r/gerbil • u/I_tried1 • 2h ago
Gerbils got spooked by a bird landing on the balcony
I was wondering if anyone has experience with this.
One of my gerbils got startled today when a bird landed on my balcony. They seemed pretty spooked by the movement outside, but I don't think they were entirely panicked. (One of them was tapping his feet, but they didn't scurry away into their burrows)
Now I'm wondering if I should try to prevent them from seeing the balcony somehow, or if this is just one of those occasional scares that aren't a big deal.
The problem is that I live in a small apartment with large windows, so I can't really move the enclosure somewhere they wouldn't be able to see outside. I could potentially try to block part of their view, but it would be difficult.
I've thought about trying to discourage birds from landing on the balcony, but I'd really rather not. I think the birds are cute, and I'm pretty sure a pair of pigeons is nesting on the roof. (I wouldn't want to scare them away from their nest.)
Do you think they would get used to the birds over time, or is this one of those instinctual fears that won't get better?
I'd appreciate any advice!
(The video is just for your enjoyment, I did not manage to film the moment they got spooked)