Meet the ‘Birdman of Malvern’ and his fully fledged friend
THEY say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush...
Michael Smith, 55, spotted an injured baby jackdaw lying on the roadside as he cycled home one evening in May.
He scooped up the tiny bird, now named Patch, and took him home where he made him a little nest and fed him scrambled eggs.
Now recovered, and about 16 weeks old, Patch has spread his wings, but comes back to his rescuer when Mr Smith calls.
Bird and man have such a close relationship that Patch even hitches lifts on his bike rides and walks.
Patch has been a celebrity guest at a wedding, and Mr Smith loves him so much he even slept rough one night when his feathered friend didn’t come out of a tree.
Mr Smith, an ex-builder from Malvern, Worcestershire, said: “I love nature and animals, so I couldn’t leave him injured in the hedgerow.
“He’s like my best friend now, and I spend as much time with him as possible.
“When I’m without him I’m thinking about him and when I see him again he does a little joyful squark that is different from his normal screech.
“He’s the best pet and everyone loves him.
“He is the talk of the town, and if I’m without him everyone’s asking after him.”
Mr Smith suspected Patch, whom he thinks is a boy, had been attacked by another animal when he found him with a mangled wing.
Patch lives in an aviary that Mr Smith built in the garden, but comes in for play dates and occasional sleepovers in the house Mr Smith shares with his mother Mary, 78.
Mr Smith said: “People call me the bird whisperer, or birdman of Malvern.
“It came quite naturally to me.”