A Swift Trapped Indoors: How I Rescued a Bird and What It Taught Me About Bird-Safe Homes

 I recently encountered a situation, I was having my evening snacks and was staring sky through the dinning area window and suddenly I saw a black object flashing in my kitchen and it fell on the floor,I was puzzled at that moment and took few steps slowly taking gaze at what it was,I took a few photos of it, found out that it was a bird plumped up with feather looked like a feather ball,I went near it taking some more few steps like a silent cat,I saw that the  bird was staring at me,it was paused not moving just staring at me and I as I started to go more near it took a leap and flew inside the living hall,now it took the shelter under the sofa sitting in the corner,my struggle increased,now how should I rescue this bird,I was completely unaware about what that bird was,I took out my phone started searching about the bird,found

out that it was a swift(Apus apus). I searched about how to rescue it,what tactics I can use to show it the way out to its real playground (sky). 

I tried various tricks first. I slowly moved the sofa, but it still wasn't showing any sign of leaving the area; it was just sitting there and cleaning its feathers. Then I tried taking a cloth, folding it into three layers, and trying to push it out of the way, and it later moved a little, but in the wrong direction.

Then I though of turning of all lights open the curtains and all windows,I thought that this will give it a direction to go out but it did'nt moved at all,I gathered courage and first put on gloves as birds like swift can get harm by the oil present on human skin,I then slowly moved from back side of sofa to the place it sat and getly hold it in my hands but within seconds it took a flight and changed its location to new spot but I was commited to keep it safe this time without missing chance I hold it and let it sit in balcony in a cardboard box where it settled quietly later I found out that birds like swift have larger wings in length than their body and makes it hard for them to fly from ground this made me realize how frightened it was when I went near it and took a leap from the floor which is actually a non usual task for them to do.

Common Swift (Apus apus)

I  took the bird at its day-to-day flying level, showed it the sky. Before that, I ensured that it didn't have any injuries and took it to the level of my chest,extended my hand further, and it took its flight free again in the sky. We should never push or through birds like swifts in sky,now it was Ready to skie through and join its flock.

I also thought that it might have been distracted by the kitchen lights as the door to the balcony was open,

I think we must ensure these things in house design planning, making it safe for birds, birds crash into big transparent window glasses, and sometimes this even acts as a cage to them. On their way home, it makes them late, making their family members wait for them.

Installing avian UV reflective covering on the glass helps in preventing this, which alerts birds as if there is an obstruction in their way.

The bird set free in the sky back on its way and I was happy  for it ,but as I looked back I was left with messed up house and wasted time.


If you want to know more about this bird you can click here - link