# Bird trapped in garage Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684 "2006-01-06T02:06:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/1 "2006-01-06T02:06:32Z")
So I was working in my garage tonight. Since I was going in and out through the side (person) door, I left it open. After several trips in and out I noticed that I have a tweet bird (basic brown wild bird that goes tweet) flying around the inside of my garage. :smack: So now it is dark, and all the bird wants to do is fly around the rafters and the florcesent lights. He does seem to want to come down low enough to get out the door. The large door is blocked, and is not openable. I have placed a large [quartz halogen work light](http://www.elights.com/10wattowworl.html) off to the side of the door, one head pointing along the wall, and the other lighting up the ground around the door. I am hoping that bird brain will see that and fly outside, but so far no joy. Dopers, does anybody have any other ideas? Other than get a shotgun, of course (I don’t want to deal with roof leaks) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/2 "2006-01-06T02:10:09Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So now it is dark, and all the bird wants to do is fly around the rafters and the florcesent lights. He does seem to want to come down low enough to get out the door. The large door is blocked, and is not openable Try turning the fluorescents OFF. Then the only light is outside and the bird can find his way out! ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/3 "2006-01-06T02:12:19Z")
I’ve had birds come indoors before, and the most expedient method for returning them to the outdoors, in my experience, has been to throw a bath towel over the bird to catch it, and then release it outside. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/4 "2006-01-06T02:15:23Z")
> [@Ringo](#): > > I’ve had birds come indoors before, and the most expedient method for returning them to the outdoors, in my experience, has been to throw a bath towel over the bird to catch it, and then release it outside. > > Good luck! I’ll try turning off the interior lights off. The problem with the blanket is A) getting where you could get said blanket over bird (garage is full of shit) B) getting said blanket up to where the bird is. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/5 "2006-01-06T02:27:04Z")
I’ve seen a TV documetary on just this kind of thing. You need: - A giant slingshot - A pair of rocket-powered rollerskates - Helmet and goggles (safety first!) - A large net - Some bird seed - Make up a “Free Bird Seed Here!!!” sign I think you can figure out the rest. If not, I can draw up a really complicated diagram on a chalkboard for you. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/6 "2006-01-06T02:32:31Z")
Thanks **QED** by the bird is gone. For future reference here is the procedure 1. Place large light off to the side of door. 2. Make sure ground outside door is bightly illuminated 3. Come inside and post problem on SDMB 4. Wait around a couple of minutes for the first two answers 5. Read and reply to those posts 6. Go outside to try turning off the interior lights 7. Discover that the bird has flown the coop. I think it is obvious that steps 3, 4 and 5 are the critical ones in this procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/7 "2006-01-06T02:37:03Z")
Heh. Glad your problem solved itself. It probably _was_ your presence there that kept it up near the ceiling. Once you left, the bird sensed the “threat” was gone and took off. Either that, or he read my post and figured he better get the hell outta there. ---
**Author:** ![sharkattack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@sharkattack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharkattack)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/8 "2006-01-06T02:38:24Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Dopers, does anybody have any other ideas? Seriously? If you don’t care about saving the bird then: 1. Tennis racket or 2. Put a cat in there, and turn off the lights. If you want to save it: Open the door and walk away for 1/2 a day…he’ll find his way out. ---
**Author:** ![sharkattack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@sharkattack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharkattack)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/9 "2006-01-06T02:41:44Z")
Sorry for the late post…we must have been writing at the same time. Ya…birds almost always find their way out if they arent spooked. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-trapped-in-garage-help/338684/10 "2006-01-06T02:57:23Z")
A bird trapped inside a room will usually try to fly toward the brightest and/or highest source of light, so that the best bet is almost always to turn off any ceiling lights and provide a well-lighted route of escape. It can be a real problem if a bird is trapped inside in daylight and the main source of light is a high skylight that cannot be opened - it can be very difficult to lure or chase the bird to another area.