help! my neighbours are trying to kill my garden birds!

Question

My neighbours have started putting out dried rice right next to the fence that divides our properties.I have feeders and tables in my garden, and get a good variety of birds. Unfortunatley, because I live in a city, it attracts some pigeons (5 or 6 hang around most of the day) and while I try to stop the pigeons from using the feeders and bird table, there is nothing I can do about them picking up the food the other birds drop. I think this has annoyed them (although they have never said anything to me about it) What do you suggest I do? should I stop feeding them?

please help, I'm very upset!

Rhiannon.

LloydScott · Answer

If you have been having problems at your bird table there are a few tricks you could try to prevent access to the more dominant birds. 
 
 The seed trays mentioned by Squirrel will help on hanging feeders and you could also possibly consider using ground protectors to exclude larger birds form getting access to the food you leave out nearer the ground. 
 
 Dried rice will still be readily taken by birds such as pigeons, doves and pheasants but is less likely to attract other species. Perhaps luring pigeons has been the intention here of your neighbours to have grounds on which to complain to the local council? 
 
 Council officials are taking increasingly draconian approach to bird feeding, and often do not get both sides of the story if someone complains to them about a neighbour feeding birds. Often the first thing a person who feeds birds in the garden hears about it, is a letter from the council telling them to stop bird feeding and threatening them with fines, ASBOs etc.. 
 
 The bet thing a person in this situation can do is to get in touch with the local council and ask the officer who sent the letter to visit them to see the situation for themselves and to get the other side of the story. In many cases where this approach is used, the official will agree that there is no problem and no case to answer. It is useful to get this view in writing, and the person should encourage the official to write to the complainant to explain the outcome. 
 
 If you are unsure of your rights here or do have a long-term dispute running with you&rsquo;re neighbours contact your local citizens advice bureau.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Rhiannon, 
 When I was in my student house I had window feeders on my bedroom window, it didn't harbour pigeons or rats but small birds would come. I do think this is just a snipe & neighbours are bitter about the house being let to students. My neighbours eventually came round to the idea that they could have worst student neighbours than us when we helped them out during a flood. So maybe there's hope. Good Luck!

cornz · Answer

After reading this forum and this post, one thing has become clear and thats a lot of you people simply dont get the connection between feeding birds and vermin. So, as a pest controller for a local authority, let me set the letter straight!!! 
 Bird feeding IS the single biggest cause of vermin infestations in the country. FACT. 
 The council have a statuatory duty to ensure that areas are, as far is as practicable, vermin free. 
 
 If you feed birds and dont ever see rats it does not mean there are not rats in the area. Rats need 3 things, food, shelter and water and they will travel considerable distances to get them. So you feed the birds, there is your food, your neightbour has a pond, there is a water supply and your other neighbour has a shed, there is shelter. Or perhaps everything a rat needs is in your garden. 
 So, as you can see, just becasue you dont see rats it doesnt mean you dont have them. THIS is the issue, its the blinkered attitude and a sort of "Well, i dont have rats so ill carry on feeding birds" mentality. Well, gee, thanks. Because of your bird feeding, i have rats under my shed, leaving faeces and urine which are potentially infected with leptospirosis, salmonella and other unpleasant diseases that MY children might catch becasue they play in the garden which harbours rats because a neighbour feeds the birds. Yeah, thanks for that. Not to mention the 4 ton of pigeon guanao all over my patio/car/drive etc. 
 We always try to educate people in HOW to feed birds properly and with due consideration to neighbours. Theres NO law about feeding the birds, unless, by doing so, you cause nuisance for neighbours and as every local authority has a duty to eradicate vermin, this is why enforcement notices are served.To persistant "offenders". In these rare causes we can and have taken legal action to stop people indiscriminately feeding birds. Frankly, some of you lot need a kick up your collective backsides. Come out with me for a day and see the distress rats in houses cause. Especially when the owner of the property runs a tight ship and doesnt do anything to attract vermin. 
 So, what can YOU do to limit the problem of vermin being attracted to your or a neighbours property by the action of feeding the birds. 
 1. DO NOT thrown food onto the lawn, bread, seeds, toast, anything. 
 2. Use caged peanut feeders and / or fat balls. 
 3.Use a bird table with no more than half a small cup of food at a time. Once that has been eaten, replenish it. 
 DO NOT ALLOW FOOD TO SPILL ON THE FLOOR 
 By following these simple steps you will keep your gardens full of birds and relatively free of rodents. 
 Flame on...