Got a Bird Stuck in a Garage? Help Get It Flying to Freedom

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Has a trapped bird in your garage got you in a flap? Then take a look at the tips in this article that will help you set it free.

To free a bird stuck in your garage do the following:

  • Open the windows and doors
  • Turn off the lights, close the windows, and leave the door open
  • Darken the garage and leave bright objects in a trail toward the door
  • Put food and water by the exit
  • Install a fake owl
  • Darken the garage then catch the bird

Getting a bird out of a garage will take a generous helping of patience and some innovative ideas. In this article, you’ll find the instructions you need. They will help you have success with the methods listed above. Make sure you check them out!

Got a Bird Stuck in a Garage? Help It Fly to Freedom

How long will it take for you to get a bird out of the garage? – Well, how long is a piece of string?

Does the bird that’s stuck in your garage seem to be oblivious to the door you’ve left wide open all afternoon? Does all the shooing you’ve been doing seem to entertain the bird and make it stick around longer rather than startle and entice it to leave?

Getting a bird out of the garage may not be as easy a task as you had originally imagined. But before you pick up the phone to call animal patrol, try some of the following methods.

Open the Windows and Doors

Although it may not look like it, the bird that’s stuck in your garage is probably keen to leave. Imagine, it’s swapped its beautiful natural habit to be caught up in a poorly lit garage. It’s stuck between the rake and a lawnmower instead of flittering between hedges and trees.

So what’s putting it off leaving? Most birds are frightened by humans. Have you been dancing around, shooing, and trying to coax the bird out of the garage for the better part of the day? Then by now, the poor bird is no doubt literally scared stiff.

So what can you do to make it leave? Try the following:

  1. Open up all the garage windows and doors.
  2. Leave the garage. Your presence may be intimidating to the bird. Some space may be all the bird needs to fly out of the garage peacefully and on its own terms.
opening garage door
If there’s a bird stuck in your garage, open the door!

Turn off the Lights

Except for owls, night herons, and night hawks, most birds are diurnal. Like us, they sleep during the night and are most active during the day. Creating a night environment for a bird might be a useful trick for you to free a bird from your garage.

Here’s the handy method:

  1. Turn the lights off in the garage. Cover over the windows or anywhere light gets in.
  2. Leave the bird for 30 minutes.
  3. After 30 minutes, slowly open the garage door or a large door. The introduction of light should attract the bird and encourage it to leave.

Use Bright Objects

Has the bird stuck in your garage failed to respond to the first two methods? Then one of the following things must be true:

  • You have a super stubborn bird in the garage.
  • Your garage is really plush. You should count your lucky stars that it’s only a bird that’s fighting to live there rent-free.

Either way, the bird has got to skedaddle. So, here is another gentle method that should encourage the bird to make a move:

  1. Leave one of the garage doors open. Close the other exits.
  2. Leave a trail of brightly colored objects from the bird to the exit. Birds like bright objects. If the bird has entered your garage in search of a nesting spot, the trail could lure it back outside.
  3. Leave the garage. If the bird is frightened, the sight of you hovering around the garage might scare it from moving.

Leave Food and Water

The bird may have entered your garage in search of food and water. What’s one way to get it to leave? Giving the bird what it came for! Here’s how:

  1. Leave one of the garage doors open. Close the other exits.
  2. Put some birdseed in a shallow trough. Place the trough strategically in front of the open door inside the garage. Do the same with some water in a shallow dish.
  3. Leave the garage.

Install a Fake Owl

A fake owl decoy is a great way of getting a bird out of a garage. Most birds view owls as a predator, so they try to do all they can to get away from the decoy. Here’s what you can do to put the decoy into place.

  1. Leave one of the garage doors open. Close the other exits.
  2. Set up the decoy somewhere in the eye-line of the bird.
  3. Leave the garage. The bird should soon fly out of the garage once it gets sight of the fake owl decoy.
Owl decoy
Fake owl decoys are effective in preventing birds from finding their way inside your garage!

Catch the Bird

Have you tried all the methods mentioned in this article but the bird still won’t budge? Then your only option may be to catch the bird and then set it free.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Catch a bird? Wouldn’t it just be easier to let the bird take over the garage and build a new one? Before you throw in the towel, take a look at the steps below. They will show you one of the best methods for catching a trapped bird.

  1. Turn the lights off in the garage. Cover over the windows to make the garage as dark as possible.
  2. Wait an hour. Birds relax and sleep at night. So the dark atmosphere should cause the bird to find a relaxing place to take cover.
  3. After an hour, slowly enter the garage and find where the bird has nestled.
  4. Trap the bird in a basket or a towel and take it outdoors.

How Long Will a Trapped Bird Live?

Is there a bird trapped somewhere around the vicinity of your home? Birds often get themselves caught up in awkward places such as:

  • In a chimney or fireplace
  • In the attic
  • Between a wall

When a bird is stuck in a tight spot, it may take a while for you to be able to reach it and help. So there arises the question, how long will a trapped bird live?

Without water, a trapped bird will start to feel weak anywhere between 1 to 20 hours after getting stuck. Without access to food, a trapped bird will only live between 1 to 3 days.

So, if you suspect a bird is trapped in a hard-to-reach area of the house, you should try to save it immediately. Call a professional if the bird has gotten stuck in an area that you will not be able to free him from on your own.

How to Prevent Birds From Entering the Garage

It is far easier for you to prevent a bird from entering the garage than it is to remove one. So, here are a few things that you can do to stop birds from trying to make a home out of your garage:

  • Do not store birdseed or food in the garage. Birds often end up in garages in search of food. Don’t give them anything that will lure them!
  • Keep the windows and door closed. Do you repeatedly have problems with birds entering your garage? Then as far as possible, keep the garage doors and windows closed. As an alternative, install bird nets over the windows. By placing netting, you will be able to leave the windows open without fear that a bird will come in.
  • Remove birds from the garage as soon as they enter. If you give the bird enough time it will begin to make a nest in the garage. Once unwanted birds start nesting, it will be really tricky for you to remove them.
Closed garage door
Keep your garage door closed to keep birds from entering.

Conclusion

Birds are messy animals, so having one trapped in your garage is not ideal. Most garages have plenty of hiding spaces. These could make it seem somewhat impossible for you to free the bird. I hope this article has shown you an effective method for you to free the bird without harming it.

If this article has helped you, then why not check out some of our other articles and free guides? You could even sign up for our email list!

Have a great day!

-Craig

I've been helping homeowners with appliance repair since 2016. Starting out as an enthusiastic amateur, I've since worked with many Appliance, HVAC, and DIY experts over the last 7+ years. My mission is to help fix your appliances and prevent future issues - saving you stress, time, and money. Visit my author page to learn more! Read more
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