From time to time, many hummingbird fanciers face the task of trying to save the life of a hummingbird that has flown inside a garage or other structure. If you know what to do and can act quickly, you can save the life of a bird that just seems like it cannot find its way back outside.
I have found the best to be ready for such an event is to have what I call a Hummingbird Rescue kit ready at all times. My kit includes a long-handled butterfly net, telescoping window rod, or paintbrush extension pole, roll of duct tape, a brown paper bag, hummingbird feeder, and small bottle of nectar.
Late last week, I had to use my kit to rescue a hummingbird from a laundromat. It seems that one morning around 9:00 a.m. a hummingbird flew into a laundromat. When I received the call, the bird had been flying about the ceiling of the laundromat for over five hours. Knowing the bird was tired and hungry—I had to act fast.
When I arrived and walked into the establishment, I spotted the bird flying about the ceiling some 10 feet above the floor. The laundromat had two doors, one in front and one at the far end of the facility. Both of them were left open in hopes the tiny bird would flu out. However, as usual, the bird flew along the ceiling and never dropped down where it could exit either door.
It was obvious that it would be impossible to net the bird with a short-handled net. My only chance to net it was to tape my butterfly net to the end of a curtain rod. Although a net taped to the curtain rod would allow me to reach the bird flying near the ceiling, the laundromat was so large it would prove next to impossible for me to get close enough to capture the bird in a net. My best hope of saving the hapless prisoner was to coax it down low enough where it could directly fly out of a door.
With that in mind, I rolled a metal laundry basket in front to the door on the far end of the laundromat. I put a small amount of nectar in a hummingbird feeder and hung the feeder from the bar that ran across the basket. This placed the feeder about four feet above the floor.
I then walked to the far end of the building, raised my butterfly net above my head, and slowly began walking toward the bird flying high above the dryers. In response to my approach, the bird flew toward the far end of the building. When it got about 30 feet from the door and feeder it made a sharp, steady decline and landed on the one of the perches on the feeder and immediately began drinking. It drank and drank. Even when a worker raised her arms and slowly walked toward the frightened, hungry bird it never stopped feeding. I told the attendant to stop walking when she got about feet from the bird. By that time, I too was standing closely. The hummingbird continued to feed.
After allowing, the bird to feed for a while we slowly approached the hummer. Eventually it rose up, flew out the door, and vanished over the parking lot. My rescue mission took only a few minutes and was a resounding success. I wish they were that easy.
Fortunately, I did not have to use everything I carry in the kit. However, it is always to best to carry everything you might use.
In a home setting, if a bird refuses to come down and drink at a feeder placed in the opening to a garage, you may have to catch it in your net. If you do, it is important that you do not squeeze it. Gently hold it in your hand, take it to the door, open your hand and let it fly away.
However, if the bird spent a long time in the garage before it is rescued, while gently holding the bird in your hand give it a chance to feed on nectar from a hummer feeder or shallow jar lid. You will be amazed; often the bird will begin feeding while you are holding it in your hand. Don’t dip the bill into the liquid. Let me bird feed on its own volition.
If the bird that is trapped in the garage simply drops to the floor, or has a difficult time flying, place it is a brown paper bag. Fold the top of the bag over just enough to allow air to enter the bag while preventing it from flying away. Some folks even place a jar lid containing a small amount of nectar in the bag along with the exhausted bird.
Place the bag in a cool dark place for a short while. Continue to check on the hummer’s condition. When it begins to flutter about, or seems very alert, take it out of the bag. Give it a chance to feed and then let it go.
