i now continue the saga of the wrens.
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i chased them around, swinging a broom at them, but seeing as i could only get within, oh, 15 feet, they seemed undaunted and willing to stick around. except, they weren't. they really wanted out, and they kept flying into the wall, where the light cast... what would you call that, a reverse shadow? anyway, the light through the window made a bright spot on the wall, and they kept flying into it, along with flying to and fro between the hall lights.
when i went out to face them again, i left the bedroom door open... and one of them flew into the bedroom. (at this point the cat is on HIGH ALERT). up to the armoire... and then into the bathroom. the cat followed it, and i almost thought she would actually really catch it -- i have never seen her move so fast towards something in her life. it flew into the mirror, and about the bathroom, and into the sink (these poor birds must have been half-crazed, or completely stupid). eventually it flew to the back of the toilet, and the cat almost had it... when i picked up the cat and put her out of the bathroom.
i shut the door and picked up a towel. i thought if i could just throw the towel over the bird, i could catch it. i learned this bird/towel trick when i had a parrot. apparently birds immediately chill out when things get dark.
after a lot of wren poop and fluttering, the poor thing finally landed on the floor and i made my successful catch. i carefully scooped it up with the towel, and was amazed by how little substance the bird had. it was so tiny and so light, i was afraid the weight of the towel would crush it. bird and towel and i went to the front stoop, and i crouched down and carefully unwrapped the tiny thing. it flew off into the night, and hopefully a warm, safe, calm roost.
at this moment i exited crisis mode. because now i had the secret to getting the birds out. and i knew they would not die of heart attacks. all would be well.
the second wren succumbed to my trickery and towel combination shortly after the first. after a little wren poop cleanup (who'da thought they'd have so MUCH?) i and a very disappointed cat went to bed.
And if you put salt on their tails, they surrender!