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. 😊
ReplyDeleteMy heart is always in my mouth (isn't that an odd expression?) if a bird is trapped in the house. Fortunately it hasn't happened in ages. I'm so glad your little one made its escape.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising really that it doesn't happen more frequently.
DeleteIt's always nice to see pictures of great tits.
ReplyDeleteAnd well done to Barry for guiding the bird to freedom.
😕😊
DeleteJayCee asked what I was going to ask, so I have my answer already.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds, and all that!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's how the blue tit wound up in our bedroom a couple of weeks ago! I assumed it flew in a window, but I didn't even think about the possibility of it coming down the chimney.
ReplyDeleteHappy it ended well. You have beautiful birds in your area of the world
ReplyDeleteGood job you didnt have a fire going.
ReplyDeleteI've had a couple of birds get caught in the garage. It takes way more than a few minutes to get them out, so props to Barry.
ReplyDeleteCarolina Wrens roost on our front porch in fall and winter and recently my husband opened the front door at night to pick up a delivery and one of the birds flew into the house. We were unable to remove it that night but on opening all the outside doors the next morning the little invader escaped. It has happened before and it is always distressing because, of course, we have cats so our house is dangerous territory for a free-flying bird. We've always managed to rescue them but not without great difficulty and angst. I've now made a rule that that front door cannot be opened at night during these seasons. If a door to the front needs to be opened there is the garage door that can be used.
ReplyDeleteOh so happy you found it.
ReplyDeleteYay on the Great Tit rescue! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe have had this very same thing happen Janice ... but with us it was not a cat that alerted us but the bird tapping so loudly on the glass door,. We have had a sort of wire mesh fitted over the flue on the roof to stop this happening as it was getting so frequent.
ReplyDeleteWe used to get birds nesting in chimneys so had to have them all checked before first winter fire each year. Good thing Herschel was on the job. Lucky Great Tit.
ReplyDelete