Help - what is this?

christinabocelli · #1 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 05:29 AM

Hi all, am new to this forum and would like some help. About 10 days ago I came home late one night and in my downstairs cloakroom could hear a bird chirping. I had a look and realised it was coming from within the cavity of the wall and sounded trapped. In the morning all was quiet. However, since then every night at around 9 p.m. we hear this same almost frantic constant chirping and it is only one bird but has somehow managed to move from one room into another within the floor spaces and wall cavities. All is quiet in the daytime but it is almost like clockwork and it will call all night until anout 7 in the morning. The sound is a sharp one note call and gets quicker and quicker and is quite loud. If this bird was trapped then I cannot understand how it can survive with no food or water. It is freaking me out a bit as I am wondering if it could be something else like an animal although it definitely sounds like a bird. I cannot hear any fluttering and it seems to stay in one position all night but then move the next night. Any ideas anyone? Would appreciate your help- Christina

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 08:15 AM

Hi Christina and welcome to the WAB forum.

This is rather puzzling, but can you tell us which part of the UK your are in ... or if you are not in Britain, which country are you in?

Although it sounds like a bird, it maybe an insect you are hearing ... a cricket perhaps, or something similar.

aland · #3 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 11:39 AM

Hi christina, The only hope you have is if you can locate the sound through a out side wall and find a air brick this is a type of brick with holes may even be cast steel you can remove these fairly easily then perhaps you could entice what is probably a bird that as dropped down the cavity, good luck aland.

ps if you could take measurements inside might help, but do not demolish your house,

jaykay · #4 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 12:42 PM

very puzzling I agree, however, please keep us posted, especially if you discover what it is/was!!!

ps, welcome to WAB

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 01:00 PM

Afternoon Christina, and welcome to WAB!

Could you record a video of this trapped bird/whatever, and then upload to YouTube or similar? That may be outr best way of Id'ing your trapped 'thing'.

Take care,

Jason

christinabocelli · #6 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 04:46 PM

I am in Essex and I am sure its not a cricket, its too high pitched and chirrupy!! Are there any other insects that make a noise like a bird? Thanks for replying

christinabocelli · #7 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 04:52 PM

Hi - thanks for your reply - I live in quite a large old house and the bird moves from upstairs to downstairs in walls and ceiling cavities but once it starts to call each evening, it stays in the same place until the morning, its really weird, we have no air bricks, but for example, one night it was in the ceiling cavity near a small opening by an oak beam and we could tell it was inches away from us, but just could not see it or reach it. Another evening it was behind the bathroom wall cavity where there is a hole where pipes go through but so hard to get at. I left some bird food right next to the hole but it is still there. I cannot think what it could be other than a bird, and why does it only make a noise at night? Its a mystery!!!

christinabocelli · #8 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 04:54 PM

Yes - I will try to record it - can I do it on my mobile phone?

valleyforge · #9 (**permalink**) 26-08-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christinabocelli

I am in Essex and I am sure its not a cricket, its too high pitched and chirrupy!! Are there any other insects that make a noise like a bird? Thanks for replying

I'm no expert on insects I'm afraid ... and certainly not the sub-tropical varieties you get way down south in Essex.

Maybe some of the forum's specialists in invertibrates will be able to advise, if they happen to spot your post in the birds section.

But, I can't imagine it can be a trapped bird if you only hear it at night, and it's been going on now for 10 days or so.

Maybe ... thinking outside the box for a minute ... since it does seem kind of a regular timing, could it maybe a sound produced by a worn central heating water pump or some other device perhaps? Or do you have a basement with a smoke detector fitted?