Homeowner Finds $5 Bill While Cleaning Out Sparrow Nest
As the last days of summer gave way to cooler autumn air, Cheryl Patrick set about preparing her yard for fall. Part of her seasonal routine involved cleaning out birdhouses, including one that had recently housed a lively family of sparrows. Throughout the summer, Patrick enjoyed the constant chirping of baby birds until, one day, the nest went quiet. Confident that the sparrows had safely moved on, she opened the birdhouse to remove the old nest, expecting to find nothing more than twigs and feathers.

But what she discovered left her stunned. Nestled among the twigs was a neatly folded $5 bill. "I was floored!” Patrick told The Dodo. “I have never seen anything like that before." Somewhere along their search for the perfect nesting materials, the sparrow parents must have stumbled upon the bill and thought it was just the thing to help line their home. "I can’t imagine where they found it,” Patrick said, still amazed by the birds’ resourcefulness.

Cleaning out birdhouses between seasons is more than just a matter of tidiness—it ensures a clean, safe space for new bird families in the future. However, Patrick’s role as housekeeper for her backyard birds came with an unexpected twist. The little "bonus" bill felt like a humorous thank-you from the feathered tenants who had called her birdhouse home.

Patrick decided not to spend the $5, choosing instead to keep it as a keepsake. “I see it as a kind of security deposit,” she joked. “I’ve tucked it away, hoping the same sparrow family might return next year.” Now, whenever Patrick looks at the bill, she’s reminded of the tiny creatures that filled her yard with song all summer long. The charming discovery has given Patrick a new appreciation for her small backyard visitors, and she looks forward to future birdhouse surprises. “It’s not every day you find cash inside a bird nest,” she said with a laugh. “But it made my day, and I’ll never forget it.”