An estimated 2,000 sparrows in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, were blown off trees by a storm last week and were picked up by residents.

A resident surnamed Liu said he watched the storm for hours with a friend in a tea house.

Suddenly he saw a number of people rush into the rain grabbing for something. When Liu joined the crowd h saw the ground was covered with sparrows with wet wings.

More sparrows kept dropping off the trees in the heavy rain and wind.

Liu picked up 53 sparrows but only a dozen were still alive. He plans to set them free as soon as they are able to fly.

(Contemporary Express August 10, 2007)