Painting safely in a house with birds

Canary resuscitator, Science + Industry Museum, Manchester, UK

The idea of placing a warm blooded animal in a mine to detect carbon monoxide was first proposed by John Scott Haldane in 1895, and canaries were used as early as 1896. Well into the 20th century, coal miners brought canaries into coal mines as an early-warning signal for toxic gases, primarily carbon monoxide. The birds, being more sensitive, would become sick before the miners, who would then have a chance to escape or put on protective respirators. In some cases, the canaries were kept in cages with dedicated oxygen tanks so the birds could survive after their illness provided a warning.

Sentinel species—Wikipedia

If you weren’t already aware, the “canary in the coal mine” idiom is absolutely true. Birds have radically different respiratory systems than any other creature, making them more susceptible than humans to airborne irritants.

There are some common sense recommendations for painting around birds at the end of this…