Cole notices that the baby sparrows tried to do something before their death. What was

The baby sparrows were fending for themselves. They were eating worms and what they could. Like Cole, they were left to their own devices at such a young age. Also Cole envies the sparrows. They were trying to get home. Cole reflects that, although he never had one, this is what he so desperately wanted. Home was an instinctual concept that he always felt he lacked.