Thursday, July 30, 2009

My Little Racketeer: How To Get A Hummer...

...OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, WITHOUT EVEN TRYING (A SHORT PRIMER)

YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION MAD AS A HATTER. NOW THERE'S MADDER THAN A HUMMER

THIS LITTLE HUMMINGBIRD flew into the place I'm staying this afternoon through an open door. I was calling all 30 Congressmen on my scroll below and suddenly I heard this wild racket buzz the room. Then it got quiet again. When I got off the phone, I looked around to see what was going on, but didn't see anything. All was quiet. So I went back to dialing. Then the racket commenced again. Buzzing, screeching, batting up against the window. I hung up the phone, got up, finally spotting the little bird above that had flown inside and was madly trying to get out through the glass.

After tiring of its efforts, it would stop, sit on the sill and rest for a few seconds before going at the glass again. This kind of thing used to frighten me, cause I was afraid I might hurt or kill it while trying to help it escape. Not anymore. I've learned from several experiences back in Nashville that when a little hummer gets in your house, a broom is your very best friend.

Don't know what it is about straw, but when I get a broom and gently put it nearby, it calms down, hops on (sometimes with a little coaxing), and sits there quietly. At this point, you slowly walk the the bird on the broom outside, flick the end and watch it fly away. Have even seen a little hummingbird sit on the broom straw till I shook it off. That sure wasn't the case today. As soon as I got the hummingbird on the straw and the broom outside, it quickly buzzed away into the wild blue yonder.

After this interlude, I then went back to calling Congress. Let's see 202 225----. I'll be doing it in my sleep.

4 comments:

Tregonsee said...

Found a large wild turkey in my carport pecking away at his reflection in the side door. A broom is also a good friend, though with somewhat more energetic application.

Webutante said...

I'm sure a more energetic approach was necessary...perhaps he'll return around Thanksgiving?

fraydna52 said...

In our case, it was a tall (6'1") future son-in-law who held up an index finger overhead and patiently waited for the little guy to land there and then took him ever so slowly outside.

We also had a small bat in our garage at one point and a very feisty house wren that nested in a sleeping bag. Seems we're constantly setting boundaries for Mother Nature!

Webutante said...

It IS amazing both how fierce and yet docile these little creatures can be, isn't it. Great story, fraydna!