Some of my neighbor’s are starting to annoy me.
Published by amberlicious April 29th, 2009 in Favorite PostsThis is an issue of property lines. Who’s property is who’s. They want to build something on what I feel is clearly my property. They disagree since they’ve been here longer. We’ve not actually had ‘words’ although I’ve cussed at them under my breath while watching them out the window- invading my space once again. I know- you’re thinking come on, suck it up and go talk to them- tell them how you feel. But I can’t. I just don’t think they’ll listen.
Let me give you a little backstory. The previous owner of my house was a very nice woman. Very nice. From what I’ve seen and heard she’d do anything for anyone. With these particular neighbors she even raised a couple of their babies when they decided to abandon them. That’s right- abandon!
I’m not that nice. They keep trying to build on my property and when they’re not looking I tear it down. Then they come back and start again. They know it’s me. They don’t care. Persistant little buggars!
This is the property in question
and this is the neighbor
See the foil? It’s covering a little hole.
But they’ve started to peck through it. When they do and I open the lid to make dinner this is what I find.
So I rip it down and try to cover the holes with packing tape. (He’s pecking quite viciously)
But they just start again.
He’s back!
Actually there are two of them. They’re working very industriously on building a nest.
You see me? Well I’m watching you!
Dang neighbors!
Anyone know what kind of birds these are?
How do I get rid of them? I have to completely scrub my grill every time I want to use it! I’m afraid one of these days I’m going to open it up and find eggs inside!
We have that same problem! There is a hole in the top of our shed near the roof. Jake’s dad said we should cover it with metal like the bottom of a coffee can. Supposedly they don’t like pecking on metal? Another idea would be to make that bird house with Ashley so they woul dhave an alternate spot to build a nest in? Just a few thoughts.
Maybe some wood over the hole?
starlings - they’re a total pest and one of the few species without protection of fish and game laws. so get over your gun aversion and take this land war to the next level.
Oh my gosh! That’s so crazy!
And I can’t even spell my name right.
You are so funny! Never saw the bird thing coming.
Kristina’s last blog post..Superdell Caught Riding Dirty
I wonder if one of those fake owls would help? Or get a bb gun. Or maybe a slingshot would work.
Shanna’s last blog post..Ponderings from this mornings walk
No clue. But those are some persistent birds–wow.
Annette’s last blog post..WNW: Those Hook-Looking Thingys
Ha, ha, you totally had me going. On a completely random note, I’m impressed how clean your grill is. Of course, that could be due to constant cleaning . . .
That is funny! I was totally buying the story thinking it sounded like you had a great neighborhood but then neighbors who abandoned their babies/…it had me worried!
Good luck!
Rachael’s last blog post..Summer Dinner Idea
Nasty little buggers.
Kimberly’s last blog post..A Weekend Away
TOTALLY happened to us at my old house…only we did indeed end up with eggs. And they’re for sure starlings. Blech.
Char’s last blog post..Shameless Plug
That’s so funny - at least, for those not experiencing it. Haha!! You totally had me going, though. I was worried your perfect neighborhood was not so perfect after all and you were going to have to go through some big legal battle. Good luck with the birds!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate birds. I hate birds more than anything. I am so sorry. I would just fire up the grill and hope that they were in there. Either that, or get a pellet gun and end their lives.
Please don’t send PETA after me.
Vanessa’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
What kind of birds are they?
[*insert profanity here*] Birds!
We have those same neighbors! They built a nest in between our house and the rain gutter by our back door. Every time we go open the door, they yell at us and come pretty close to hitting us (they fly closer to us than I have ever sen before). I can’t get close enough to the nest to see if there are eggs in it or not. But one bird sits on the nest a lot. I wish I saw it sooner so I could have knocked it down. Dang birds!
Hilarious!!!!
And if you’d like, I can come visit and bring along my new handgun. I’m willing to do the dirty work for you pansies.
Sheri’s last blog post..Just some amusing kid stuff
Ick and blech! Surrender and get a new grill. No amount of scrubbing would take the visual of that big old germy nest on my food prep surface. Hurl!
Brien happened to be sitting by me as I read this. He suggested an owl to scare them off. Even if you put a cover over the entire grill they would still try to peck through it probably. I’m amazed at the giant branches they put inside there. Maybe someone at the feed store has suggestions. The people at our feed store would know what to do.
Starlings make me batty! They are the ones you see doing cool formation things from one power line to the next…especially if you go over the bridge on Riverdale Road. That’s about all they are good for. We have had to chase them off to protect our own little squatters. They don’t even making a cute nest!!!
We have a pair of red-headed finches that made a nest in the wreath on my front door (see my last post). I called the Ogden Nature Center to see if I could move them (they had already laid eggs) and they said since they were songbirds, they were protected once eggs were laid. He said if I would have torn down the nest prior to eggs that we would have been fine. I still moved the nest three feet over. They were on my door for heaven’s sake! I would have felt more guilty had the nest been knocked down and the baby birds died than I would have been if they abandoned eggs. They didn’t abandon the nest and now my dog just sits on the back of the couch and growls at them all day long.
In short, good luck! Birds are fun, huh?
Stephanie’s last blog post..We have squatters
I guess my packing tape idea didn’t work. Very persistent birds. We could learn something from them. Like how to make your neighbors shoot you.
