our unofficial mascot 'Spoggy'
Perhaps you remember our first post on Spoggy the sparrow? It pointed to how Spoggy was rescued as an orphaned hatchling by Susan and David in Tasmania, Australia, and adopted for life when it became clear he had found his surrogate parents, and home.
I happily connected with Spoggy's 'mum,' as Susan affectionately calls herself, soon after putting the post up, and she's since kept me updated on Spoggy's development and doings through many beautiful videos and photos. I wanted to be sure to pass along a few, especially as Spoggy seems to be the perfect unofficial 'mascot' for not one sparrow!
This first video (viewable online) is a toucing retrospective on Spoggy's adoption, from his very first days of life and on into the following months. It features the beautiful voice of Susan's friend and singer-songwriter Holly Kirby.
And this happy video is appropriately called "Moments to Smile At":
Spoggy now has his very own Facebook page, where you can find many more photos and videos of him, as well as of many other injured and abandoned animals Susan and David have rescued over the years. Currently they are caring for a swallow with an injured wing named 'Sally.' Susan asked for prayer for Sally, and please pray for her and David as they continue to face a number of health complications.
(photos and video courtesy Susan Macauley (©); Susan, a practicing Buddhist, and Spoggy were also feautured in a Mandala magazine article)
February 10, 2010
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Reader Comments (3)
Dearest Ben
Thank you for this lovely tribute to Spoggy the Sparrow. I guess at the start we truly had no idea what it would be like to be 'owned by a sparrow' - but every single moment spent in raising him was so worth it! Living with Spoggy (we are together all day, every day) is really an experience that is hard to convey - it certainly is an honour to have him in our lives. Documenting his life with photos and videos gives us the chance to 'share Spoggy' with the world. Spoggy seems to reach out and touch the hearts of all people, regardless of age, race, faith - he just makes people smile. Our job it to keep Spoggy safe and healthy and his long term health is always upper most in our mind.
Thank you again for your friendship and for your own constant drive to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. All sentient beings deserve the chance to live happy, safe lives.
Spoggy sends everyone at NOT ONE SPARROW his biggest ever
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WINGWAVE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May you and yours be forever blessed Ben
with love and light
Susan, David and Spoggy the Sparrow.
PS - After a 200 kilometres drive yesterday, Sally the injured Welcome Swallow (just 12 grams - that's less than one third the size of Spoggy) was carefully transported in the car to be handed over to the RSPCA. They will now take her to a vet to see if her injured wing can be helped and her life will be saved if it possibly can be. She was a little trooper and made the journey (with stops along the way for me to feed her). I mentioned to one lady in a store, the reason we had made the journey and she looked at me and said "you drove 200 kilometres for a little tenny bird?" and then she smiled. YES! We would have driven further if need be! We continue to pray for her life. Thank you so much. So very much!
Susan, it's always a pleasure to feature Spoggy, and your loving care for him! Thanks very much for your note, and for the update on Sally. What you and David did for her is truly an amazing demonstration of compassion. I sure hope they can mend her. And I will certainly pray for both her and David - Ben
What neat videos, Ben. They really bring home the message that every life is precious and meaningful and can add so much to our own lives. Thanks!