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| Name: |
Lil Peeps
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Age: |
Two and a half years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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| Home: |
Illinois, USA
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On
June 9, 2011, we found a helpless, blind, just-hatched baby bird,
struggling to survive on hot pavement near busy traffic. We had no idea where
he came from because there were no trees anywhere near where we found him.
We took the little baby bird home and, because he made the sweetest, teeniest
"peeping" sound in the car, we named him "Lil Peeps." Fortunately, in the
past, my husband had success raising and releasing homeless baby birds he
found in parking lots. He had a recipe (from a bird rescue facility) for a
homemade mixture that he made and fed Lil Peeps immediately. My husband
gently tapped Lil Peeps' beak and he opened his mouth wide immediately to
accept the food! I cried - it was amazing and so beautiful to witness this
teeny baby bird putting all his trust in humans for his survival.
Fortunately, Lil Peeps had no injuries and we watched him thrive daily! He
chirped loudly when he was hungry; he ate and slept, ate and slept. We put
him in a cozy box with a warm water bottle and he loved it! After we fed him,
he would sleep in our hands (so precious). I had never seen a baby bird up
close so watching Lil Peeps' grow was miraculous to me.
As LP grew, he loved playing with all his toys and sleeping in the man-made
nest we bought at the pet store. We assumed he was a "girl" sparrow because
of "her" coloring; however, at thirteen weeks, his gorgeous male coloring appeared
and we were able to identify him as a Eurasian Tree Sparrow!
Lil Peeps refused to leave his flight cage and adapt to life outside. He
loves his life as a pet bird. He still sleeps every day in his human Daddy's
hand. He loves singing with my husband when he plays his guitar. LP loves
singing with "The Andy Griffith Show" theme, and imitates any
sounds/whistling we make! He is so inquisitive and alert! He knows so many
words: If you ask him, "Peeps, do you want a bath?" he hops down his perch
and waits in front of his bath gate for it to be opened!
Another funny thing about Lil Peep - he will often imitate one of our guinea
pig's whistle! LP can sound exactly like a guinea pig, when he wants to! When
I'm in the kitchen, LP and my husband will be whistling at each other and I
can't tell who is who! LP is quite the mimic!
Lil Peeps is an amazing, extremely smart and sweet member of our family. We
are so grateful that he is a part of our lives! Hearing him sing daily is
like having an angel in the house!
View more images of Lil Peeps!
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