Targum zu Wajikra 14:7

And let him sprinkle it upon the face of him who is to be cleansed of the leprosy seven times, and cleanse him; and send forth. the living bird over the face of the field. And it will be that if that man is again to be stricken with leprosy, the living bird will come back to his house on that day, and may be held fit to be eaten. But the bird that had been killed the priest shall bury in the presence of the leper.