This was not the post I had originally scheduled for today but I thought this drama merited a change in the posting schedule. I was doing a bit of gardening in between working on a landscape design when I spotted a titmouse stuck in the bird feeder. Obviously the bird feeder was empty and the titmouse thought he or she could outsmart the emptiness by reaching inside-with its head. I thought to myself "Wow! A picture opportunity!" I ran and grabbed my camera and the poor thing was still stuck in the bird feeder-I thought "What luck!" But then it became clear the bird was actually stuck! Struggling as hard as it could it could not free itself from the feeder. I immediately got the boys to come and help me try to get the poor thing out. Its head was somehow jammed in between the opening and the frame holding the opening. I tried to gently push its head out and pull its body out at the same time. The little bird first bit me then squawked and he wasn't budging! How do you tell a little bird to be calm and relax and it can get itself free? It wasn't working for some strange reason:) Enter Mr. Fix-it who immediately took off one of the bars holding the feeder together and the little titmouse flew off none the worse for wear.
I have had this bird feeder for more than five years and never has a bird gotten stuck in it. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? It was a bit of drama for a little bird...
in the garden...that ended well.
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Oh my gosh!
ReplyDeleteTina ~ I am so glad the little bird was not hurt. I'm sure it was freaked out though. Your Hero saved the day.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend ~ FlowerLady
At least you saw it and called everyone into action to save the poor thing. Freak accident. Good outcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Mr. Fix It came to the rescue. It sounds very emotional. I hope it didn't bite you too hard.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this, but anything can happen. Good you were there to help it out.
No--never happened and I feed birds all the time! Way to go Mr. Fix-it!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend Tina. Lots of work ahead for me- so glad it's a long weekend.
And, a special Happy Memorial Day to you, and to your family!
Good morning all! Just wanted to wish you all a great Memorial Day weekend! The bird is probably having a good weekend. The bite, not so bad just shocking:)
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you were able to get him out. Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Carla
ReplyDeleteWow! You DID have some drama! Glad it all turned out fine. Enjoy the rest of your day :)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning All.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this before, Tina. So glad you were there to help. Sorry you got bit. Good for Mr Fix-it.
I hope all have a wonderful weekend. A special one to you & Mr Fix-it.
Hi Tina -never heard of that happening but the tufted titmouse by me ALWAYS think they can come inside the glass windows. I always laugh and think they aren't so smart to keep ramming there head into the window but seriously it must hurt. So, I did the foil thing and it worked to keep the bird from smashing his little head. They are adorable looking -so glad he was okay. Ciao
ReplyDeleteGood morning Tina, it's lucky you found the little bird in time, he wouldn't have lasted long.
ReplyDeleteI've had this happen--not often. I've seen them snag a claw on a barbed wire fence and hang there unable to get free. Sometimes they get inside a hopper style feeder and can't get out. It might be pretty hard to find a feeder that was 100% safe.
Marnie
Happy ending! Did she eat too much?
ReplyDeletePoor little thing, I've never had that happen at one of my feeders. Now my beagle got her head stuck under the shed, but that's another story involving bunnies etc... ;)
ReplyDeleteNever happened here but for some reason it reminds me of Winnie the Pooh...
ReplyDeleteSunny day and the Saint washed the truck so maybe now we will get some needed rain fall.....
ReplyDeletePoor wittle birdie. That little titmouse must have been really hungry and trying to tell you it is time to fill the feeder. lol. Mr Fixit to the rescue! I just love happy endings dont you??? We had a wren find its way into the inside of a house style feeder. I just open the roof top and out it flew.
Everyone have a great weekend. The Saint was called in today on his first day off of the 4-day weekend. Argggg….
Never heard of before but am glad you spotted it in time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everything ended up ok for the little guy. I've never had that happen. Had them get into the garage and panic and then can't get out.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were there to rescue it.
Oh thank goodness you got him out! Poor guy. I've never seen that before. It makes me think I need to get out there and either fill up my empty feeders, or take them down for the summer. I would hate to have a feeder mishap.
ReplyDeleteSince the news is good (sigh of relief), on an unrelated note, I saw this company making indoor bottle tree lighting and thought of you - thought you'd get a kick out of these fancy ones http://www.sodapopgirl.net/design/brothers-dressler-bottle-lights/
Poor little guy. I'm glad you were able to free him. I've seen birds trying to stick their heads in on an empty feeder, but never have seen one get stuck.
ReplyDeleteYay !!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy ending.
Oh my ~ drama for sure ~ and how traumatic for that poor little Titmouse. It sure was lucky you are a gardener and outside to help out. I'm glad this story had a happy ending. Funny, how we always grab for the camera no matter what's going on, isn't it? I've never seen this happen before but it's good to be aware.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for the happy outcome. Birds can and do get themselves into a pickle now and then. Like Kathleen, the first thing I thought of was, alright! she had her camera with her! Good job on all fronts.
ReplyDeleteHuh, never heard of that happening! Good for that bird that you were there.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of that before! That was some ambitious bird!!! Glad though that it was able to get out ok.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the little guy will spread the bird message..."Don't stick your head in those holes!" : )
ReplyDeletePoor little bird. I'm glad it was not hurt.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the little bird survived!
ReplyDeleteA belated Happy Memorial Day to you, Tina, and a big thank you to you and your family for all your service to our country. Without people like you who have made the sacrifices you have, I wouldn't be sitting here at my computer free to write whatever I want.
That bird must have been a teenage male, lol. Glad you were able to get it unstuck--who would have thought that could even happen?!
ReplyDeleteI found a dead bird with it s head stuck in the bird feeder this morning when I went to fill it. I am bereft.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm trying to put together an article about different types of feeders that seem to trap birds. I would like to use your photos with credit given. Can you email me at waterfowlrescue@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI just spent a half-hour carefully extracting a house finch out of my Droll Yankee sunflower tube feeder -- its head was stuck from attempting to get seed lower than the perch he was on. I noticed its labored breathing as I was watching the birds from my window -- the poor thing had flapped itself bloody trying to get out. I placed him on the ground momentarily to get the feeder out of the way, and he ran into my arborvitae hedge where I can no longer find him. I don't think it's possible that he'll recover from his injuries, but I sadly missed my opportunity to get him help. This is the first time in 10 years that I've seen this in any of my feeders... we top them off daily, but they often empty completely before I come home from work.
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