spoggy the sparrow
I don't know that the couple behind this video consider themselves Christians or not, but talk about taking Luke 12:6 seriously, not one sparrow's title verse: "Aren't five sparrows sold for a couple of pennies? But not one of them is forgotten by God." I'd be hard pressed to think of a more direct or tangible example of following God's heart and lead ...
Be sure to read the background story on both Spoggy and his amazingly dedicated and compassionate caretakers (click "more info" in the box just to the right of the video on YouTube), and it becomes clear where Susan and David derive much of their empathy from. They also post a link to an informational page on caring for injured and abandoned baby sparrows and starlings. And there are follow-up videos of Spoggy (what a cool name for a bird, by the way) at twelve days, one month and many more.
p.s. Please pray for Susan if you think of her, as she continues to deal with significant and often debilitating health problems.
October 26, 2008
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Reader Comments (11)
Dearest Ben, I found this site while searching for some of Spoggy's videos and wanted to thank you so very much for so kindly featuring Spoggy and his video on your lovely website. Sadly some of the follow up videos for Spoggy were taken down recently as YouTube clamps down on any background music that belongs to Warners Music group - but an update slideshow on Spoggy will be posted within the next month, with some very funny photos of just how much Spoggy thinks we are a part of HIS flock!
In our home, every single creature is not only welcomed but saved. From the smallest insect, which we catch and release, to a pair of old horses whom we let roam our land. I believe that every sentient being has a right to be safe and a right to live. My darling husband David and I have now saved 53 birds, and this included knocking 4 holes in our old farmhouse wall to save birds who had fallen into an internal wall cavity. To us, those birds were worth so much more than repairing a wall. The only birds that we have kept were those who for various reasons could not be released and so they are given a safe harbour here for their lifetime and they are loved so very much.
Spoggy is now 15 months old, he can talk (this is very rare), and just yesterday clearly said my husband's name of DAVID. Spoggy is so much fun, super intelligent and does everything we do. It is such an honour to have been able to save him. Recently my husband David did a very risky and daring rescue and saved another 2 baby sparrows. But as they were siblings, they were raised to 'release criteria' (meaning we could not cuddle them or allow them to be tamed, and they were safely released after a lot of tag team work between my husband, myself and my Mum. They were released into her yard and joined a huge flock of sparrows. We have seen them a few times since then so we know they made it.
We pray that SPOGGY will become a name that people will identify with 'loving kindness and compassion,' and the name SPOGGY is actually a slang word that originated in South Australia - it means 'sparrow' - we used to say "Look at all the spoggies!" But no one seems to know where that name came from, though it may be a derivitive of the UK term of 'spadger,' which is also a name for sparrow. By the way, Mum, David and I all thought of the name SPOGGY, and when we started to say what we thought its name should be we, all said 'SPOGGY' at the same time. :-)
I appreciate your prayers for my health. How very kind of you. With love and light, we all send you greetings from RAINBOWS END in the forests of Tasmania - where all creatures are loved and cared for.
Susan xxxx
Susan, what an absolute pleasure to hear from you! I had hoped against hope you might stumble across this post someday, as I didn't know how to contact you ... I wrote you an email at the address you left, but please let me know if it doesn't come through for any reason. It's such an honor to have you comment on the post, and I hope very much we can stay in touch! Ben DeVries
Thank you again Ben - I am just reading your email now and will respond to it soon. I would be delighted to keep you updated about any future shows featuring SPOGGY and hope that there will be be one in the next month or so. I think it is important to show people and educate them about the 'long term health' of animals and birds rescued. It's vital they receive the right care and diet/nutrition as quickly as possible when they are found and rescued. Spoggy certainly is the picture of health and we give thanks to all of those who helped us with the raising of him on the wonderful bird forum I belong to. Links to the forum are shown in the information text next to his videos. Certainly I count many of the people on the forum as some of the best bird rehabbers and rescuers in the world and I do not say that lightly and am honoured to be a part of the group.
Spoggy is helping me type this, so any typo's are due to him. He sends a big WINGWAVE to anyone who sees these messages or watches his shows. He makes a lot of 'kiss kiss' noises and loves to do so as he free flys through the room, just buzzing our head ever so slightly and then flying off with a 'mua mua' sound into a distant room. He is so much fun to have around.
love and light from the forests of Tasmania,
Susan xxxx
Thanks for the follow-up note, Susan ... I can almost imagine Spoggy fluttering around my laptop as well. Though if I were at home he might be a bit frightened by the four cats who roam my desk while I work! By the way, please feel free to post any forthcoming Spoggy video links here, or any birdcare resources you find important just as well. I'm grateful for the recommendations, coming from such a seasoned caregiver as yourself, Ben D.
