| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 1:00:57 PM | I have a problem I'm hoping you people might be able to give me some advice on. I live in a 30 unit apartment building. Over the last couple years we have been invaded by birds. They have made nests in a bunch of the dryer vents around the building. Now this concerns me for a couple reasons:
1. These birds have brought all kinds of combustible materials into the vents such as leaves, twigs, paper, etc. I'm worried that this may be a fire hazard. Also I'm sure that our Dryers not venting properly isn't good for either the dryer or the building.
2. As luck would have it one of these vents is located just under my bedroom window, but unfortunately just out of my reach. I work nights and sleep days. These birds start going crazy chirping at first light. So its annoying to say the least. I've tried earplugs and I still hear it.
I've been complaining to my Condo Board for the last 2 years about this problem. They tell me they are working on but nothing ever happens. I've also offered to hire out and pay for the repair of the vents directly under my window myself. This was also unacceptable to them. So I don't really know what to do at this point. Any suggestions would be appreciated. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 1:10:16 PM | If they're already established in a nest with chicks it's going to be hard to get rid of them this year. If there are no chicks there yet I'd try hanging one of those artificial owls outside your bedroom window. They seem to work in some cases. (mainly on balconies, but I'm not sure if you have a balcony in the right vicinity)
If you are genuinely concerned about a fire hazard, maybe a call to your local fire station would be in order. I lost a house in 1995 to a fire, and believe me I don't take any chances now. If I think there is a real concern I call out the experts!
Good luck with it. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 1:21:26 PM | I actually did call the city at 311 to ask about it. They said its not covered in the fire code so theirs nothing they can do. However doing a quick google search for "dryer fire" and "Birds nest" turned up quite a bit of information indicating it is a fire hazard. So I'm not really sure what to think about that. I know it can't be good to not have the heat from our dyers not venting properly though. All that humidity in the building can't be good. Bottom line is they shouldn't be in there. All that really needs to be done is to replace the vent covers with some ones that have screens.
I haven't seen any chicks but I can't exactly see very far into the vent to see exactly whats in there. I just see 3 or 4 birds flying in and out of there on occasion. Plus I hear them chirping away every morning. They've been living in there for at least 2 summers now, this will be the third. There are also birds in several other vents around the building. I would estimate in total there are probably 15 - 20 birds calling our vents home.
Last summer I hung a CD from a string on my balcony cause i read its supposed to scare them away. It didn't work though. I could try the owl I guess. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 1:42:13 PM | Our condo complex is having a similar problem with Nuthatch birds.. they aren't nesting in the dryer vents, but have pecked numerous holes in the Cedar siding! Most people enjoy birds, however they don't realize that they are and can be just as much a nusaince as mice. They are not clean creatures, and their nests bring about lice and mites that will enter homes.
Our condo board has decided to hang CD's around the buildings (that should be perty huh??), but by the time they made the decision, it was too late. The birds had nested.
Canadian Wildlife services will come in and trap problem birds (but you should be able to identify the type of birds nesting). They use rat traps and check them frequently. Sounds inhumane, but as I mentioned earlier, and infestation of birds is as much a concern as an infestation of mice.
If you choose to hang CD's, hang several instead of just one... Wind chimes work also (so I've heard). Christmas tinsel supposedly works too.
Perhaps a mesh liner over the dryer vent would help? The only trouble with that, is the lint has no escape from the vent, which in turn, doesn't resolve the "fire hazard" concern. HOWEVER, furnace cleaning specialists can (and should come in, at least every 2 years) and charge about $10 to clean out the dryer vents. Furthermore, a clogged dryer vent IS a fire hazard, and will also suffocate the dryer itself and burn out the motor, thus decreasing the dryer's life span.
Changing the vent itself to a flat, slatted vent would stop them also.
You should suggest that your Condo Board create a policy forbidding the feeding of birds as well... People love the birds, feed them, and next thing you know, you're either killing them or hanging CD's around your home to prevent damages!!
