In January and February the northern parts of Bulgaria are gripped by Siberian colds with strong winds and heavy snowfalls. Most large animals and birds simply hide and wait for the worst to pass. For most smaller creatures, however, the lack of food for even half a day can be fatal. On such a freezing day, trudging through the blizzard, I saw a group of about a hundred sparrows, struggling in the wind, looking for some food not covered by the snow. It was easy to approach them, as they complete