hours
during
the
day
.
Fortunately we live on campus and my husband could come home during his breaks to feed our new baby.
Fortunately
we
live
on
campus
and
my
husband
could
come
home
during
his
breaks
to
feed
our
new
baby
.
Soon Lopsy was growing nicely.
Soon
Lopsy
was
growing
nicely
.
The bigger it got, the more vocal it became.
The
bigger
it
got
,
the
more
vocal
it
became
.
There was no doubt as to who was ruling the house.
There
was
no
doubt
as
to
who
was
ruling
the
house
.
We remained concerned because its leg did not heal, and its wing seemed quite useless.
We
remained
concerned
because
its
leg
did
not
heal
,
and
its
wing
seemed
quite
useless
.
I took it outside for exercise every day.
I
took
it
outside
for
exercise
every
day
.
I also hoped it would get used to the sights and sounds of nature.
I
also
hoped
it
would
get
used
to
the
sights
and
sounds
of
nature
.
In the beginning all it was interested in was staying as close to me as possible.
In
the
beginning
all
it
was
interested
in
was
staying
as
close
to
me
as
possible
.
Anyway, it got stronger and started running on the grass, and one day Lopsy found a fence it liked.
Anyway
,
it
got
stronger
and
started
running
on
the
grass
,
and
one
day
Lopsy
found
a
fence
it
liked
.
It got to the point where I would leave it outside under its fence for about two hours at a time while I kept an eye on developments from our kitchen window.
It
got
to
the
point
where
I
would
leave
it
outside
under
its
fence
for
about
two
hours
at
a
time
while
I
kept
an
eye
on
developments
from
our
kitchen
window
.
Soon Lopsy figured out how to get from one branch to another.
Soon
Lopsy
figured
out
how
to
get
from
one
branch
to
another
.
[:]
[
:
]
It also got to the point where it could flutter down from my hand to the ground, and I let it do this over and over again to exercise its wings.
It
also
got
to
the
point
where
it
could
flutter
down
from
my
hand
to
the
ground
,
and
I
let
it
do
this
over
and
over
again
to
exercise
its
wings
.
Then came the day that it actually flew into the fence.
Then
came
the
day
that
it
actually
flew
into
the
fence
.
We were overjoyed when this happened.
We
were
overjoyed
when
this
happened
.
Finally it got to the point where I left it outside in its fence all day and night, but I would still go outside to feed it.
Finally
it
got
to
the
point
where
I
left
it
outside
in
its
fence
all
day
and
night
,
but
I
would
still
go
outside
to
feed
it
.
Lopsy remained vocal and would jumped over for its food as soon as I came into view.
Lopsy
remained
vocal
and
would
jumped
over
for
its
food
as
soon
as
I
came
into
view
.
I left some bread on the wall next to its fence, but it would have none of it.
I
left
some
bread
on
the
wall
next
to
its
fence
,
but
it
would
have
none
of
it
.
The little fellow was totally spoilt and wanted to be spoon fed, but I saw him eating quite happily as soon as I left his line of vision.
The
little
fellow
was
totally
spoilt
and
wanted
to
be
spoon
fed
,
but
I
saw
him
eating
quite
happily
as
soon
as
I
left
his
line
of
vision
.
Some of the bigger species of birds were a bit aggressive towards Lopsy, and I continued to keep a close eye on it.
Some
of
the
bigger
species
of
birds
were
a
bit
aggressive
towards
Lopsy
,
and
I
continued
to
keep
a
close
eye
on
it
.
Not long after this we saw Lopsy flying without a problem.
Not
long
after
this
we
saw
Lopsy
flying
without
a
problem
.
It still jumped to the side, but that didn't seem to stop it in any way.
It
still
jumped
to
the
side
,
but
that
did
n't
seem
to
stop
it
in
any
way
.
Other birds seemed quite curious about Lopsy.
Other
birds
seemed
quite
curious
about
Lopsy
.
