One day, a tiny, undersized, almost lifeless little bird was passed into my care. He had no name, and was so close to death. I gently examined this feeble dying creature in horror and dismay. It was a small green budgie. One of his wings had had nearly all the feathers ripped out of it, the other wing was broken. He had damaged toes, severe bruising and still bleeding lacerations on his skin underneath the ragged feathers, and he was riddled with scaley-mite. Through the damaged and sparce feathers, his full skeletal structure was easy so feel, so malnourished and starved he was. Looking at him, my heart sank to the floor. I knew the chances of saving such a desperately  sick and damaged little bird were extremely slim. I also knew I would do everything in my power to try and overcome the odds.

This birds injuries were caused as a result of being entrapped in a cage with much larger, stronger birds than himself. He had been repeatedly amd mercilessly attacked and driven away from food supplies by the bigger, stronger birds. His evil and selfish owner did not think he was worth the 'expense' of a cage of his own, so she left him in there to be pecked, battered and starved to death. Thank God someone saw his plight, took him off the woman and brought him to me.

Keeping him warm, and quiet, I rushed him to an emergency appointment with the avian vet. The vet looked in horror at the little bird that I showed her. Gently examining him, she too was horrified at the amount of trauma and injury to this tiny creatures emaciated body. The examination had to be terminated quickly, as during the consultation, the birds feathers began to fall out of his ravaged little body. He was going into deep shock, and any further trauma would push him over the edge. He would die. She warned me that his chances of survival were very slim indeed, and held out practically no hope for him. However, she prescribed medication and topical ointments for me to treat him with. He just HAD to be given a chance, a chance to experience a new life, one which held no cruelty, no pain, no starvation and no torment. With a weary, saddened heart I returned home, with my little friend whose life was slowly but surely ebbing away, held quietly against my heart. I whispered to him, ''come on little Albert, stay with me, yet me make you well again''. As he lay helplessly in my hands, there was no response. At this point, all that had changed was that he now had a name, Albert, and someone who loved him.

After weeks of careful nursing care, and confidence building, I felt the time had arrived to try and introduce Albert to his own kind. At that time, I had two other budgies, Teapot and Snowy. Both were gentle, curious little birds, and although Snowy had no trust of humans whatsoever, she was totally unaggressive. Teapot was friendly to anyone, and anything. However, I still had concerns about the introduction. Albert was only half the size of Teapot and Snowy, he was such a tiny little budgie. Would they see him as the 'runt', and pick on him and bully him, as all the birds in his past had? Would he be terrified regardless because of his terrible past? There was only one way to find out....

With Teapot and Snowy sat happily atop their cage, I carried little Albert towards them on my hand. Teapot immediately flew down to my hand and introduced himself to Albert. Albert looked a little unsure, but not fearful. Teapot chirped and bobbed his head at Albert, yet was not too pushy. So far, so good! I then carried Albert and placed him on top of the cage on which Snowy sat. Snowy looked, and moved slowly and gently to this tiny little member of her own species. The three birds chirped at each other, and Teapot stepped forward and gently preened the face feathers of this new addition to his flock. I just sat watching, in silent, inner joy as the three birds checked each other out, then settled down for an afternoon nap, all snuggled up together. Albert was accepted. Albert was unafraid. Albert, for the first time in his life had friends of his own kind who meant him no harm, only acceptance.

Albert's world was, finally, complete!