CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Chandler City Council is set to vote on a proposed ordinance aimed at preventing excessive feeding of wild birds following complaints from residents who say large flocks have caused property damage and health concerns in their neighborhoods.
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Among those supporting the proposal are Thayne and Joy Martin, who say their neighborhood has been overrun by pigeons and other wild birds after a neighbor began putting out large quantities of bird seed each day.
“You know the movie The Birds from Alfred Hitchcock, that is how we feel when we take our trash out,” Thayne Martin said.
The couple said they wake up each day to “hundreds of birds” gathering on and around their home.
The birds have also left their mark throughout the neighborhood.
“You walk through our neighborhood, underneath every street lamp is a massive pile of poop,” Martin said.
According to the Martins, the issue began several years ago when a neighbor started putting out about 15 pounds of bird seed daily, attracting pigeons and other wild birds.
“We’ve been pooped on many times,” Martin said. “You can’t even go put your trash out without the risk of getting hit with bird poop.”
The accumulation of droppings has also created ongoing cleanup challenges.
“There’s nothing more irritating than seeing a little grandson putting a toy in his mouth and seeing the white stuff on his tongue and realizing it’s bird crab on a pool toy that I didn’t get a chance to clean before he found it,” Martin said.
The buildup of bird droppings, Martin said, led to premature roof damage.
“That bird poop turns into acid, which eats the underlayment and the metal fascia, and it makes your roof fail early,” he said.
The family said they spent thousands of dollars on repairs and bird deterrent systems.
After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue directly with their neighbor, the Martins launched a petition effort, collecting signatures from residents in their neighborhood and others facing similar problems.
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“We shouldn’t have to spend that money; that’s the whole thing. And that’s why we brought the nuisance bird ordinance forward,” Martin said.
Their efforts helped lead to the proposed ordinance, which would prohibit excessive bird feeding and the keeping of non-domesticated birds when those activities create impacts for neighboring properties.
“It’s not saying that you can’t have a bird feeder at your house, that’s okay, but when the bird droppings start accumulating on other people’s property, when you’re causing damage, physical damage, health concerns, that’s when you got to draw the line,” Martin said.
The Chandler City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance at its next meeting on Thursday.
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