How to Get Hummingbird Out of Garage: Safe & Simple Steps

Learn the effective steps to safely guide a trapped hummingbird out of your garage and prevent future occurrences.

Understand Hummingbird Behavior

Hummingbirds are naturally curious creatures drawn to bright colors and sweet scents, mistaking them for food sources. Quick to venture into new territories, they might find themselves trapped indoors. Unlike other birds, they don’t always understand transparent barriers such as windows and may not easily find their way back out.

Orientation for these birds involves a strong memory for spatial mapping, which is more attuned to navigating natural landscapes than enclosed spaces. Their high metabolism requires frequent feeding, creating a sense of urgency to escape confinement and find nourishment. Recognizing these behaviors is key in guiding a hummingbird out effectively while ensuring minimal stress for the bird.

Open All Possible Exits

Ensure that all doors, including the main garage door and any side entries, are wide open. If windows are present and safely accessible, open these as well. Eliminate barriers that could prevent the hummingbird from noticing these escape routes. Remember, the goal is to create obvious and unobstructed paths leading outside. It’s important to consider the bird’s flight pattern and line of sight; therefore, assess the garage layout from a bird’s perspective and adjust accordingly. If there are screens or nettings, remove them temporarily to provide a clear way out. It’s also helpful to shut off any fans or moving equipment that could hinder the hummingbird’s flight to freedom. Keep in mind that patience is key; once all avenues of escape are wide open, it may take a little time for the bird to orient itself before it finds its way out.

Minimize Reflections and Artificial Light

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors and can mistake reflections for open space or flowers. To avoid confusing a trapped hummingbird, reduce glare by covering windows and mirrors with cloth or cardboard. Turn off lights inside the garage, especially those that emit a blue or ultraviolet light spectrum, which hummingbirds are drawn to. Natural light is less disorienting for them, so try to rely on it as much as possible. If the hummingbird is active during evening hours, consider using a red light bulb as it’s less attractive to them and can make the outside light more appealing, guiding them towards the exit. Remember to move calmly and deliberately while making these adjustments to prevent further startling the bird.

Create a Clear Exit Path

Ensuring the hummingbird locates the exit is the next critical step. Remove any obstacles that could hinder the bird’s flight path toward the opening. This means relocating vehicles, tools, and equipment to create a wide, unobstructed route. Park cars outside and clear the garage floor for the time being.

Switch off interior lights to avoid confusing the hummingbird. Instead, use natural light to your advantage. During daylight hours, the bird will instinctively move towards the brightest point, which should be the open door or window.

Temporal cues play a role too. Aim to perform this rescue during the day when hummingbirds are most active and able to see clearly. At dusk, their vision diminishes, and they are less likely to find their way out.

If the garage has multiple windows or doors, consider only opening the ones leading directly outside, as opposed to those opening to another room, to avoid the hummingbird flying further into your home.

Finally, keep foot traffic to a minimum to reduce stress for the bird. A calm environment increases the chances of a successful exit without further distress.

Prevent Future Incidents

To discourage hummingbirds from re-entering your garage, consider these preventative measures:

• Install screens on doors and windows to allow airflow without entry for small birds.
• Avoid hanging red or bright-colored feeders too close to the garage as they attract hummingbirds.
• Place decals or frosted window film on garage windows to prevent birds from seeing through or being confused by reflections.
• Keep the garage door closed when not in use, especially during the day when hummingbirds are most active.
• Plant native, hummingbird-attractive flowers at a distance from the garage to redirect their flight path.
• Use motion-sensitive lighting for the exterior rather than leaving lights on continuously, which can draw hummingbirds toward the garage at dusk.