A baby robin really did fly into my garden window one day and hurt itself.

 

Whether the poor thing had been pushed out of its nest by its greedy sisters I can't confirm.

 

But myself and my eldest daughter - who would have been about 4 at the time - watched over it, ensuring any of the cats that prowled the neighbourhood didn't get claws on!

 

The robin was certainly in a daze after its crrrrraaaaash and we took food and water out for it. After a couple of hours, the bird had recovered enough to manage a few practise flights around the garden. Before long, she managed to fly away.

 

I didn't see any ants or a butterfly or mouse aiding her escape, but perhaps they were there when I turned my back on the garden.

 

When brainstorming ideas for books a few months later, this little robin came to mind, as did the idea of making her a very clever bird whose innocent charm and sharp mind enabled her to hatch a plan with the help of other wildlife in the garden to escape from Derek the hungry cat.

 

I like to think that the robins I saw coming to feed in the same garden for many years after were the offspring of that little young bird my daughter and I had watched over all those years ago. 

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If you find an injured bird, here's what the RSPCA say you should do.