A Tale of Two Birds

The building I work in has many doors, including loading bays, that are opened and closed regularly. It is not at all unusual for unwitting birds to find their way in. To make matters more confusing for the poor birds, the hall that runs along the perimeter of the building is mostly windows on one side. The kind that don’t open, but let in lots of light to draw a panicked bird’s attention.

It’s especially heartbreaking when there are two birds beak to beak, one on the outside, one stuck inside, both confused as to why they can’t reach each other.

From time to time we try to coax the trapped birds toward an actual exit when we discover them flitting about the hallway in distress. This is easier said than done. Case in point, a couple months ago I came across this guy.

We were actually fairly close to the door I’d come in, but when I tried to shoo the bird in that direction it simply wouldn’t go. Instead, it climbed into a gap between two metal plates and into the ventilation system. The next day, I could still hear it scritching around in there, but there was no way to get it out. Alas, as far as I know, its bones will still be there next time the building is renovated.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I arrived at work to find another, very similar looking bird zipping up and down the hall in a panic. This time, after multiple attempts, I managed to get it to fly in the vicinity of one of the loading doors. Things are slow this time of year, so I had time to wave a broom around like a maniac.

Unfortunately, by the time I got the door open, the bird had vanished into the maze of pipes and ducts in the ceiling. I figured this one was a goner too and went about my day. But Birdie’s days weren’t numbered yet.

A little while later, I was walking by the same area and saw the bird overhead hopping from pipe to pipe. I grabbed the broom and gently encouraged him not to hang out there anymore. In his efforts to escape me and the broom, he took flight. Thankfully heading straight for the still open bay door. Yes!

Can’t save ’em all, but you can occasionally encourage one to save itself.