Candian Wildlife Control Service: 445-4501
Good luck with this...... I can relate to your circumstance, and know how irritating and problematic they can be. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 1:43:04 PM | Can you get one of those mirrors on a stick to take a look? The kind they look under cars with? That might help you see if there are chicks.
If it's a rental, your landlord should be looking into getting rid of them. If it's a condo then take it up with the condo board. It's not like the birds are paying the bills! | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 2:06:50 PM | Perhaps I will try the Canadian Wildlife Control that you mentioned. Suggesting a no feeding policy might be good too although nothing is really enforced around here anyways.
I've lived here for 3.5 years now and the vents have never been cleaned out. A problem is that the building is 3 stories high with a sloping lawn below. So therefor it causes challenges in getting work done. And also makes it more expensive. We don't have a ladder or anything to get up there to do it ourselves either plus I believe its not allowed due to liability issues, etc. My condo board president says he thinks it will cost around $3000 to get done. I think he just made this number up out of the air though. I really doubt that they've even had an estimate done even though I've been complaining about it for 2 years now.
The problem is that we don't have a management company. Members of the Condo Board try to manage the building themselves. All they are concerned about is keeping fees as low as possible so nothing gets done. Plus it makes it so that I have to deal with my neighbors directly on the issue which is at times awkward. I mean I'm starting to get pissed off but theres only so much I can complain and do about the situation before its get to be confrontational and leads to a worse situation.
Another thing that complicates it further is that I am technically a renter. My Mother owns the condo and I rent from her. However I basically handle all of the issues relating to this place, she doesn't really get involved. So this limits me from participating on the board and what powers I have in certain situations.
I'm saving my money to buy a house. I'm basically just waiting to see how much lower prices might get. I can't wait to be free of a condo board and be able to get what I need done, when I need it done. And also be free of the politics. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 3:26:32 PM | 3 words dude "12 gauge shotgun"
heh.
But I can empathize. I just finished living along the Elbow River in Calgary. I can't sleep with my patio door open because of the noise the stupid geese make in the morning. These geese should sleep in for christ sakes...and if it's not that, they're wandering on the road, flying in front of your car, hissing at you, etc. Now it's baby time for them, so there are even MORE of them.
I often sleep right near the patio door in my condo so I can have fresh air. I woke up early one morning to go pee, only to open my eyes and see 2 geese looking at me thru the screen. Other times they land on the patio and they honk. Wanna know how loud a goose honking is at 5 AM when you're 5 feet away? I nearly jump out of my skin
I've never gone hunting, but if I ever do, I know what I'll be hunting, legal or not. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 4:25:41 PM | BB Gun or Paintball gun. just kidding
If you can spray them with a very powerful water gun that could work
I was going to say the Owl thing too, not sure if that would work but I have heard other people talking about doing this. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 4:38:46 PM | The BB gun/water gun is to shoot the birds or the condo board?
I actually did try spraying the birds with a water gun. It works but only for a short time. A few minutes later they come back.
I'm considering having a lawyer who I know draft a letter to the condo board. Maybe that will prompt some action. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 4:40:22 PM | Can you not withhold condo fees until they deal with the problem? Sure, if your neighbors are on the board, it could cause some tension, but it is a safety issue and needs to be dealt with.
Maybe a drop in to your local fire station and talk to the cute... umm.. the firemen there and get suggestions? I know here they come around to check your fire detectors to see if they're working, so maybe they could come to the complex and check to see if indeed there are safety issues that need to be dealt with?
Maybe a petition to all the other residents of the complex?
I used to live in a condo, and I'd never do it again, maintenance was non existent, but honestly, to save a few bucks and put the residents at risk is not cool. It costs far less to prevent a fire now, then to have to rebuild when/if something happens.
