Two adult birds and a group of local residents came to the aid of an injured baby bird last week.

The baby bird had fallen out of its nest in a tall tree in a garden in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Two adult birds were guarding the injured nestling and attacking anyone who came near.

"I thought the little bird was the offspring of the big birds. I tried to use a ladder to climb the tree, but I was attacked when I attempted to return the little bird to the nest," said Jiao Yu, a resident. "But with help from other residents here, I finally returned the bird to its nest." Animal experts said that the birds were blue magpies, which can be very territorial during mating season, which runs from March to May.

(File photo: a blue magpie in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province)

(Chinese Business View May 25, 2007)