Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Axeman on May 08, 2012, 07:46:26 AM

Title: Urgent: RTH trapped in my garage
Post by: Axeman on May 08, 2012, 07:46:26 AM
Wasn't sure where to post this....but I have a ruby throated hummingbird trapped in my garage.

The problem is that the garage has very high ceilings and the bird is flying at ceiling height. When the garage doors are open they of course lay flat at about half the height of garage. We're undergoing renovations and between us and contractor, the garage is packed full and high with heavy stuff (furniture, building materials). This doesn't give the bird much space to fly low. It's not flying below a foot from the ceiling and so can't see the way out through the open garage doors. I've placed bottles of red cream soda around in the hope it'll be lured down and then find it's way out but it isn't working.

Suggesions ? Concerns or ideas of how to make it's stay more comfortable ? I'm not even sure where I could hang a feeder to get some food into even....

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Urgent: RTH trapped in my garage
Post by: Trillian Flummox on May 08, 2012, 09:50:30 AM
You might start with the Toronto Wildlife Centre - at least they should have professional advice: 416-631-0662

Seem to be lots of stories on the internet about this very problem. Here's one link with a few solutions: http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-hummingbird-out-garage-1487621.html

Try replacing the soda cans with bowls of sugar/water solutions - must be 1 part sugar to 4 parts water (no dye). They're attracted to the colour red, so maybe red flowers or any red object close to an open window or door?

They are such tiny miracles of nature - really hope you can save it.

-kris
Title: Re: Urgent: RTH trapped in my garage
Post by: Trillian Flummox on May 08, 2012, 09:56:23 AM
One more idea - try calling Cindy Cartwright, the coordinator of the "Ontario Hummingbird Project" @ 519-797-1313.
Title: Re: Urgent: RTH trapped in my garage
Post by: thouc on May 08, 2012, 11:59:30 AM
When I saw the headline I thought you had a Red-tailed Hawk in there...
Title: Re: Urgent: RTH trapped in my garage
Post by: Axeman on May 08, 2012, 12:25:10 PM
Well I think it ended well....the little thing is not whizzing around my garage anymore....no one saw it fly out so I probably will never know if it made it's way out or succumbed to fear / hunger but I'm choosing to believe it flew out.