Korczak always knocked on the door to his empty room in the attic before entering the room, just not to scare the sparrows afraid of his sudden appearance! Korczak was also feeding the sparrows, which flocked to receive their groats on a specially constructed board for this purpose at his window at the attic. He also rebuilt a window so sparrows could warm themselves there during cold days.
Igor Newerly (Pan Jerzy), Korczak's secretary for many years, told us that Korczak loved to watch the sparrows and wrote two notebooks about them.
From Igor Newerly's book:
— Mr. Igor, you have already said "subtenants" twice... are those the little sparrows that took flight when you entered?
— Yes, but not only them... The Doctor had been looking after the sparrows for many years. He deeply valued these brave little street birds. He fed them and kept them warm at his place during the winter. He observed them, knew them by their appearance and character, gave them names, had two notebooks full of notes about sparrows, and wanted to write a book about them. He would talk to them in the morning when he opened the window and prepared their food. And in the evening, he would chat with the other subtenants.
— So someone else lived with him? But you said he was a lonely old bachelor.
— Well, not exactly... He needed solitude...
