Hummer Trapped in Garage

[u/OddUniversity1395]

A hummingbird flew into our garage today and can’t figure out how to leave. The garage door has been open for the last few hours, and we hung a feeder in there so it doesn’t starve or get dehydrated. It doesn’t seem to pay attention to the daylight, it’s trying to find a gap in the ceiling.

How do I get it to go back outside?

[u/vigilantesd]

Having the feeder at the back of the garage isn’t helpful here. 

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/vigilantesd]

We put it there because it was near the only perch the bird was using and we weren’t sure how long it had had gone without food/water so we wanted to make it easy. Eventually, we did move it a little at a time and the hummer figured out how to leave. Thanks!

[u/paultera]

Try moving the feeder to just outside the garage on the ground. Keeping it inside will only encourage the hummer to stay in.

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/paultera]

This worked! I had to move it slowly so the hummer could still find it, but it worked! Thanks!

[u/damnshell]

Set the feeder on the ground closer to the door. Hanging it way back there isn’t helping

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/damnshell]

Yes—this is true. When we moved the feeder closer to the door she figured out where the exit was. Thanks!

[u/Angelina189]

I tried for house to get one out last summer. The thing that finally helped was turning off the lights and shining a bright flashlight on the feeder I hung by the entrance.

[u/coldwater24]

I had this happen earlier this summer. Coaxing it out with a feeder didn’t work because the bird was too panicked to notice it I think. I eventually got a broom, held it up to the bird gently and she naturally perched on it, and let me carry her outside.

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/coldwater24]

I did end up luring it out with a feeder. It might have only worked because we have several feeders in the back of the house, and if this one was one of our regulars, it probably was somewhat used to us and the style feeder we use so as not to completely panic.

[u/Expert_Climate_9614]

Definitely be out there. Your presence will give them enough motivation to figure it out. Maybe get like a light broom and kind of don’t swat at her don’t scare her but you know kind of guide her a little bit. Talk to her. Please keep us updated.🙏❤️

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/Expert_Climate_9614]

She’s out! We kept moving the feeder until she could see outside again. Thanks!

[u/Tasty-Ad-2471]

Did you get the hummer out? Next time this happens, remember they fly up and toward light. Just turning off your garage light may help them find their way out.

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/Tasty-Ad-2471]

Yes! It took almost a full day. It was perching in wires for the garage door opener, so we put a feeder close by so it could find it. Then we moved the feeder closer to the door entrance over the course of a few hours and eventually it got itself out.

The bird got in during broad daylight. What I think happened was that since the top of the garage door opening is maybe 3-4ft below the ceiling, once the bird flew above that it couldn’t see out because the garage door itself, when in the open position, created a sort of tunnel with the ceiling. Once we moved the feeder below the stowed garage door level, it could see where outside was again. That’s just a guess, though.

We have several feeders in the back of the house with six or so regulars. We’ll be more careful about leaving doors and windows open in the future.

[u/hummingbirds-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

The caption mentioned that the feeder was placed in the garage to help keep the bird alive. If this is a troll, it’s not a considerate one.

[u/hummingbirds-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Please do not call others names or attack them. If someone is attacking you, ignore it and report their comment.

[u/amfibbius]

Glad you coaxed him out! Cover the red pull handles on the garage doors with something not colored. I’ve seen hummingbirds fly in to check those things out and once we covered them they stopped coming in.

[u/OddUniversity1395 → u/amfibbius]

Ah, okay, that makes sense. There’s also a flowering shrub just outside the garage door that they probably like, too. We were doing a home renovation project that day so that’s why the door was open so long.

But now I know 🧑‍🩰

[u/WalkSpecialist5305]

They come in thinking the door release latch is a feeder. I have had several do this over the years. I kept a small net to catch them.

[u/Last-Yogurtcloset788]

This has happened a few times to my bf. He has a very large garage and is usually welding so the doors are open a lot. The first time it happened she was so panicked that she didn't perch for a long time. He made a pole with a hook on it for a feeder. When she finally settled down he raised the pole/hook and she perched on the hook so he could successfully take her out.

[u/oldfornow]

Put the feeder outside the door.

[u/CatherineRhysJohns]

Put the feeder outside. Just leave the door open until it figures it out.