How to Get a Bird Out of Your Basement

A bird can find its way into your basement through open doors, windows or grates, or more often through an uncapped chimney or furnace vent. The bird may even be an escaped "gift" from your cat. When you discover the bird it's likely to be as startled as you are. When hatching an exit strategy, remember you and the bird share a common goal: freedom. In many cases a bird that finds its way into the basement can also find its way out -- eventually. But there are a few things you can do to expedite its departure.

Things You'll Need

  • Towels or blanket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove pets and ask children and other people to leave the basement. Their presence may further frighten the bird and cause it to hide or fly around wildly trying to escape.

    • 2

      Open all the windows in the basement. Remove any window screens.

    • 3

      Cover up windows that don't open, using a towel or blanket to block out the light. This prevents the bird from trying to fly out of an unopened window and injuring itself.

    • 4

      Open the door to the basement if it leads outside.

    • 5

      Turn off the basement lights. Darkening the room directs the bird's attention to the light from the open windows or outside door.

    • 6

      Leave the room and wait one to three hours for the bird to find its way out through one of the windows or door. Without the distraction of your presence, the bird will calm down and search for a means of escape.

    • 7

      Call the local animal control office if the bird has not left after a few hours.