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.
Hello Rhiannon.
I've just had a look on the main RSPB page, in the "What food to provide" page. It says that uncooked rice will attract pigeons, doves and pheasants. Many speices will eat cooked rice, which sould be either white or brown and be unsalted. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.asp
I'm not certain that your neighbours are trying to kill the garden birds but I would suggest speaking to them about it, because I'm fairly sure if they had a problem with the pigeons they would have mentioned by now. I really hope you can get the situation sorted out amicably.
Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Hi Rhiannon , many pigeon mixers contain rice so dont worry,the only thing I would say is why next to the fence?
I would get some and have a look at it.
And wear disposable gloves...
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
unfortunatley I recieved a letter from my council today requesting that I take most of my feeders down, and only keep one up, and I'm only allowed to fill it once a day. I'm looking out my window now, watching a wren, a dunnock, a robin and a whole host of sparrows bounce around where the bird table used to be. I feel quite bad, but there's not much else I can do!
PeregrineRhi unfortunatley I recieved a letter from my council today requesting that I take most of my feeders down, and only keep one up, and I'm only allowed to fill it once a day. I'm looking out my window now, watching a wren, a dunnock, a robin and a whole host of sparrows bounce around where the bird table used to be. I feel quite bad, but there's not much else I can do!
That's absolutely rotten news. What were the reasons they gave for asking you to remove most of your feeders and do you have any grounds for appeal.?
apparently they have recieved several complaints from various people that the birds were causing A. Noise disturbance in the mornings,B. Fouling people's property (cars)C. Causing a health and safety risk and attracting vermin to neighbouring gardens. The thing that angers me is the fact that vermin in the street would more likely be attracted by the communal bin area we share. We have no plastic containers like wheelie bins to put our waste in, just a yard in which we pile up all our bags. We have feral cats and Gulls getting in there all the time! II hate living in the city, as soon as I've finished uni, I'm out back into the good old country!
I really am so sorry to hear about the letter. I presume their has been a letter from your neighbour complaiining about the bird food encouraging vermin. My advice is to keep to what they say and at least you are still able to continue feeding the birds (albeit on a smaller scale ) and then your neighbours have no room for further complaints.
Just read your additional message. People can be cruel but at least you know that in time you will get away from them.
This disgusts me. I'm sick of the human race, people seem to think that we have a divine right to do what we want at the expense of all other living things on the planet, and woe betide anything should put a "dampener" on our right have a free reign over everything. Birds and in fact most animals have populated the planet for a hell of a lot longer than human beings and therefore have more of a right to a free and undisturbed life than we do yet people still think they can lord it over the rest of natural kingdom. How can a few birds in someone's garden constitute noise disturbance? I absolutely adore waking up to hear the birds, whatever they are doing and whatever noise they are making - it means they're still alive and thriving. If people want their precious cars to stay clean then car covers come at ten a penny these days, and I'm sorry dear council but wherever there is a built up area there is bound to be so-called "vermin", people make just as much waste without feeding birds and I doubt very much that forcing one person to feed the birds less is going to make any kind of difference.
They should be thanking you for caring for wildlife, not punishing you. I would be absolutely blind with rage if they dared to stop me from feeding the birds.
Johnny Mac had a similar situation, see here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/p/5099/37579.aspx#37579 and invited an environmental health person to come & see for themselves the so called problem... might be worth considering.
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Thank you for your comments Brenda, and Annabanana I am very angry/upset with this situation, and I have no idea how a robin's song (he sings every morning and dusk) can be classed as noise pollution? I dislike the fact that I am being punished for this, when other young people my age (and older, come to think of it!) are out trashing the city center every weekend, and they get no punishment for it! It really is a sad state of affairs.
I'm sorry to hear your news Rhiannon, that's a shame. Honestly! How much mess and noise do they think one person and a few birds make? People can be very mean sometimes. I guess you will have to abide by the letter and just look forward to a greener place with more amenable people when you finish Uni. What are you studying and how long is your course?
There is something new to learn everyday...
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I'm studying English Literature & Creative Writing. It's a 3 year course, and I'm in my 2nd year now. I try and surround myself with as much wildlife as possible, and most of my free time is spent volunteering for the RSPB and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. I just love it, can't understand why others don't! It enriches my life so much.
Are you living in a student house? You may find that this has nothing to do with bird feeders but your neighbours resent the house being rented out especially to students and they are hoping to get at your landlord. Robin will carry on singing whatever they think or do but they must be very sad people.
I live in a house with 2 other students, but we're all very quiet and respectful towards our neighbourhood.We really are not big party-goers that cause any kind of noise or disturbance. Yes, there was issues when we first moved in over the fact that we were students, apparently there was even a complaint made to the letting company, and residents used to park their cars so we couldn't get in/out of our space. This could be the issue here actually. I am certainly going to get in touch with the council about it.