[kimbers]

Recently I have been encouraging my grandson in bird watching, instead of having his nose in violent Pc games . He has become quite interested . To encourage him further a gave him a bird feeder and seed so that he could watch his garden birds and learn for himself. But during an inspection by the local council rat man , he was told that he had to take it down because it would attract rats . What is the matter with these people ? In the paper the other day an old lady was threatened with an ASBO for feeding her birds . Is it no wonder that all our garden birds are in decline ?

[Ben]

This does seem a bit OTT!

I'm not an expert (maybe someone can enlighten us here) but does a rodent control officer actually have the authority to request you to take down a bird feeder? Especially if it is on your private land. I would take this up with the council to hear their official line, or contact the RSPB for advice. If you're not satisfied with the answer, then why not write to your local paper.

What type of feeder are you using? I would argue that one of the standard peanut or sunflower seed dispensers makes little mess compared to people throwing slices of Mother's Pride on the pavement or into the lake at the local park - that's the kind of scattergun bird-feeding that councils do have to take a view on (there's probably some byelaw that obliges them to act).

Let us know how you get on, kimbers, and welcome to the forum.

[sharlr]

My mum was telling me recently about an elderly lady in Coventry who'd gotten into trouble for feeding birds in her own back garden, all seemed to be down to the amount of poop on the neighbour's conservatory, crazy world!

Here's a [url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2008/10/22/coventry-widow-ordered-to-stop-feeding-birds-92746-22090050/]link[/url] to the story from the local paper...

[sophiespin]

This is ridiculous,

I haven't personally had much trouble with rats around my bird feeders and we get some great birds - including a great spotted woodpecker :)

Although....the jack russell might have something to do with that

[Ralfy99]

ORIGINAL: kimbers

Recently I have been encouraging my grandson in bird watching, instead of having his nose in violent Pc games . He has become quite interested . To encourage him further a gave him a bird feeder and seed so that he could watch his garden birds and learn for himself. But during an inspection by the local council rat man , he was told that he had to take it down because it would attract rats . What is the matter with these people ? In the paper the other day an old lady was threatened with an ASBO for feeding her birds . Is it no wonder that all our garden birds are in decline ?

French rebelion!!!

[drew97]

I'd be quite impressed if a rat could have eaten any food from the floor under our feeder - it was absolutely packed with pigeons and other birds which had trouble with the actual feeder. It's ridiculous to persecute people for feeding birds in their own garden.

[Sandra]

You don't have to be a jobsworth and a moron to work for the local authority but it will obviously embellish your job application form if you are.

I recently read of a woman who, while giving a sauasage roll to her child, dropped part of it on the ground and was prosecuted and fined for "littering".

Of course, being a convicted criminal, her DNA will now be on the Big Brother database and all because of a dropped bit of pastry which was, in the event, eaten by the birds who left not a crumb.

For more on our local officials why not visit

http[color=#000000]//nannyknowsbest.blogspot.com/[/color]

[Jim Walker]

Interesting this.

A lot of the issues around bird feeding have been public health issues. As we all know most urban pigeons are nothing but disease ridden flying rats. If someone is bringing in a sky full of these mingers to their neighbours house every day then you can see why they'd be unimpressed.

The pest control bloke you mentioned Kimbers was probably trying to advise but lacked decent communication skills. Sounds like the neighbours might have a rodent problem and he's trying to reduce the chances of this spreading.

When we feed birds we do have to take a degree of responsibility for the creatures that visit our gardens. It is possible to minimise the chances of encouraging mice and rats by regularly cleaning under and resiting your feeders. This will alos ensure that there is a reduced chance of spreading disease amongst the song bird population.

One of the easiest way to deter scavengers is to change your bird food. One whiff of a rodent in the area and I'd switch to a no mess food. The wasteage is greatly reduced as is the rodents food supply. Rats and mice will usually go for the easiest food source and if you take it away, they should also go away. No mess food and sunflower hearts are expensive but are a very good food source for birds.

[ernestcharles]

There are special types of Wild Bird Food that you can purchase that prevent larger birds from feeding from them.

I would also agree with Jim that you should ensure you purchase no mess Wild Bird Food for your Feeders. As mentioned, these Bird Foods are more expensive, but the rewards will be worth it.

http://www.ernest-charles.com

[twinmoorview]

All of Jim walkers points above are bang on, there is a mentality by councils to generalise by treating each end of the spectrum the same so well intentioned & helpful helpers of birdlife (people who feed) get lumped in with the misguided although equally well intentioned People who feed untidily or too much leading to overspill) get treated the same, one leads to pests the other does what it says on the tin i.e. helps the general bird population to survive, I personally have planted many berry trees which feed the birds but do not seem to encourage the pests which I think is a good way to go but equally recognise that it’s probably not enough although if everyone did this it would be, I do think it’s great that people do feed though. Jim is also right about the disease pigeons spread if you look on my post re "is the wise old owl really stupid" there is a great picture of my owl with canker caused most likely by pigeons looking for Beach nuts. By far the most important thing Jim said was feeders of birds do need to exercise responsibility.
The council should offer advice not to discourage but to be efficient in the way food is offered & importance of not overfeeding leading to a rodent table on the floor under feeders as others have advised above.