What to do if a bird gets trapped in your house

Enjoyers of spring temperatures beware — leaving your doors and windows open may result in unexpected feathered house guests.

Zoom in: I learned this firsthand this week when a beautiful and very freaked out Anna's hummingbird got trapped inside my living room.

• It couldn't seem to remember how it got inside (through my wide open patio door) and instead tried to peck at my ceiling, walls and hanging artwork in hopes of finding an exit.
• After an unproductive 20 minutes of trying to coax it outside, I decided to open as many windows as I could and leave it alone to find its own escape route, which it ultimately did.

State of play: Accidental bird visitors are not uncommon in Arizona, according to rescue group Liberty Wildlife. Here are their pro tips for returning winged guests to the wild:

• Turn off all lights to guide the bird toward an open door or window.
• Try to encourage the bird to perch atop a broom or other tall pole and escort it toward an open door. This works best with small birds that have exhausted themselves trying to find a way out.
• Leave a trail of seeds leading outside.
• Use a pool skimmer or other net to trap it midair.

😂 My thought bubble: I'm positively shocked that my initial instinct (to yell, "Please, I'm trying to help you!" at the bird for 20 minutes) was not among the organization's advice.