How To Safely Help A Hummingbird That's Stuck In Your Garage
Occasionally, hummingbirds will enter a garage and become confused about how to leave, even if the large door is wide open. This can quickly become dangerous for the birds, as they typically require food every 15 minutes. Because of the animals' high heart rates and constant movement, getting trapped in a garage could mean starvation for your small, feathered friend. If you find a panicking visitor in your garage, try luring it outside with food and opening all doors and windows that lead outside. This may not always work, and you might have to use a long-handled tool, such as a broom or a rake, to help.
As the bird struggles to find a way back outdoors, it will likely fly upwards, not understanding that it is in a covered structure. In a short period, the hummingbird could overexert itself, making it crucial to act quickly. When dealing with a stressed hummer, make sure that dogs, cats, and children are safely inside the house, as they might spook the bird and make it more difficult to remove from your garage. Since hummingbirds are attracted to vibrant colors, such as orange and red, moving or covering objects with these colors could help make it easier for the bird to navigate its way out of your garage.
Helping a hummingbird out of your garage
The first thing you should do when you discover a lost bird in your garage is to make sure every exit is open and accessible. This will give your feathered friend more opportunities to make its way out on its own, but it could still be confused. If you have a hummingbird feeder hanging outside, place it on the edge of the open garage door instead. This could lure the scared animal near the door for a quick drink, where it will hopefully notice the opening. For those without a feeder nearby, combine four parts of water and one part of sugar and pour it into shallow bowls. These can then be placed near your garages' exits to encourage the bird and help it regain strength.
Some hummingbirds may continue to attempt to fly upwards even after food has been offered. In these cases, try extending a broom, rake, or any other long-handled object toward the visitor. Do this extremely carefully, as you don't want to frighten or injure the creature. Hopefully, the bird will perch on the edge of the item, and you can slowly carry it outside. Even after taking your feathered friend outside, it may be too tired to fly off right away, so give the hummingbird a minute to rest, offer it a drink, and make sure to close the garage door so it doesn't end up back inside.
Why hummingbirds get stuck in garages
When these small birds end up trapped in garages, it is usually because they were drawn to something inside. In other words, the red release handle of your garage or other brightly colored objects, such as paint cans and toys, could be mistaken for a sweet treat. These birds are also attracted to flowers, so if you have plants or a feeder near your garage, it's important not to leave your garage door open, as your visitors could end up in a sticky situation.
To prevent hummingbirds from entering the garage, try hiding the red release handle when the door is open or painting it a different, dull color, such as brown or gray. If you have any orange or red equipment stored in the space, try laying a sheet over it or, if it's small enough, put it in a cabinet. While finding a hummingbird in your garage is not an everyday occurrence, helping the bird escape will save its life. For birds that seem sick, injured, or won't leave the area, you may need to call a wildlife rehabilitation center to help relocate the animal.