As the summer heats up and babies fledge, we wanted to send over this reminder to watch out for hummingbirds that can get trapped in your garage or shed when you leave the door open.
The following was posted to the VA-Bird Listserv and provides a good reminder of how these little birds can get into trouble fast:
Yesterday I went into our shed and heard a funny buzzy noise between the window and indoor shutter. I opened the shudder to find a female hummingbird cowering on the sill. I picked her up and released her outside. We’ve had wrens and phoebes indoors before and even a Magnolia Warbler (twice). This was my first hummer. Must remember to keep the door closed from now on. John Spahr
If you find a hummingbird trapped in your garage or shed, and it is very weak, call the Wildlife Rescue League at 703-440-0800. In some cases, you can offer it some hummingbird nectar (1/4 cup white sugar dissolved in 1 cup warm water) but in other cases it may need to be treated for dehydration and a rehabber will be your best bet. The Wildlife Rescue League will call you back with instructions.