Jo’s last blog post..An Apology Precedes the Whine
Oh my gosh, I am laughing over here! Not that I don’t feel your pain, but… I was totally thinking this was going to be something with a real (i.e., human) neighbor, so I just started cracking up when I saw the bird. You have quite a way with words!
Amanda’s last blog post..Rori’s Birthday
Wait until they are inside, cover the hole and fire it up. Tastes just like chicken.
That is crazy! I’m sorry, but you made me laugh with this one! Good luck!
Tirzah’s last blog post..Baby Wearing at its Oddest!
LOL! I was concerned for a bit too. Mom has a robin’s nest right next to the deck. It’s an okay location as far as she is concerned, but the cats may find it way too convenient…
do you like your eggs scrambled or sunny side up!?!?
seriously, how fun! i would rent it out if i were you.
We had that problem too in our grill. So we build a birdhouse and they choose that instead and left the grill alone. Eric built one with the girls and they had so much fun doing it. Just a thought. Loved the story too!! I really thought you had neighbors that adbandoned their kids.
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HA HA you had me going for a minute!
I was going to suggest purchasing a fabric grill cover but I like Trina’s bird house idea a lot better.
Beth (A Mom’s Life)’s last blog post..Campbell’s Soup is good food.
HAHAHAHA! I totally thought you had terrible neighbors who abandoned their children and kept trying to build on your property. HAHAHAHA! You kill me!
Sorry about the birds, but wow. Birds are a lot better than what I thought you were talking about! hahahahahaha
Brillig’s last blog post..Happy Birthday, Big Bubba!
This really was perfectly written. And, how odd!?! To have such a persistent nest maker in such an undesirable location would be annoying. But I’m glad they are not people. That whole idea of watching them build something on your property from your window was stressing me out! Because it’s totally something I would do…
Lucy’s last blog post..Book/Audio Review #56 - These Is My Words
Oh, it’s for sure starlings. I hate HATE those birds. We had a a set that made a nest in the eaves above our kitchen - constantly squawking, crapping all over our windows. The last straw was when got in the attic and was freaking me out, all running around and flying everywhere. (I made a neighbor get it out.) We eventually ripped out their nest (once the babies left) and covered it up with chicken wire.
Another thing that has worked in our garden (yes, they are eating our vegetable too!) are rubber snakes and CDs - flip the CDs over to their reflective side and that freaks out the birds.
ameliorate me’s last blog post..Easter! Or lack thereof.
WOW–that is CRAZY!!
I was great to see you again and now we can start reading each others blogs. Why didn’t we do this the last time?! I could be because I have NO brain cells!!
Jillene’s last blog post..The BIG 10!!
Yikes. Dang birds. Starlings are annoying. They used to take over the trees in my backyard during harvest time when I lived in Illinois.
it was awesome to meet you today! You are delightful!
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It’s definitely starlings. Dad used to hate them too and said that they were somehow imported from Europe and have taken over many of our native birds’ habitats. I still have a BB gun if you want to borrow it! Making a bird house sounds like more fun though.
I need to go check out my grill to make sure no one has taken over mine. Shirley has a pair of Robins who nest in her decorations on her front porch every year.
What about duct tape with the sticky side out? Their beaks will stick to it.
My mom had those same neighbors move into her attic. They are early risers and make a ton of noise!
jillybean’s last blog post..In your opinion…………….
Wow. Pesky little birds. Maybe I should go open my grill. I haven’t since last Fall. Wonder what I’ll find….
p.s. it was great to meet you on Saturday! It’s always fun to make new friends, and realize that the imaginary friends that live inside my computer are actual real people. Makes me feel a little more sane.
Sher’s last blog post..Random Sherisms, and Random Tunes
Aren’t you glad your friend from “Motherland” decided to post up a WHOLE bunch of links on her blog? I got directed here from her blog. AND it is NICE to “meet” you! You hang out with some funny ladies.
So sorry about the dumb birds!!!! Sheesh! Can’t they just find a home elsewhere???
One Cluttered brain’s last blog post..Hubba! Hubba! Is it getting hot in here?
That’s hilarious and adorable. I’m glad it’s not a feud with a real neighbor because that is SUPER awkward.
You got me! I thought it was human neighbors.
Put a 100 watt light bulb on an extension cord in there. I think they will realize it’s too hot. We had to leave our porch light on 24-7 because a little bird couple wanted to build their nest on our light. They realized it was too hot and they finally gave up.
Lynne’s Somewhat Invented Life’s last blog post..FOR SALE, VINTAGE TRUCK, PERIWINKLE BLUE
I happened onto your blog and was completely ticked off when I thought actual people neighbors wanted to build something on that incredibly GREEN lawn you have. Kudos to whoever manages THAT.
I still have my mouth open in shock that they would do that!
Futureblackmail’s last blog post..MOM’S DAY
MAtt said to shoot them. They’ll leave. Good Luck.
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Wow!!! I had no idea such little guys could carry so much stuff into one BBQ. I do have a bad feeling that the little guys might get BBQed one day. That will be a mess.
Mindy’s last blog post..Happenings
Dude, you and Sue at Navel Gazing have some serious anti-PETA issues. Maybe you should start a self-help group: WAAA. Women Against Annoying Animals.
Jessica G.’s last blog post..Housekeeping
lol- dang barn swallows are back to build right over my back porch swing again. I thought they were blue birds at 1s last year so let them be -but son of a gun poop, straw and flying hazards stink. good luck with that grill. be buying a new one if I was u.