A baby sparrow. Now I just made fun of my daughter for being afraid of costumed characters, and I will now make fun of myself for being TERRIFIED of the baby bird that somehow crept into my house. It found it's way over to an alcove by our fireplace and was just sitting there chirping and trying to get out the window. I instantly ran through the house and closed every door just in case it tried to fly into one of the rooms. Then I barricaded my girls in the laundry room and went back with the broom to try and help it out. LUCKILY it was a baby bird and could not yet fly, or I would have had a heart attack, but it was dodging all of my attempts to scoot it out with the broom. It was totally squawking as I tried to scoot it out, and every time it got close to the broom my whole body was covered with goosebumps. It was all of a few ounces big and freaking me out!!!
I called my friend, whose last name, coincidentally, is Bird and asked her what to do. She said I could try and pick it up with work gloves (NEVER), put a bucket on it and slide cardboard underneath and carry it outside (ONLY AS A LAST CASE SCENARIO), or wait for her to finish lunch and come over and get it out. Which option did I choose?
So after locking myself in L's room with my girls we waited 20 minutes for my wonderful, helpful, kind, generous, and brave friend to come over and save us. She got the pool net and a little wooden spoon and helped the bird exit the premises. The little thing seemed to be fine and hopped along its way, but as I write this hours later, I think I'm still recovering.
Poetic justice. I guess that's what I get for making fun of my daughter's fear- the chance to face one of my own.
14 comments:
It is so irrational, but I share you fear of the little creatures. A large starling got into my bedroom last year, but Ryan was here to get it out, with Lindsey's help while I cowered in the corner. I don't know what I would have done had I been here alone. Two starlings came in through the fireplace flu 2 years ago while we were in Az. for the winter and stayed until they starved to death. Can you imagine how long THAT would have taken? Me neither. Coming home to THAT mess was one of the low points in my life.
I'm pretty sure I would do the same thing you did! I remember one time in high school my friend had a bird in a wreath that was hanging on the door and when I came over and went inside, it flew in with me. We were so freaked out! I don't remember what we did, her dad probably got it out, but if I was alone, I'd be scared too.
Jordan,
I had to laugh because the same thing happened to us while we were living in Virginia. Isaac was the one that wasn't scared and wanted to get the bird. Finally with my heart racing I used a broom to shoe it out the door and this bird could fly ahhh!!!! So do i find your fear irrational, no, because I went crazy when the bird fly in our house. It is a funny story!
Ha ha ha! Jordan, I'm sorry to laugh at your trauma, but that is so funny! Funny because I would also be petrified of the poor little bird! Thank heavens it couldn't fly! And you have an incredible friend that would come over and rescue you, seriously what a nice girl!
Small creatures are very unnerving, to say the least. I have a total fear of snakes (all types) and mice. We have had the bad experience of having a feral cat in our basement apartment years ago, and our brave neighbor got it out of there for us. We also had a bird fly into one of our bedrooms in the same house, and that also was terrible. We feel your fear, and it is neither irrational nor inappropriate. Small creatures belong in small creature land, not in our homes.
I've been there too... but with a bat! It flew into my parents house one night when I lived in Scotland. My poor Dad, who is terrified of all things that fly, got left to "be the man" and get it out of there. The joys of being the parent!
Did you have a bad experience with a bird at one time? At least you were able to get it out of the house eventually! Good luck with that in the future..just remember, its more afraid of you then you are of it.:)
I am so glad to know I am not alone in being afraid of birds indoors. J just couldn't understand my fear so it's good to know that others feel the same. Everyone has had worse bird (and bat...yuck Trish!) experiences than me too so I'm not feeling too bad anymore.
Very funny to me! Way to go "your friend" (not sure if your not wanting to say her name). I love that her last name is Bird! That's my favorite part of the story! If you ever have trouble with a fish, you'll have to call Nichole!
ok- i have a bird story too. when carol and i were in high school, mom and dad left us alone for a nite while they were out of town. we slept in their bedroom together. saturday morning when we woke up, we could hear some strange noise coming from the family room. we were freaked imagining it was a burgler. so we (i'm sure it was me alone) crept out into the family room to discover a bird had come down the chimney and was flapping around in the glass fireplace. we called dave smith to come and get it, and when he opened the door of the fireplace to try to reach in and grab it, it of course escaped his grasp and started flying around the family room. i'm sure both carol and i were hoarse for days (and dave suffered from hearing loss) from all the screaming that went on. good times!
That is such a great story Jordan! I'm sorry it was so scary. It would totally make my heart stop. Birds are so great and beautiful outside, but when a wild bird or other creature comes into your home, they are no longer so cute and amazing. I'm glad you got it out. Thank goodness for friends!!!
You crack me up! And horay for the "Bird" lady! I must say birds that fly drive me crazy when inside households but now that we know "bird" will come to the rescue, she'll be on all of our phone lists.
Well you can call me for help with a fish, but I have to warn you every time I get a fish I wind up flushing it, i don't get it they don't last...
I don't do creatures or animals- Our house rule for pets is the kids can have it if I don't have to touch it AND if it dies it has to be "flushable" I can not stand touching ANY sort of animal tame or not tame :) i know i'm a wimp...
OK VFR's comment about the feral cat is so horrible and disgusting! How about the time the parents left me in the living room as a small girl with some wild bird flying all around? Maybe that's why I'm afraid of animals.
That being said, however, I do think I, woman who is afraid of all living creatures, would have been brave enough to shoo the little non-flying bird out the door. Thank goodness Mrs. Bird was able to come save you!
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