Personally, I like laying in bed listening to the birds as I wake up, but I don't think I'd be liking it much if I was trying to sleep after working all night. Can't really blame the birds though, they're just doing what birds do, find a safe place to nest. | |
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| Smoke smoke Smoke!
Posted: 5/29/2008 5:06:14 PM | Disconnect the dryer cross venting so the smoke can't come backc inthe building then pump smoke through the system.
(then batter fry the smoked birds... yummyoum yumyum!! ) | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 5:43:54 PM | Message 6: I can TOTALLY RELATE!! However, being a resident here, my voice IS heard, so I can't imagine what you are dealing with. But of course I live amongst the "naturalists" who don't believe in killing ANY living creature (not even leaf crawlers that ruin trees).
DO NOT kill them. You don't know what kind of bird it is, and it could be protected under Alberta or Federal laws. (Though, we can dream, right?)
Call CWS and talk to them. They are the professionals, and will know the best way to manage your problem. Those employed there are nature lovers, but also understand the damage wildlife can create. Their advice would be your best take-off point. (and they will write a letter to your condo board too)
It's one thing to have a singing bird in a tree at 5:00 a.m., it's another to have one beeping, chirping or HONKING!! lol
P.s... I bought earplugs for my weekend sleep in days (it helps somewhat, in the meantime)
OE: I did the squirt gun run myself, only loaded it with ammonia.... It would keep them away for about an hour, and they'd be back. But it the end, my siding suffered less damage than those who didn't battle them out with water guns filled with ammonia... LMAO
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 6:03:38 PM | Sorry... I'm getting mouthy now, but, you mentioned the dryer vents have never been cleaned in the 31/2 years you've lived there?
I'd be raising a stink about that, especially if you OWN the dryer. Not cleaning the ducts will cause suffocation to the dryer, and it will eventually breakdown.
(P.s. I now realize you are in Calgary, the number I gave was for Edmonton)
Call Alberta Fish and Wildlife at 310-0000... they will transfer your call to the appropriate service. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 6:40:50 PM | Lol Yeah they've never been cleaned from the outside as far as I know. I've pulled my dryer away from the wall and cleaned in behind it and vacuumed in the vent a little. But the vent is probably around 20 foot long at least so its not like I can to much of it.
Last week my roof started leaking because a few shingles blew off. And when our roof was installed, they put no vapor barrier between the shingles and plywood. It leaked right onto my mattress. Luckily only around 3-4 litres of water came threw. It took 7 days for them to get a roofer out to fix it. So all last week I was sleeping on my couch. And now I have to have drywall reconstruction done next week.
Basically this building is in rough shape and its only 6yrs old. The condo boards main priority is just to keep the fees as low as possible. Unfortunately this has lead to neglect in maintenance which in the long run will cost more. Also they have been underfunding the reserve fund I believe.
Its not really their fault, I think they try to do the best they can. But they are just a bunch of young guys who don't really have a clue it seems. In my opinion a management company should be hired to look after the building. Then a full assessment done of all the things which need immediate attention. And if the reserve fund isn't enough for this, then a special assessment needs to be levied against the owners to pay for the repairs. Then we could start from a basically clean slate again.
But try getting your neighbors to agree to rising fees and a one time lump sum charge, I'm sure it would be no easy task. I think the best thing to do at this point is to sell before things get too bad and re-invest in a better managed/constructed building.
Thanks for the number Fox. Don't worry I have no intention of killing the birds although I must admit I have thought about it once or twice. I live near Fish Creek, a nice wooded area where I'm sure they can find a new home. They can even set up shop in one of the many fine trees which occupy my building. I just want them out of my damn vents.
I talked to my Condo President tonight. He said they are going to be fixing it soon. He told me was at Totem looking at new vent covers right now, hows that for a coincidence. I don't know what to believe anymore, I've heard this song before man. I told him to keep me updated. I guess I'll wait a week and if I don't see or hear anything happening, I'll call that number you gave me, or look at some other options. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 9:10:17 PM |
But of course I live amongst the "naturalists" who don't believe in killing ANY living creature (not even leaf crawlers that ruin trees).
