Watch your step! Starling stuck in manhole cover

The songbird flew in the wrong direction underground and got trapped.

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Published: February 9, 2017 at 11:09 am

A starling was discovered in the small gap of a manhole cover by a local resident in Cumbria after flying up from the drains below and getting her head caught in gap in the metal cover.

The bird was fortunately rescued by the RSPCA.

“We suspect she’d flown into the drains elsewhere, perhaps through a storm drain,” said animal welfare officer Sam Jopson, “and then got stuck underground.”

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The starling was found trapped in the hole of a manhole cover. © RSPCA

RSPCA staff were able to prise open the manhole cover to free the bird, and as she wasn’t injured, she was released immediately.

“The little gap in the manhole cover must have seemed like the perfect escape route for her, but she was a little big to squeeze through,” said Jopson.

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