FEEDING HUMMINGBIRDS?
by admin
Filed under Feeding Backyard Birds
I HAVE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR 8 YEARS. I FEED HUMMINGBIRDS AND LOVE THEM. MY NEW NEIGHBORS TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY FEEDER IN MY OWN YARD SO PIGEONS DON’T FLY OVER TO HIS HOUSE AND DUMP. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE PIGEONS OR WHAT THEY DO. I REFUSED TO REMOVE MY FEEDERS AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO SUE ME. I LOOK AT IT AS I CAN FEED MY HUMMING BIRDS. NEED FEED BACK PLEASE. TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO IN MY BACKYARD AND INSIDE MY HOUSE. THANK-YOU
elrodmiller@yahoo.com.
- Elrod
I’d tell him he had the brain of a damn hummingbird. Are you feeding them red sugar water? No damn pigeon in it’s right mind is gonna try to get at sugar water. Tell him to clean the nastiness off of his roof cause it looks and smells like bums sleeping under a bridge and that’s what attracts pigeons. Better yet tell him to calll the FAA and request a change of flight patter for the pigeons. He’s an idiot. Let him call, the cops are gonna laugh at him first then tell him it’s a civil matter not criminal.
Ignore him. He is making a fool of himself by threatening you with legal action. Like you said, you have no control with what the pigeons do. Besides, most species of pigeon are grain eaters. Only tropical species have diets which include fruit, nectar, etc. A Rock Pigeon would have no interest in eating nectar.
It is solely coincidental that the pigeons are defecating on his house and has nothing to do with your hummingbird feeder.
Yes, you can feed your hummingbirds as you like. It’s your property and there’s nothing illegal about that. Many people will say they’ll sue you to get you to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing. Many don’t intend to go through with it. If they do go through with it, the case will be thrown out of court. If I were the judge, that’s exactly what I’d do. It’s utter nonsense and not worth taking up a judge’s time. I love birds and feed them whenever and wherever I can. As long as there are no signs posted saying “don’t feed wildlife/birds” I go ahead and feed all the birds. Like I said before, it’s YOUR property and you can feed the hummingbirds, other birds, squirrels, or anything you want. It’s not illegal. Don’t let those ignorant neighbors of yours scare you into not feeding the hummingbirds.
What an IDIOT! Not you, your neighbor:) He can’t sue you. Tell him if the worst thing in his life is a little pigeon poop, he’s damn lucky! THEN go out and buy 20 more hummingbird feeders!!!!!!!
Your neighbor is a moron..what on earth does pigeons pooping in over his house have to do with a hummingbird feeder. Does he actually think you control nature. He would be laughed out of court.
As everybody said above, it is obvious that hummingbird feeders with red sugar water are of no interest to any pigeons. Hummingbird feeders are probably as appealing as athletes foot are for us humans.
As for your neighbor it seems as though he will not listen to your attempts to educate him on feeders. If he talks to you again I would print him some information about hummingbirds and pigeons to show him that pigeons can not hover or drink nectar from a tiny hole in a feeder. In your own self interest try to maintain as polite as possible to not add to the situation even though I am sure this can’t be easy.
Now just for clarification, is there more than one neighbor in different houses that have come complaining to you? Have they left written notices to you? Do you or have you feed birds with seeds or any other food other than feeders during the last 24 months? If yes to these questions then you might be in for some legal headaches. What does your state or community say about feeding birds or wildlife that becomes a problem for neighbors? If I were you I would look it up. I know of cases where people have been sued and lost in court because their excessive feeding has attracted rats and pigeons that have soiled and damaged near lying property. Not saying you have done this but simce I do not know everything about the situation I am just covering the basics just in case.
Also, do you live in a wooded or forested area? Are there any fruit trees in your or your neighbors yard? If yes this might be the reason the pigeons are attracted to that area and important for you to be able to document and defend yourself in case of any legal prosecutions.
As far as peeping and nosy neigbors goes, I suggest you build a tall fence around your property. Maybe add a “warning guard dog” sign too for added effect. This will keep out prying eyes out of your backyard. As far as people telling you what you can do inside your house, well I dunno what people have said to you but how about some curtains and refraining from talking to people that tell you what to do?
Good luck