electrolux137
Well-known member
~
~
This evening while we were all stretched out about the living room like beached whales, suddenly two little critters came flying in through the balcony doors.
At first, I thought they were bats (been there, done that), but then I realized they were hummingbirds. We have two regulars who are always battling for territory at the feeder on the balcony. They have become quite friendly (with us, not with each other) and brave. They will buzz and hover around the feeder even when we're standing right there, but they've never flown inside before.
Confused and disoriented, they went zooming all around the living room, banging into the walls and ceiling. I tried turning all the lights off, hoping they'd be attracted by the light outside. But they didn't seem to recognize it and just kept zooming around, their wings loudly whirring.
Then one of them zoomed into the open doorway by the hallway stairs up to our apartment. I went out there with a dust mop and chased it all around. Eventually the poor exhausted thing stopped, just clinging onto the wall. I gently covered him with the dust mop. When I pulled the mop from the wall he was nestled in the fibers. I gently carried the mop out onto the balcony. I flipped the mop over and he zoomed away as I had hoped he would.
Then I went back into the living room. The second one was much more feisty and just wouldn't stop flying around. He finally stopped and nestled himself on the narrow wooden ledge that runs around the tops of the walls. I couldn't get to him with the mop because he was behind the theremin speaker.
I got a dish cloth, climbed up on a chair, and gathered him in the cloth covering my hand. His little head peeked out but then he just froze, stunned I guess, or playing 'possum.
I went out on the balcony, unfurled the cloth, and away he went, none the worse for wear except probably scared out of his wits.
I wonder if they got so terrified and traumatized that they won't ever come back. Or maybe their tiny minds will realize that I rescued them and didn't hurt them, and will keep returning, even braver. I hope it will be the latter!
P.S. to Robert: I have a short video but can't seem to post it. I thought that was possible--
~
This evening while we were all stretched out about the living room like beached whales, suddenly two little critters came flying in through the balcony doors.
At first, I thought they were bats (been there, done that), but then I realized they were hummingbirds. We have two regulars who are always battling for territory at the feeder on the balcony. They have become quite friendly (with us, not with each other) and brave. They will buzz and hover around the feeder even when we're standing right there, but they've never flown inside before.
Confused and disoriented, they went zooming all around the living room, banging into the walls and ceiling. I tried turning all the lights off, hoping they'd be attracted by the light outside. But they didn't seem to recognize it and just kept zooming around, their wings loudly whirring.
Then one of them zoomed into the open doorway by the hallway stairs up to our apartment. I went out there with a dust mop and chased it all around. Eventually the poor exhausted thing stopped, just clinging onto the wall. I gently covered him with the dust mop. When I pulled the mop from the wall he was nestled in the fibers. I gently carried the mop out onto the balcony. I flipped the mop over and he zoomed away as I had hoped he would.
Then I went back into the living room. The second one was much more feisty and just wouldn't stop flying around. He finally stopped and nestled himself on the narrow wooden ledge that runs around the tops of the walls. I couldn't get to him with the mop because he was behind the theremin speaker.
I got a dish cloth, climbed up on a chair, and gathered him in the cloth covering my hand. His little head peeked out but then he just froze, stunned I guess, or playing 'possum.
I went out on the balcony, unfurled the cloth, and away he went, none the worse for wear except probably scared out of his wits.
I wonder if they got so terrified and traumatized that they won't ever come back. Or maybe their tiny minds will realize that I rescued them and didn't hurt them, and will keep returning, even braver. I hope it will be the latter!
P.S. to Robert: I have a short video but can't seem to post it. I thought that was possible--
