Olathe Ford Lincoln, a dealership in Kansas, first shared its unusual predicament on its Facebook page on May 14. A sparrow had built a nest and laid eggs on a tire of a Ford F-250. The truck's large tires and the gap between the wheel and vehicle body provided an ideal spot for the bird to raise its young.

Upon discovering the nest, the dealership learned that sparrows and their nests are protected by federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This legal protection prevents them from relocating the nest.

Young sparrows in a nest in the Ford wheel well. Video: Ford Olathe

Consequently, the F-250 buyer must wait patiently for the sparrows to fledge before taking delivery of the truck. The dealership reported that the customer willingly agreed to this delay, understanding the situation.

The dealership even named the young birds: Lugnut, Axle, Diesel, and Turbo. A video posted on May 19 showed the birds growing quickly. Should these sparrows develop at a typical pace, they are expected to fledge by the end of May, allowing the customer to take their vehicle home in early June. The dealership quipped that this F-250 might be the only one protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

On May 21, Olathe Ford Lincoln updated its Facebook cover and profile pictures to feature images of the nest, eggs, and the sparrow.

This is not the first animal-related incident at the dealership. They once found a cat inside a vehicle, which an employee adopted. On another occasion, during an oil change, a mother weasel and 7 kits were discovered under a customer's hood.

My Anh (via Road & Track)