Suddenly there came a tapping
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door'
Lines from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, ‘The Raven.'
It is commonplace for one or other of the cats to sit in front of a wood burner, though usually only when it’s alight. We were concerned to discover that Herschel had taken up position by the conservatory fire a few days ago and wondered if he was feeling quite well. There was no fire in the grate and no apparent need for him to be there.
He hopped over the fire guard with no problem when we called him, so it was clear there was nothing wrong with him. His attention was still focused on the fire, however, and soon we heard the tapping that must have alerted him.
Great tit (Parus major)
Behind the door, which looks like glass but is actually ceramic, a little bird was desperately pecking in an attempt to escape. We made sure the conservatory door to the kitchen was shut and opened the doors and windows to the garden. When we opened the fire door a rather dusty great tit flew out in panic. Birds always seem to fly up when trying to escape and this little chap flew up to the cross bar and sat, beak agape, to gather his senses.
After several minutes, Barry wielded a large net to guide the little bird towards one of the windows, and he exited to sit among the leaves of a low-growing shrub.
Birds searching for insects seek under the chimney cowl and sometimes find themselves unable to find their way out. It happens rarely. We had a blue tit in the fireplace many years ago which made its exit safely into the world again.
We now check the fire regularly to ensure there are no prisoners trapped in it.
Why don't you have a respectable brick chimbly rather than a quite common looking cowl?
ReplyDeleteIt goes up through the conservatory (glass) roof and the outside of the house.
DeleteSo glad you were able to guide the little bird back to the outdoors.
ReplyDeleteIt's a relief when that is achieved.
DeleteWell done on getting this lovely little bird outside . . . not always an easy task.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
We were relieved when it finally escaped.
DeleteGood job your cat alerted you to it, and you managed to free the little prisoner! Depending on how long it's been in there, I guess it must have been not only dusty but also hungry and thirsty.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it can have been in there for many hours or Herschel would not have wished to abandon his post!
DeleteA timely rescue.
ReplyDeletePS: is there any way to put wire mesh around the cowl's gap so that they can't get in?
DeleteWe shall have to think about it. There have only been three birds trapped in there in about 18 years, so it's not a huge worry.
DeleteAlls well that ends well, I get panicked if a bird gets stuck anywhere indoors, an irrational fear I realise, much worse for the bird!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
They flutter and flap so.
DeleteThat was a lucky escape for the blue tit.
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteThat happened to us once in the distant past — in a regular fireplace but an old fashioned one that had a cast iron door, so the creature was trapped behind.
ReplyDeleteI know birds sometimes fly or fall down normal chimneys - it must be terrifying for them.
DeleteThank you Herschel for alerting the humans to this bird! We know it was happy for the escape route provided.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed okay when it finally went outside.
DeleteGood on y'all for rescuing the bird and good on Herschel for pointing him or her out!
ReplyDeleteHe's a good cat! 🐈
DeleteBecause of birds falling down chimneys, our entire development has chimneys with baffles to prevent them, and squirrels, from getting in. In the past I've had to deal with a frightened bird unable to find a completely open door, because as you say they instinctively fly above it.
ReplyDeleteBees similarly can never find the way out once they've flown in through an open window.
DeleteThank goodness Herschel alerted you to the trapped bird, and how lovely that you managed to get it safely back outside.
ReplyDeleteIt made us happy. 😊
ReplyDelete