Humming Bird Problem
 

We recently built a barn dominium. 900 ft. of living space and the rest is barn. We have three large roll up doors. Every time we put them up humming birds fly in and hover up at the large skylights and won't leave. They end up dying. Any ideas how to lure them out before it's too late? It started with just a couple, now there are dozens! Help us help the little things!

That's a tough one. I've had one or two get in a warehouse type building and they always got to the top and are scared to come back down and leave.
Two suggestions, for what it's worth.
1. A skylight that you can open when you need to. For various reasons, you may not like that idea.
2. Get some hummingbird feeders. Hang them at the door entrances when one flies in. Sit back and wait. Hopefully when they get attracted to the feeder next to their exit, they'll figure it out and leave.
Just be sure to take it back down or all their friends will come over for the free buffet too!

An umbrella work well to "catch" them if you can get it over them. Take the open umbrella and hold it over the humming bird. They will usually sit on the spokes and you can carry them outside.

I wonder if there is a screen-like option? Even if it was loose, like a curtain, just something to deter them from flying in? Those magnetic screen curtains come to mind.

You know, you can purchase 10X40' screens that go around the 10X10 pop-up canopies. They are $30 at Walmart, we have one around our pop-up canopy. You could hang it across the large doorways, it would still allow light and breeze but deter the hummingbirds from flying in.

A fishing dip net on a long pole. It works and they are unharmed.

I worked at a place like that and it would brake your heart watching.
Instead of wasting energy catching each one for the rest of your lives, how about installing 1-2 windows that open up high. They seem to fly up when stressed and I don't think there's an easier alternative.
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I'd put screen over the skylight opening

Unfortunately, I don't think hummingbirds seek alternative openings. I once watched a hummingbird batting against a window in a house under construction. There was one closed window and lots of open ones. It kept at the one closed one, even though it must have come in through one of the open ones. Eventually it got tired and landed on the sill. I picked it up and took it to an open window to fly away.

I read on a hummingbird site that they can actually starve within an hour, so the site recommended putting a feeder where they can reach it. When it becomes dark outside, they will look for a light and you can use that to lead them out.

I wonder if they would stay out if you hung a barrier of hanging string in front of the door. You could drive through but maybe it would look like a barrier to them?

We had one in the garage last year and I followed it around with a broom for about 3 minutes when it sat on the bristles and I was able to carry it out to safety. I can't imagine dozens of them being stuck. Poor little honey birds (that's what my 3 year old calls them). :(

if you put feeders out there and they're attracted to the feeders before they get into the bldg?? hang lots of feeder to see if that will help!

I have had them come in the screened back deck thru open screen door. Go way up to an open beam. Buzz around until I would get out the ladder.

That was a pain, the last time I propped open the door, put a 6" hunk of hot pink duct tape over the door and walked away.

That worked. Might be worth a try. Stuff is great for marking, like forestry flagging that sticks. Easier to restrict them in my case, yours I think you need a small exit up high.

There are 4 skylights in my loft that trap hummingbirds every year. I have one of those wool dusters on an extension pole, if I gently place it next to or underneath the bird it will sit on the wool. With a lot of patience and very slow movements I can gently walk pole, duster and bird to the nearest door or window. Works every time.

I 'm not sure how you could apply this info...but...I heard that all birds are afraid of spiderwebing. They even have for sale "stickies" that look like black webs that go on doorwalls so that birds don't fly into the glass. Also that one can simply take black sewing thread,string it back and forth and birds will stay away.

I know this sounds like BS, but I promise it is true. I had one in my shop doing the same thing. Eventually, I got a ladder and climbed up close and stuck out my hand and it was so tired, it landed on my finger. I climbed down and let it out. Crazy.

I think you would have a problem with the little buggars trying to harvest them. Some species of Hummingbirds make their nests with spiderwebs.

Speaking of hummingbirds..has anyone else noticed a decline in the numbers? They used to hover around my feeders like a swarm of bees, a daily battle keeping up. I've counted 50 at one time. The past 4-5 years they've declined up here until there are no more than 6 or 8 at a time on the feeders. I can only hope they've gone elsewhere.

How do you manage to keep the English sparrows out?

geo

Well when they see the sky light they obviously think it is a way out because of the light. You either got to make a sky light that you can open so they can leave or make a way to dim the sky light so they will search out another light like the open door and leave.

A variation
 

Actually a variation of this worked. I got up early in the morning, opened one roll-up door, and the birds seeing the morning light flew out the door. At least most did. We lost a couple to stress. Thanks for your help!

Wow I will remember this!!!

I'd put us some feeders just outside of the doorway so at least they wouldn't starve until you can drive them away.

Cool. Early bird gets out of the barn.:thumb:

Look around the entrance of the door and figure out what is red that they are seeing from the outside. Most likely you have something thats luring them in thinking that its a feeder.

Who would ever think that hummingbirds could be considered a problem? I draw great inspiration from this. Good work.

You ought to try wearing a red chamois shirt up some canyons in CO.

It's a problem.