Man and jackdaw have an adorable bond after a chance roadside encounter

Story and video from SWNS

Meet the man and jackdaw who have an adorable bond after a chance roadside encounter - and now even go on BIKE rides together.

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 Michael calls.

Bird and man have such a close relationship that Patch gives his friend little beaky kisses, and hitches lifts on his bike rides and walks.

Patch has been a celebrity guest at a wedding, and Michael loves him so much he even slept rough one night when his feathered friend didn’t come out of a tree.

Michael, 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.”

Michael suspected Patch, whom he thinks is a boy, had been attacked by another animal when he found him with a mangled wing.

After living in an old pigeon box Michael got from a mate and tucking into scrambled and boiled eggs, bread and milk, Patch took four weeks to recover use of his wing.

Michael still feeds Patch mealworms, and fruit like cherries and grapes, but the now-recovered bird catches moths, wasps and flies for himself.

Patch lives in an aviary that Michael built in the garden, but comes in for play dates and occasional sleepovers in the house Michael shares with his mother Mary, 78.

Michael said: “People call me the bird whisperer, or bird-man of Malvern.

“It came quite naturally to me. And I remembered all these tales I’ve heard about people rescuing birds and forming a bond, and feeding them bread and milk.

“When I do a kissy noise he comes over to me and I say ‘give me a kiss.’

“He sits on my shoulder and puts his little beak to my face or gently nibbles my ear.

“He lets me stroke him under his breast and his feathers on his back all quiver.

“And he lets me rub his beak.

“He’s so much fun.

“I’m trying to teach him to copy my Donald Duck noise.”

Patch sits on the handlebars of Michael’s bike, or on his shoulder if they’re walking.

Sometimes he hops along behind, and flies up to his friend for safety when there’s a passing dog or cat.

Michael takes him to friends' houses, the local shop, and for jaunts in the Malvern hills.

"I was quite well known around here but I’m even more so now: it's a lovely thing to be known for,” said Michael.

He added: “I don’t take him on any busy roads.”

Water-loving Patch enjoys splashing about in a little tub Michael fills for him.

When out walking, he hops down to play in puddles, and once enjoyed paddling in a stream on a Malvern hills excursion.

Michael was taking Patch to the pub to watch England in the football about three weeks ago but ended up missing the game completely.

The dedicated friend went home for his sleeping bag after they got caught in the rain and Patch wouldn’t come out of a tree.

"Our bond is so strong”, said Michael, “first, I waited three hours and missed the football.

“I set up camp on a bench with my sleeping bag and cardboard from the Waitrose bin.

“At 7am, I couldn’t find him and went home for a bit.

“I went back a couple of hours later and called him and he came straight out of the tree and sat on my shoulder.”

In another adventure, Michael took Patch to a wedding reception at the local cricket club where he entertained guests of all ages.

Michael said: “I think he was the guest of honour.

“Everyone was so excited to get a picture with him.”

Another time, Patch helped his buddy find his phone when Michael got distracted filming him one day at the park last week.

Michael wandered off to look at something, leaving his phone on the ground, and realised Patch hadn’t followed.

He walked back when Patch wouldn’t come to his call.

“He was just sitting there by my phone”, said Michael.

“He loves my phone: when I get it out he hops up and I show him pictures of himself.

“I think he knew I didn’t mean to leave it there.

“I think that is brilliant.

"He's so clever.

“Having him is such a lovely thing to happen.”