• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

I Love New Haven

Celebrating all things New Haven through photography

Celebrating all things New Haven through photography

founded 2012

  • Home
  • About
  • Events
  • Submissions
  • Contact

Untitled Post

September 19, 2014 by Mike

A Sparrow Grows In New Haven (pt. 1)

 by Mike Franzman 

On July 2nd, an abandoned baby bird was found in a flower pot, with no nests or other birds in the area. Born blind and very vulnerable to predators, it was necessary to take it in to keep it warm, and fed.
Day three of its life, as we continually keep it warm and fed.  Immediately after this photograph was taken, we returned it to its warm, fleece-lined bed.
If you lightly touch its head, it will gape for food, allowing feedings of baby-food with a medicine dropper.
On day five, its eyes have begun to open, and pin-feathers are now sprouting on its wings.
Taken on day eight, this photo shows the bird’s full crop (an expandable area on the side of the neck that fills with food).

You can also clearly see its ears, since it still has no head feathers… but its eyes are fully open!

On day ten, this baby bird is able to perch on a finger, likes to flap its wings, and still needs to eat every half hour.
On day eleven we brought her outside for some sun and branch-perching practice, at a relatively safe height 
Learning to exercise those little wings!
Growing up so fast, but still requires that eye-dropper full of various baby-foods at regular intervals.
Day thirteen, getting a little fresh air and sunshine outside, though we still mostly keep her safe & warm indoors
Fully feathered by day sixteen, she is now obviously a sparrow, and enjoys exploring the house.
Now able to fly around the house, she likes to land and nap in fun places…
Covered in soft, downy feathers on day twenty-two.
On day twenty-eight, she’s learning to peck, and beginning to pick up tiny seeds on her own, though still needs to be hand-fed.
Day 32:  Now that she flies well, we must help her decide if flying around outdoors will be a good idea…

Will she fly away instantly, never to return?  Will she be able to communicate, navigate, and fly back to us?

Tune In Next Friday, for pt. 2 of
“A Sparrow Grows In New Haven”


All Photographs © Mike Franzman

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: [mf] Mike Franzman, baby bird rescue, bird rehab, fledgling, gaping, Sammie The Sparrow, wildlife

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela says

    September 19, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Love this story��
    A sweet view of life.

    • Jeffrey Kerekes says

      September 19, 2014 at 3:22 pm

      Mike did a nice job on this story and with this sparrow.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Edgerton Park Luminaries 2020 by Linda-Cristal Young, guest photographer.
  • New Haven Connecticut “Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” 12-10-2020 photos by Leigh Busby
  • I ♥ New Haven Remembers Eddie Van Halen, 1955-2020, by Mike Franzman
  • Beaver Hills Porchfest 2020 – Chris Randall
  • Sasquatch Sighted in New Haven – Chris Randall

Recent Comments

  • Kandra on Sasquatch Sighted in New Haven – Chris Randall
  • Unknown on Roll Around New Haven – Chris Randall
  • bkeen on Wooster Square Park , Columbus statue comes down By Leigh Busby 06-24-2020
  • bkeen on Wooster Square Park , Columbus statue comes down By Leigh Busby 06-24-2020
  • Unknown on A Photographic Tribute To New Haven’s “Shakespeare Lady” – by Mike Franzman

Archives

  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012

Celebrating all things  New Haven through Photography

Copyright © 2022