A Bird in the Hand / myLot

South Africa

December 18, 2016 3:28am CST

You had better believe it, a REAL BIRD in the HAND and not of the idiom kind . . . . this little Sparrow arrived yesterday evening as I was taking my after bowls swim. He perched himself on my head and was screeching like a mad-fowl! I went inside to see what I could find in the way of food for it - because birds only screech like that for food, and it followed me all the way into the Kitchen. By then my two cats had gotten whiff of the happenings and were at my feet with BIG EYES! A few flakes of dried oats and some crumbs of bread - a drink of water and the little baby sparrow was off into the conifer tree next to the pool. This morning as I took my coffee outside to sit and adsorb the beautiful morning - DASHER sparrowed onto my head again - screeching for breakfast. My hubby says I am "the Bird Whisperer" . All fed and back in the tree for a nap, I am sure at tea time, when I have a swim, he will be down from the heights for some snack of sorts. Strange thing to happen - luckily he flies well and eats heartily too! Photo is my own as Hubby took over the feed process for me to use the ipad. Such a marvel!

12 people like this

16 responses

Gina

@Gina145 (3949)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

18 Dec 16

What a wonderful experience. None of the birds I encounter are that tame.

3 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

I have looked after many doves and Olive Thrush birds - till their maturity then set them free, so its not new to me, however its the first MOSSIE (Sparrow) on my watch

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Gina

@Gina145 (3949)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

18 Dec 16

@Inlemay It seems that the Mossie was somehow able to sense that you're the kind of person who cares about birds.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

19 Dec 16

@Gina145 Not sure about that - but he has sure enjoyed our hospitality - I am loving it

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aubrey

@averygirl72 (37726)

• Philippines

18 Dec 16

That's very nice. The bird seems relax and comfortable in your care, can be a pet.

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aubrey

@averygirl72 (37726)

• Philippines

18 Dec 16

@Inlemay Oh I see. I love to have birds as pet but they are dangerous with cats arounds

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

No it cannot be a pet - very wild by nature, but its tame now because it needs help with food

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458179)

• Switzerland

18 Dec 16

It is a young sparrow, I see from the beak. I love birds and I know than this baby will come back every day now.

2 people like this

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458179)

• Switzerland

18 Dec 16

@Inlemay I have my little red robin that comes every day, I love the little thing.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

I know he will - so I shall be having breakfast and dinner with a little Sparrow

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M.-L.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

18 Dec 16

Bird whisperer is a good term. Congratulations to your new career!

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

Ha ha ha - Not sure about a Career, but a nice thing to be called

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21737)

• Canada

18 Dec 16

That is an unusual bird. Most birds have a fear of us. We have a feeder that attracts numerous birds, but the birds never approach us.

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

this one came looking for me - my daughter has just left from a visit and said that the bird probably senses I am lonely in the day - ha ha ha, I might have to take it shopping with me.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Dec 16

How privileged are you! That is a little Christmas miracle for you.

2 people like this

Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

18 Dec 16

I thought it was a little bit of a Christmas Miracle too - did not want to push it though because I like good things to stay - well till this little Sparrow needs no more feeding at least.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Dec 16

@Inlemay I guess he'll keep coming for a bit longer. :)

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Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

18 Dec 16

That is quite rare for a wild bird to behave like that. The only time that I encountered this was at St Brelade's Bay in Jersey many years ago. It is quite a desolate area with a single snack bar on the beach, which must have been frequented by civilised humans since the birds were so tame. They perched on my shoulder, arms and table while I was eating and scavenged for food. Onr even sat on my hand and nibbled the sandwich while I was eating it.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

19 Dec 16

Its very rare, especially for this species of bird - they are VERY WILD here in SA. Anyway I am enjoying the play with birdy time

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youless

@youless (112123)

• Guangzhou, China

19 Dec 16

That's so interesting. I always wish to have a bird that nearby me

That's so nice you can get on well with each other because birds like sparrows are afraid of human beings.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

18 Dec 16

Looks like you have a new family member! Watch those cats!!

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

19 Dec 16

the CATS are like little mother hens around the tree - the bird is very aware of them as well - I am being very vigilant

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

19 Dec 16

@Inlemay Smooch is purring saying, Mummy, please adopt a little birdie!

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

19 Dec 16

@valmnz the cats will always be purring those sayings

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

18 Dec 16

I guess it is time to stock up on bird noms!

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Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (12597)

• Ireland

18 Dec 16

@inlemay He knows he's onto a good thing.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

19 Dec 16

Thats what my hubby said - free food and lodging

Nick R Thomas

@asfarasiknow (3341)

• Bournemouth, England

25 Dec 16

I would be absolutely thrilled if any of the birds I feed in the garden every day perched on my hand like that.

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Inlemay

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

26 Dec 16

it has a special feeling - the little sparrow has adopted me and we are still doing the morning feed in HAND

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Hanni Harel

@Hannihar (129471)

• Israel

11 Sep 17

So I take it birds are like cats if you feed them they will keep coming back for more. That is so cool. I have never seen a bird let a person feed it before.

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