Biking to work today, (which coincidentally happened to be Bike to Work day), I saw a little sparrow in the gutter. I expected him to flutter away, but when he didn’t move I pulled over and checked on him.

His legs were splayed, and he was on his belly. Hit by a car perhaps? Or abandoned? I considered letting him go by the nearby creek, but unfortunately he wouldn’t have a fair chance on the food chain.

I tucked him into my bike trunk, where he rode atop my lunch en route to work. I gave him some bread crumbs and a bottle cap full of water. I kept him in my bike trunk for the day, but he did manage to fly around my office a bit when I checked on him, so I knew he would be ok with a fixed up leg.

Wondering who could help such a small bird, my Google abilities immediately found the “Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center” near Evans and Holly Street. A complete volunteer rescue/rehabilitation place right on the way home! To fix a splayed leg, some nutrients and calcium are given via shots and food, and within a few days they are stronger, able to stand up, and soon ready to head off into the city. (Although the nice people there told me many birds released end up hanging around their place).