The bird in our kitchen
I’m always prepared for surprises when I wake up and go downstairs. 8 hours are plenty of time to trash the first floor. I wasn’t ready for a bird though and couldn’t believe my ears. Yes, my ears, because I couldn’t see the bird. I was confused that Kajsa and Tessa didn’t seem to care about the noises, but they’ve been probably trying to catch the bird for many hours.
I was clever enough to lock my cats out of the kitchen before I started searching. I’m used to birds inside: about 2-3 blue tits get every year lost in the attic, but I’ve never seen one downstairs. I know that some blue tits are living under the roof in winter, but I’ve never found the hole to the attic. Poor things – they don’t find their way back and panic.
The noise came from the kitchen ceiling, and I opened the ventilation shaft. A big blackbird appeared! I tried to help him out, but ok, I admit: I’m a mean blogger, because I had time for a picture.
The blackbird survived his adventure, and I’m so grateful that I could help him. Not only because of the bird, but also because he showed me the hole – the ventilation shaft! (DOING. Why didn’t I think about that before?) There has to be a connection between the attic and the kitchen, and I really need to do something about this. The ventilation shaft is big enough for curious paws, and the thought of a cat being stuck between the second and first floor freaks me out.
They’re safe for now, because I secured the ventilation shaft in my bedroom. However, the very attic soon becomes the cats’ playroom, so I need to find the shaft there. It’s a bit tricky though. If I only secure the opening to the attic, the birds will stuck in the shaft and can’t get out. Ok, I’m not sure if a cat room is the best alternative for a bird, but I want to find a solution for all of my ‘pets’.
Why I haven’t thought about this problem before? I believed there was a small hole somewhere. Too small for my cats, big enough for a small blue tit. I would have let my cats catch those 2 blue tits a year if they discovered them before me. Until today, the blue tits have only been in winter in the attic, meaning no breeding time. I know – there has been a huge discussion about domestic cats endangering birds, but a lost bird in my house is in my opinion something different.
May 21, 2015 @ 16:03
That was great you caught the blackbird!! Yes, probably a good idea to find the hole and block it! I think more birds are killed by humans than domestic cats, that’s what the RSPB say anyway. So much damage is done to the environment that birds and other wildlife are being decimated!!
May 21, 2015 @ 20:22
That’s true and a big problem! However, it doesn’t mean that domestic cats aren’t a problem (but I know that you didn’t say that either). I’m not 100% sure what my opinion is. On the one hand, I think it’s natural that cats kill birds (and other small animals), on the other hand, it’d be natural to accept that bigger animals kill my cats.
May 21, 2015 @ 16:13
I am glad you were able to save the bird –and get a photo too 🙂
May 21, 2015 @ 20:23
Thank you! I was glad it was me who found the bird. I wouldn’t mind if they ate a bird, but not in my kitchen.
May 21, 2015 @ 20:30
That was an adventure ! Birds are so much fun for kitties… Purrs
May 21, 2015 @ 23:47
It was! I can imagine that they had appreciated the bird, but I’m glad that I got him first. 😀
May 22, 2015 @ 00:38
So how did you physically get the bird out of the house afterwards?
May 22, 2015 @ 02:46
Wow! We would love a bird in our house! The mom wouldn’t, though.