Welcome, Walt!

I've had hummerz fly into the garage just far enough to check out the red tag hanging from the garage door opener, then out again.

Since hummies like to fly as high as possible, the only suggestion I have is to leave the door wide open and hang a feeder (or at least something red) right outside the opening. Perhaps you could put up a hook into the overhang/fascia board, and place a feeder there on a long hanger so that it shows from inside. The feeder could then be moved back to its original location, while the hook would remain if needed in the future.

Good luck.

LindaSkyview

I'm glad that you saved the little fellow. What a panic he must have been in.

Paint or cover the emergency release handle with a neutral color, such as black or brown. I had this happen to me after installing the electric garage door opener. They must be sold with a red handle by federal regulation, but they don't have to stay that way! (Kind of like mattress tags!)

I have read the same thing that rjm says before. Paint or tape the handles to prevent unwanted entries. I also recently read (I think at rubythroat.org) that a bird on the inside should be kept moving, using brooms or sticks until it becomes exhausted and can be caught by hand. It should then be allowed to feed before release(they will apparently do this if offered a feeder port even while being held). It also said to not release them at night but gave no alternative for when you catch it at night! We all don't have bird cages.

BTW: Their are no Mattress Tag Police and there are also no Red Emergency Release Handle Police. lol

I had this happen to me several years ago just after moving into a new house. I told my neighbor and he came over with a mesh butterfly net that he kept for just this reason. He carefully scooped in the hummer and gently released it outside. It was so exhausted from trying to get out that it was landing on the garage door runners and panting. I know being caught was traumatic, but it was the only way to get it back outside before it exhausted itself to death.

Deb in PA (who lived in MD where this incident happened)

This week (July 5, 2010) we had 2 hummers in our garage. Our opener handles are wrapped in alum foil too!
My wife held a leaf rake near the hummer and he/she clasped onto the tines. She took the rake/hummer outside where it flew away. The same was done with the second hummer a day later. We were so pleased to find a way to moved the birds outside.

She held the rake with the tines toward the bird. The rake is the type with metal "fingers" or tines.

Super easy. Get a sprayer nozel on a hose and lightly spray the hummingbird with water. The water will weight down the feathers and he will slowly drop down. You can then either pick him up or he will be low enough to fly out, if he see the escape route. It's less stressful than a broom or net.

Attach a hummingbird feeder to the end of a long tool. A rake, broom, any kind of pole that you can hang something from. My feeder has a small circular perch around it. Raise it up to the little bird and he/she will quickly perch on the feeder and drink. Carefully and slowly carry the feeder outside with the bird on it. Works like a charm.