I am thankful for all the comforts I have, and they are many. I live in a lovely condo in a lovely city, in a lovely Canadian province. I have a reliable income and fairly good health. My life includes food, shelter, furnishings, hobbies, memorabilia, exercise, and community. And, until today, I had birds.
Today I was told that I had to take down my bird feeder. I could keep the hummingbird feeder, but the seed feeder had to go.
Ever since I read the condo bylaws, which was several weeks after I moved in, I knew that bird feeders were not allowed. But by then I already knew their shortcomings. Depending on the type of seed, the type of feeder, and the varieties of birds, overspilled seeds and husks can attract rodents. In my neighbourhood those include field mice and racoons.
Consequently, I did everything I could to limit the possibility of visits from rodents while continuing to encourage visits from birds. I discussed the problem with the local Backyard Birds store staff and they advised me to add a catch tray, to use the smallest de-husked seed, and to fill my feeder only to about one-third of its height. That way very little seed would be spread beyond the catch tray.
In addition, I swept below and around the feeder quite frequently to ensure that no stray seeds lingered among the brick tiles of my patio. I thought I was doing my neighbourly best, but it seems that is not enough.
The delight I take in watching the various finches, robins, blackbirds, and wrens every day cannot be compared to the risk of rodents visiting the patios of my neighbours who might also want to have bird feeders on their patios. It’s an all-for-one and one-for-all kind of regulation. I know this because the maintenance man explained it to me today.
I have always had a good relationship with the maintenance man, and he was quite dismayed to have been the bearer of bad news in telling me that the strata council (aka HOA) wanted him to tell me to take down my bird feeder. But, as he told me this, I was struck by two, equally disturbing, realizations. The first was that I would have to take down my feeder. The second was that they had used the maintenance man to deliver their directive.
When I let him know I would no longer be using my feeder and as I walked away, I wrestled with which issue bothered me most; the need to remove the feeder or the fact that the council had not approached me directly. Now that the feeder has been removed, dismantled, and put away, I am left with a gnawing disgruntlement.
As I write, I am watching birds fly by my patio, looking for the absent feeder, while I ponder the choices made by my condo council. I know very little about the council, but using the friendly maintenance man as bylaw officer does not sit well with me.
I’m going to miss the birds and am trying to think of ways to redirect some of that grief into positive energy, although that may take a while. Perhaps I should run for a seat on council. Hmmm.
Snowbird of Paradise 
Perhaps you should
haha!
hi. Water features also attract birds……
Oooh. Good thought! Thank you, Lynn.
I am interested in your situation, Anne. My son-in-law got me a bird feeder that I can watch from my window and I do enjoy it. I have tried different types of seed because my daughter gets a bit upset as the chore of keeping the area on the ground surrounding the feeder cleaned up has fallen to her. We have a catch tray sort of thing but birds are surely not ‘house’ keepers! Buddy, who will be 15 on May 30, also loves to eat the seeds which is not especially good for a senior Boston Terrier! The one positive that I find in having a bird feeder here is that we are surrounded by homes with cats! Cats prowl the backyard fences and yards and thus far we have encountered no signs of rodents. I must admit though that a couple of birds have become victims of the cats. 😦 We have 2 hummingbird feeders which have been here prior to the bird feeder. I also enjoy them although hummers seem to leave during the colder months. Those feeders are definitely less messy. You and I have shared an HOA at one time. HOA’s are not always pleasant places. I do not recall reading about bird feeders in our CC&Rs. I need to look that up now that you mention it. Fortunately my tenants are tech people with no interest in the outdoor areas. However, the HOA has begun to enforce the item in the CC&Rs regarding plants on patios and balconies. Believe it or not, plants are not allowed! I would have a real problem with that if I still lived there! I would hope that the maintenance man also felt uncomfortable being the one to carry the message to you. The HOA at BY sends warning letters always threatening fines. There seems to be no personal interaction though. Our HOA has become younger and more and more involved in tech type things. I believe I would feel like Methuselah were I to try to be on the Board.
If you have a backyard birds store near you, I recommend talking with them about the best seed to use for your local birds. They are very knowledgable and helpful.
I rarely see cats here. The municipal bylaws state that cats may not trespass on private property but that would be hard to police without putting cats on leashes, which they require in some cities. But they would solve the mice problem, for sure! Hawks also eat mice, but small birds are also prey so I have mixed feelings about them.
I can’t believe our former HOA is now banning plants on patios and balconies! What are they thinking? They’d have to give me a darned good reason for ditching outdoor plants.
The maintenance man was very apologetic when he gave me the bad news, and said he was sorry for ruining my day. He’s a lovely man, and I don’t bear him any grudges.
Having 11 cats, the rodent “problem” has never been a concern.
As you may remember we rescued a baby rat ( left on the driveway, presumably by one of the cats) and reared it. He passed away last month and I can say from experience he was the most adorable and intelligent creature.
We also have four large and mostly open compost heaps.
Again, no issues with mice or rats.
I often consider many humans are simply intolerant and selfish and unwilling to find equitable solutions.
You have 11 cats! Wow. They probably fight over any mice they might find!
I think the humans on my condo board are probably well-intentioned but when they run into a problem they make a solution that they have to apply to everyone, regardless. I don’t like it, but I understand it.
I reckon the mice and rats had a conflab and decided in general to avoid our spot!
Haha! You might be right!
I meant to add…
I haven’t put seed out for a while,but do put whole fruit out – apples and pears – which I insert inside an old hand held whisk which is hung from a lower tree branch.
Most birds seem to enjoy it.
Oh, I like that idea! Thanks, Ark.
Maybe this will pass muster with the Trustees?
Maybe!
Let us know?
I will, but it won’t be for a while. I don’t want to draw any more attention to my patio right now.
Best plan. Stay below the ornithological radar. No tweets for the time being.
😉
🙂
Totally unprofessional conduct by the strata council!
It did seem to me that they had deliberately avoided having an awkward conversation with me by passing the job on to the maintenance man. I felt bad for him.
[…] did as I was told. I had enjoyed watching the birds at the feeder and I subsequently wrote here about my dismay at losing […]