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+--- Thread: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch (/showthread.php?tid=103264)
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Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - DaviDC. - 09-13-2010
Before sunset I noticed a hummingbird buzzing around the rafters on the back porch. It wont leave. I brought a feeder in for it & hung it fairly high but haven't seen it feed. It's gotta be tired because it rarely ever lites.
Its presence is driving 2 of my cats crazy, especially Mac, who feels obliged to go after any & everything that flies.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - fromish - 09-13-2010
We get unwilling captive hummingbirds regularly. The best approach we have found is to capture and free them is to use a large collander or strainer to enclose and trap the bird against a flat surface. Then slide a large piece of cardboard under the strainer (the cardboard must be larger than the strainer.) Now you can take the bird outside and free the creature.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - Jimmypoo - 09-13-2010
Just be careful - because their venom can paralyze you in just a few minutes.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - DaviDC. - 09-13-2010
It pooped all over my freshly painted cabinet doors; fortunately there's not much to hummingbird poop.
I considered getting after it with the Shop-Vac, then dumping it outside, but decided against that approach.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - GeneL - 09-13-2010
First, PLEASE isolate your cats from the area where the bird is trapped.
Is the porch where it's trapped enclosed? If not, it will get out on its own in the morning. It won't be any worse for the wear if it's left alone and it's dark overnight.
If the porch is enclosed. you may have to wait until it gets tired and settles somewhere in the porch area.
When it does, you will be able to trap it with your bare hand. They're as light as a feather, so just be gentle.
I had a similar experience when a hummingbird got trapped in my next door neighbor's condo. She has five cats! Anyway, I thought it would be better to use a towel to trap it, but actually the towel made it harder. It was so tiny that I couldn't tell that I had caught it at first.
Since then, I saw a video of a similar situation and the little bird was caught barehanded. Definitely, the way to go. There's nothing to fear about handling a hummingbird, as long as you are very gentle.
It may take a few tries, but you should be able to do this and once you trap it in your hand, it's easy as pie to just release it outside.
It won't stick around to thank you, but you'll feel good about successfully handling the situation.
Please post how things turn out.
GeneL
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - DaviDC. - 09-13-2010
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
She was on the feeder when I went out to check on her, so I know she's not going to starve from all of the flying.
I'm not a tall person & she's always out of reach, so she'll have to stay inside until tomorrow.
She's dislodged lots of cobwebs for me!
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - DaviDC. - 09-13-2010
The hummingbird is free! I turned the light off & she settled down on the clothesline. I grabbed her, took her her outside, & she flew away.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - voodoopenguin - 09-13-2010
I do like happy endings.
Paul
Holy Moly! - RAMd®d - 09-13-2010
That's a terrific pic!
I was in a warehouse awhile back and found a hummingbird on the floor, trapped in cobwebs, flapping around on the floor. It probably fell from the rafters.
I pulled the 'webs off as gently as I could but it couldn't fly. After a bit, it sat on try ground wit one wing extended and the other partially retracted. I put it in a tray on tissue paper hoping it just needed some rest.
But it didn't survive.
Re: Hummingbird trapped on my back porch - DP - 09-13-2010
I wish we had more around or maybe I just don't see them... We have plenty of plants to attract them but I've only seen two this year and both times it was just for a moment. I think it's interesting we see them more often at our cottage in northern lower MI. If the plants don't attract them, would a feeder do any better?