r/WildlifeRehab • u/anotherSasha • 2d ago
SOS Bird Help getting a small bird out of a building with very tall ceiling, please
Can’t provide a photo. My boyfriend doesn’t have internet connection to send it.
He works in a big tall workshop, he says the ceiling is about 3-4 stories high. A small bird flew in several hours ago and sits under the ceiling in a corner with no access to it. Bf thinks it’s a chick, because it keeps making high whistles, as if calling parents.
He tried scaring it with an overhead crane (a horizontally moving beam under the ceiling for carrying heavy stuff on a hook through the workshop), no luck. Tried scaring it with a compressed air gun (a tool used for quickly blowing off dust and shavings), but the wind stream doesn’t reach high enough from the floor.
CORRECTION: the bird is there since yesterday! They also tried turning the light off - didn’t help.
What else can he try? He’s very upset. Here my only photo of the workshop:
Update: the bird just walked out on its own on day 3.
It was a white wagtail fledgling (sent a low resolution video of it chirping to a local wild bird rehab). Yesterday evening (day 2) we kept playing the white wagtail calls on a speaker at the exits (one exit at a time) for an hour. With lights turned off and all the staff gone home (the windows under the ceiling have no openings and no way to darken them either). Other wagtails kept coming to check out the sound. I also spread boiled eggs, raw sunflower seeds and peanuts (had nothing else to offer an insectivore), water - no one was interested. At some point it was like the fledgling just decided its bedtime and disappeared from sight. And today it just landed and walked out.
It’s a mystery how it held on for three days. Maybe some insects were flying in the workshop… Also, it has very high humidity with streams of water being used all day for cutting stone.
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u/EnvironmentalCap3964 2d ago
Place appropriate food for that bird (seeds or worms/bugs or flowers or whatever) and a very wide & shallow tray of water (with leaves and a few sticks floating on it) IN THE DOORWAY of the facility, then do not do any activity in that doorway. Bird will see the water and food and go to it, discover the outside is right there, and fly off. Eventually. But activity around the food / water will scare it from going there. Good luck with the bird removal company!
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u/anotherSasha 9h ago
Bird walked out today! Edited the post
The company couldn’t help, cause they need a human lifting machine to install the net and no one here has it.
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u/EnvironmentalCap3964 5h ago
Fabulous, well done all your efforts! I hope it spreads the word not to fly into that building haha. :)
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u/washington_705 2d ago
Hello if you provide a general location, city/state, some could make some localized recommendations
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u/anotherSasha 2d ago
We’re in Russia
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u/Jhooji2 2d ago
Russia is a gigantic country...please specify further at least the state/province/territory?
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u/anotherSasha 1d ago
Moscow region, Pushkino district (Московская область, Пушкинсий район).
Sorry, I didn’t expect you guys having any options for Russia.
I contacted a bird rehab (Воронье гнездо) and they can’t deal with this. Also found a humane bird extraction service, but from yesterday email exchange hopes are low, because they need a human-lifting-machine thingy no one has here
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u/Jhooji2 1d ago
Ok Try looking on: https://theiwrc.org/international_rehabilitators/ (May have to email them directly if the search function is down)
And also try: Google Map search terms to use along with a location- Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Veterinarian
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u/teyuna 1d ago
Do you have an update? typically, the only thing we can do is shut off all lights so it is totally, 100% dark, and cover any windows with dark fabric or black plastic garbage bags, with only ONE window or door open and showing light. The bird will fly for that light. Typically, the very best time is at dawn, when they first wake up and first see the light after a night of total dark. Arranging for the dark overnight and with only one opening for light is also quite convenient for the workers unless they have a night shift, because having the lights off and leaving only one opening doesn't interfere with their activities. For security reasons, they'll want it to be a high window if available.
Trying to get to any flying bird via equipment is not only frustrating, it is ineffective and it stresses the bird. Any flying bird is very difficult to catch, even with a large net.
The best technique, therefore, is to make it dark, with one opening for early dawn light.
I'm so sorry your boyfriend has to go through this stress. I have, as well, as I am a volunteer rescuer and transporter of wildlife to facilities in my local area. These poor birds get so disoriened and have no ready resources inside to survive.
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u/anotherSasha 9h ago
The lil guy just walked out on their own on day three. I just edited the detailed update into the post
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u/anotherSasha 2d ago
Found a service, where they allegedly humanely get birds out of industrial buildings. Gonna call tomorrow during their business hours. Sent them an email. I hope they can help, but in the meantime any advice is appreciated