Like many old houses, Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse sees its share of critters. Fortunately, with a limited food supply over the last 50 or so years, no mice or rats have been spotted on premises. But there certainly is a plethora of spiders and other bugs that like to weave webs or build their homes inside – particularly around the windows.
Midges swarm the outside of the lighthouse in late Spring, but fortunately don’t bite. Wasps are another issue and we keep plenty of wasp spray around to keep them at bay. If you walk the beach and break wall to the lighthouse, you may come across a mink or two, not to mention a wide range of animal and bird life that inhabits the Headlands Dunes Nature Preserve.
We recently had an interesting animal experience while working over Labor Day weekend. Despite a lot of work being completed thus far restoring the windows, two main floor windows still have plywood covering them because the outside shutters have broken off and are waiting to be fixed. While busy painting on the main level, one volunteer heard a funny "whoosh" noise. After looking in the direction of the sound, he noticed that a bird had somehow flown into the window pane and gotten stuck between the inside window and the plywood on the outside.
The poor bird was completely traumatized, looking very scared and helpless. I’m sure the bird also didn’t appreciate the stares and gasps of horror from the four incredulous adults who had come over for a peek. After discovering the animal in this precarious position, our goal was to free the frightened bird as quickly as possible. So after a Keystone Cops-type huddle to determine the best way to free the bird, our little band of bird freers took their positions. One held up a sheet so that if the bird flew inside, it could be captured in the sheet or directed toward an adjacent open window. Two others were poised to open the lower window sash so the bird could escape. I held a broom at the ready to help guide the bird in the proper direction – namely back outside. On the count of three the window was opened, the bird fluttered out – still a bit dazed and confused – and with the help of the broom, I swooshed it through the open window and back to freedom.
While certainly not the most heroic animal rescue ever, we did feel a sense of accomplishment that the bird made it out alive and seemed no worse for the wear. Let’s hope that’s the first and last animal encounter we have inside the lighthouse.
Photo by Bruce Bennett
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