Just to let you know there is a new little video of Spoggy the sparrow on YouTube, featuring some fun and great original music by Holly Kirby. I hope it brings a smile.
Spoggy is a little down at the moment, he is losing feathers by the dozens and is having his BIG moult which will see him get those beautiful colours of the 2 year old male sparrows. I think he is confused as to why his feathers are falling out.
love and light to you all,
Susan and Spoggy the sparrow in Tasmania xxxx
This video is great, Susan, thanks so much for posting it. It must be odd and fascinating at the same time to watch Spoggy go through the molt, and to be able to observe a change in his moods because of it. Yet another indication of the emotional world of animals, which we're so often blind to or dismissive of otherwise.
Hello, I have recently found a youg sparrow. He is quite friendly and seems to like me, but I'm worried because I recently read that handling him like a pet is not good. But I'm afraid that it's too late and he's too tame. I really like him and would like too keep him even though that's not best. I was also wondering if anyone has feeding suggestions? I've been feeding him berries (he loves blueberries), but I was wondering what else I should give him.
Baby Bird Lover, thank you very much for your compassionate question. I forwarded it to Susan, the wonderful caretaker of Spoggy, and she graciously responded with the following advice which she asked if I could pass along, as she continues to work through some health concerns:
For anyone needing to know the diet for a baby sparrow, or starling and even a blackbird, the diet on this page is the BEST one to follow. Please follow it exactly, so that you too may have a happy ending, like we did with Spoggy. Feed anything else and it is very likely your bird will not make it - please go to this link for the diet and care info: www.starlingtalk.com/babycare.htm. And you can join their free forum for even more advice and help!
BUT IS IT A SPARROW? Please use this site to ID your bird, it features clear photos of Spoggy growing up, day by day: susanmacauley.tripod.com/sparrowphotos/index.album/1-day-old?i=0
It was about 1 year ago that I ran across Spoggy's page. Prior to that I thought I was the only one in the world with a bird like my bird, Cheep Cheep. To be brief, the story of Cheep Cheep is so incredibly similar to Spoggy's story. I am writing because I am wondering about the lifespan. Cheep Cheep is 5 years old now. Someone told me 7 years is the life span; this makes me sick to my stomach. This little bird is part of every second of my life. Cheep Cheep gets an excellent diet and care from the doctor. Does anyone know the lifespan of sparrows raised in captivity - in excellent conditions? Thank you so much.
Lacy, I definitely hear where you're coming from, and appreciate your note. I'll be sure to pass it along to Susan, the caretaker of Spoggy, and see if she can respond to your question. I'll definitely pass it along if I hear anything. Thanks again for the comment - Ben
Lacy, I received the following helpful advice from Spoggy's caretaker, Susan:
This question is a tricky one but I can give the woman some hope. If her bird is truly getting an excellent diet, there is a possibility that it will live longer. I know of a moderator on the Starling Talk Forum who had a sparrow who lived to be 15 years old. I read a week ago that someone raised one to 18 years in captivity, and that was the record at this time (but I am not sure of the accuracy of the page and sadly did not bookmark it). I have one dear friend who also had a female sparrow, and she passed away at age 7 years. Like Lacy's Cheep Cheep, she was a part of everything he did and he was devastated.
I would encourage Lacy to join the StarlingTalk free message board. It's free, private and I believe it is run by the experts in the world of starling care. And SOOOOO many of them on there are now also 'owned by a sparrow.' One of the senior moderators on there now also has a pet sparrow (one year old), and this woman has saved the lives of my birds many times over with her incredible knowledge of bird care (she is simply amazing and I would put any and all of my birds into her hands without a moment's hesitation). So if she cares to join, she can choose to post and introduce herself and I can assure you she would be made most welcome. I am sure many of the members would love to hear about Cheep Cheep! But she can also just join so she can read the threads to see what has happened in the situations of others caring for sparrows, and there are certainly many on the board now in the section called 'Other Rescued Birds.'
It sounds as if she has a Vet on her side and that is just wonderful. It means her bird has help should anything occur. One thing about having a bird so close to you in your life, you see immediately if something is amiss and can act fast to get it help. That's a plus!
Oh, and I wanted to mention an incredible book about a woman who raised a sparrow during the war, a Christian woman I understand, and the book was called 'Sold for a Farthing.' This is a BRILLIANT BOOK. Now granted, back then, she had no internet or way to research what was best to feed a sparrow. And while some of the foods she gave the bird would not be suggested today, that bird, though disabled from the start, died of old age at over 12 years of age! It's a wonderful book, and I feel sure you can buy copies on Amazon. I have my own copy!
I hope this helps, and Spoggy and I send our love to Lacy and her special bird. love and light,
Susan and Spoggy in Tasmania