Cruelty to animals is not a proof of our love for humanity. On the contrary people who are cruel to animals are likely to be cruel to humans also. Our assumption of superiority over all nature and all other creatures is the reason why we have to buy drinking water today. Might is right begins with animals and ends with holocausts.
I always remember this friend who called late one evening, many years ago, she was complaining about the disturbance caused by the noise made by pigeons. Maybe we will soon have no reasons to complain. Sparrows are said to be disappearing from cities. Other birds will follow?
Since we don't believe in keeping birds (or animals) in cages, and since we wanted this round eyed cheeper to practice flying and fly away, we let her out of the cage, shut all windows and switched off all fans.
She was cheeping aloud, eating a little then dozing off.
Then we noticed a sparrow crashing into the window panes, and this baby bird also flew to the pane, it was obvious that this very worried male sparrow on the other side was our baby sparrow's dad. We slowly slid open the window, and the way they met was worth seeing.
This was like a miracle. And then mother bird also came, she did not feed her, she just hung around. I was too overwhelmed and relieved and amazed to pick the camera. I wish I had taken some more pictures. The baby bird inside the cage, feeding off our hands, and the way they first greeted each other were precious!
These pictures were taken much later. We thought it would be easier for the parents if they did not need to go looking for food leaving us worrying about the baby outside the window. So we placed food and water for them. They feasted and fed the baby. And many pictures are blurred because there was too much sunlight outside and I was afraid of frightening them away. (all excuses for bad photography)
It is amazing how they did not reject the baby. It's possible that sparrows don't reject their babies touched by human hands. Or maybe the baby is too old to be rejected.
I have assumed they were the parents, because of the way they greeted each other, and the ease with which they showed him how to fly away to a tree outside. (But I have seen, twice, male cats adopting and taking care of kittens in Kerala, so maybe birds do the same thing?)
The parents visited us for breakfast today morning also, and carried beakfuls of boiled rice for our little Tweeter :)
Like Solilo said this amazing experience did remind me of Mahadevi Verma's amazing stories.