I love all God's creatures too.....right next to the mashed potatoes. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/29/2008 9:32:57 PM | Aren't these vents usually screened? When I was living in a rented duplex in 2005, we had a mouse problem with them seeming to arrive behind the dryer. I checked our vent, and there was both a screen with 1/4 inch spacing and a metal flap that shuts over the opening when there's no air coming out. (never did find out how the mice were getting in. My cat was useles for 'em, but "Victor" got eight and there were no more after that.)
The repair that you want to try to get them to approve is vent openings that are screened and flapped. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 9:02:25 AM | | Magpies are the worst. My parents constantly have issues with magpies building nests in their trees. They are loud and obnoxious. Best thing to do is call Wild Life Control, or contact Ecopest. They may be able to recommend someone for you. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 9:29:54 AM | the fake OWL seems to work, at least for bigger birds
the local McD's put one on the roof as they had big problems with Ravens and seagulls, they do not seem to have any problems anymore. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 2:12:54 PM | | Hmmm i wonder if you could come up with something foul smelling to put into your dryer and let er rip the stench should go rite out through the dryer vent making the birds not like it there anymore and if the vent is plugged the cono board would have to leap into action or live with the stench and failing that get a pwerful vacumm like the ones used to suck gohpers out of their holes in the ground and suck the birds into your laundry room where u can safely deal with them ,your welcome in advance . | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 2:21:52 PM | haha thanks I guess. Only problem with that is that I will live with the stench in the interim and probably never be able to use my dryer again. Some kind of hardcore industrial vacuum might work I guess, however I don't like the chance of the birds survival in that case. Hopefully the condo board will finally get on it this time and take care of it, otherwise I guess I'll call that wildlife number.
Aren't these vents usually screened?
I'm not too sure about this, one would think so though. These vents however have slats (I dunno if thats the right term but thats the only way I can describe it) that the hot air from the dryer blows open. Then they would automatically close due to gravity once the air stops blowing I guess. However the birds seem to have pecked away at the slats completely to the point where on some they are no longer even there. On others they have jammed so much nesting crap in the vent that it keeps the slats from closing. They will be replacing them with a different kind which have some type of screen or something. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 2:40:48 PM | Fish and Wildlife, Calgary office - 297-6423
Would have sent it last night, but all my phone lists are at work.
Might not hurt to call the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and see if they have a suggestion how to humanely get rid of the birds? | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 2:51:02 PM | | Thanks for the number Northern. I wonder if they need to be relocated. Assuming their are no eggs or chicks in the nest, only adult birds. They would just fly out when someone comes to do the repair. Then they wouldn't be able to get into the vent anymore. Wouldn't they just relocate themselves and find a new home? Only problem with that is the new home they might choose may also be a place where we don't want them. I don't know much about birds, know idea what kind these even are. A call for some information definitely wouldn't hurt. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/30/2008 10:56:56 PM | I am wondering if mothballs in the duct would help. Thing is that would only be effective while the dryer is running. If you could push the mothballs as close as possible to the nest it might work. As for the smell entering your condo: as long as the back draft damper is functional you should be ok.
Also the slats (aka: backdraft damper) should have a birdscreen in behind, to keep birds out while preventing a dackdraft. Your real solution is bird screen...it is a 1/2 x 1/2 inch grid that will not clog easily. Where I live it is part of the building code. | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 5/31/2008 7:24:43 PM | | Shotgun,couple of boxes of shells,cold beverages of your choice and a comfy lawn chair...sounds like a good way to spend a saturday afternoon.... | |
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| These birds are driving me Crazy!
Posted: 6/1/2008 10:57:22 PM | I use ear plugs and sleep with a fan on. It might take a while to get used to the fan going... but it drains out all noise  | |
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