At first it chased them away if they came too close to its fence, but Lopsy soon seemed to realize that they were of its own kind and it stopped doing so.
At
first
it
chased
them
away
if
they
came
too
close
to
its
fence
,
but
Lopsy
soon
seemed
to
realize
that
they
were
of
its
own
kind
and
it
stopped
doing
so
.
Then, one day, our fellow left the nest.
Then
,
one
day
,
our
fellow
left
the
nest
.
We never saw it again, but I know Little Lopsy is now leading a happy life.
We
never
saw
it
again
,
but
I
know
Little
Lopsy
is
now
leading
a
happy
life
.
This experience has taught me much.
This
experience
has
taught
me
much
.
Little Lopsy fluttered into our home and our hearts one Saturday morning this summer. My husband went out to do something, and when he opened the door there was a great flutter on the ground and something came into the living room. It was clear that whatever it was was hurt.  I was in a bit of a shock and didn't know what to do next. Fortunately it calmed down and tried to hide itself in a corner. I realized it was a sparrow chick. There are a few sparrow nests under the roof of our apartment, and this little fellow must have fallen out and hurt itself. It was also very young, and obviously far from ready to leave the safety of the nest.  I ran to the place and found a box. Having read somewhere that one shouldn't touch a baby bird with one's hands, I picked the chick up with a hand towel and put it in the box. I placed the box outside the front door in the hope that the parents would try to feed it. They never came near it and I brought it inside. I placed the box on a table and it slept for about twenty hours. We later learned that it is quite normal for a hurt bird to sleep so much after undergoing such a hurt experience.  When it finally woke up we carefully examined it for wounds, but fortunately there wasn't any. It had hurt its right wing and leg, which meant it must have landed on its right side when it fell out of the nest. We named it Lopsy.  After doing some research we felt there was a chance that it might survive, but we weren't sure that it would ever be able to fly. A hurt bird doesn't stand much of a chance of survival and could fall easy pray to cats, other animals. Was it fair to allow it to live if it meant keeping it in a cage its whole life? It was a hard decision, but we decided to give it a go.  We started off by dripping drops of water into its mouth. It was very thirsty and drank quite a bit. Next we fed it with bread soaked in water. Our household routine soon revolved around Lopsy who needed to be fed about every three hours during the day. Fortunately we live on campus and my husband could come home during his breaks to feed our new baby.  Soon Lopsy was growing nicely. The bigger it got, the more vocal it became. There was no doubt as to who was ruling the house.  We remained concerned because its leg did not heal, and its wing seemed quite useless. I took it outside for exercise every day. I also hoped it would get used to the sights and sounds of nature. In the beginning all it was interested in was staying as close to me as possible.  Anyway, it got stronger and started running on the grass, and one day Lopsy found a fence it liked. It got to the point where I would leave it outside under its fence for about two hours at a time while I kept an eye on developments from our kitchen window. Soon Lopsy figured out how to get from one branch to another. [:]  It also got to the point where it could flutter down from my hand to the ground, and I let it do this over and over again to exercise its wings. Then came the day that it actually flew into the fence. We were overjoyed when this happened.  Finally it got to the point where I left it outside in its fence all day and night, but I would still go outside to feed it. Lopsy remained vocal and would jumped over for its food as soon as I came into view. I left some bread on the wall next to its fence, but it would have none of it. The little fellow was totally spoilt and wanted to be spoon fed, but I saw him eating quite happily as soon as I left his line of vision. Some of the bigger species of birds were a bit aggressive towards Lopsy, and I continued to keep a close eye on it.  Not long after this we saw Lopsy flying without a problem. It still jumped to the side, but that didn't seem to stop it in any way. Other birds seemed quite curious about Lopsy. At first it chased them away if they came too close to its fence, but Lopsy soon seemed to realize that they were of its own kind and it stopped doing so. Then, one day, our fellow left the nest. We never saw it again, but I know Little Lopsy is now leading a happy life. This experience has taught me much.