Early this morning at the office, I was the first to notice there was a Bluebird flying around inside the building. Could it be Millie’s Johnny?“Millie, it’s me. I’m up HERE and I can’t get OUT!”
“See? It’s ME! Please help get me out of here!”
We opened all doors after I called in the facilities manager. I moved two live trees from the conference room to the front entrance where Johnny was hanging out, hoping he’d perch on a tree and fly towards the cold air.I called Raptor nearby and they put me in touch with a songbird lady who suggested placing mealworms near the entrance. The ceilings are thirty feet high and I decided it would be my last resort.
After lunch, we were getting very worried. Our director of curriculum Googled Eastern Bluebird songs and played them near the trees. We imitated songbirds ourselves while hiding around the corner. Then we called in the Dean.
She gathered the painters with their ladders, maintenance staff with an extended duster, and then climbed a ladder herself. 
Johnny had turned towards a hallway with lower ceilings and a doorway, good for a better escape. I propped those doors open with chairs. Then we had him cornered.
We waited and shooed him towards the doorway. And kept shooing him. When he was two feet from the doorway opening, you could have heard a pin drop, but inside ourselves we were screaming, “FLY, GO FREE, FLY, FLY, FLY OUT OF HERE! GO!” And the moment he set himself free, we roared. High-fived. Danced in the hallway. 
Our Dean giving hugs. Some of us shed tears of joy. Not me, though. Wink. Just kidding…
18 comments:
Oh Mary, you rock helping to get Johnny out of the buidling back to Millie where he belongs. I wonder how long he was in there.
Well you've done it now, Mary. The whole campus has gone bird-crazy!
;-)
I've had luck turning off all the lights, but I don't know if that would work with as many windows as your building has.
Good for you and the dean!
Shall I call you Mary Florence Bluebirdingale rather than Florence Nightingale? My word if you haven't become the bird woman of North Carolina I don't know who has. You rock!
Mary- the bluebird whisperer! You ROCK to work so hard to get Johnny back outdoors with his tweety sweetie! I think you have the makings of a terrific bluebird book. Waiting for the next chapter...
Hell yeah, Mary!
"Mary, the Crazy Bird Lady". I love it.
I also love that the Dean herself got into it. Anyone who witnessed this today will think about it every time they see a bluebird and maybe will have compassion for them. They need all the help we can give them!
Laura, you crack me up. "Well, you've done it now..." LOL
I am sure we missed some good movie material. Your story is better than reality TV. How did the bird get in the building?
Mary - responding to the comment you left on my blog - why was Chloe at the vet? I hope she's okay.
A bluebird book as Lynne suggested would be awesome!
Pam, Chloe's dependence on her left leg after her rabies vaccine on her right thigh made her lean too much on the left and now she has a three legged walk "strained crutiate ligament" but will be fine with no running or jumping for a week and an anti-inflammatory and pain killer. Never a dull moment! I'll be sleeping in the family room with her tonight until she is walking on four legs. Thanks for asking. I'm tired :)
Ruth, and all, I don't know how he got in there. An open door...sometime on Saturday or early this morning. Poor thing.
That is an amazing story. What a great ending. Thank you for brightening my day.
I'm glad Chloe is on the mend.
Weeeeee Mary!!! You go girl! What a wonderful story of release! I was holding my breath as you wrote about the silence before he found his way out....whew! Mary, the Bluebird Angel!
What a beaut story! That really made me smile.
Amazing that a bluebird (that I think of as being so people shy) flew into a building.
But, hurray, that you all banded together to help him out. Love it!
Maybe there's hope for people after all. ;)
Good job, Mary! I love that the whole building was involved! Aren't colleges great places? I love that the Dean was out there shooing too. Great, great post, Mary!
Hooray for you guys. I am clapping and cheering all the way over here in my little corner of the world.
I also see a "blue bird" book here!
What a motivator you are, marshalling the forces, organizing the operation. All for a bluebird! Who would have thought. You and the bluebird must be pretty charismatic.
Great! Most excellent adventure read with a happy ending!
This has to be my favorite of all your post here on your site! Soo glad you helped that bluebird out the door! {{{High Five}}}
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