AIBU to ask the housing association to remove birds from my wall? And if I'm not BU, how can I make them do it?

[BirdwomanofAlcatraz]

There are birds in the outside wall of my bedroom. I first became aware a couple of weeks ago when I heard them scratting around in the early morning and saw them flying back and forwards, also that there is bird poo on the inside of my window.

I phoned the housing association and told them but they knocked me back on four fronts: 1) that they don't believe the birds are in the walls, I need to have footage of them going in and out of the wall (I'm on the third floor, they're quick, I've tried standing outside with my phone and pressing record but they're too quick for me, really I stood there for a long time like a crazy person but it's split second movements when they go in and out)
2) that the marks on the window are just marks. They're not just marks. It's actual bird poo dropping down the window on the inside
3) that there's a pandemic on. Yes I know this but this is an infestation and I am concerned if fleas etc are also dropping down the window
4) the birds are probably in the eaves. Well if they were I wouldn't be concerned, but they're not. They're in the space directly above my window. I have seen them with my own eyes going in and out and so have my neighbours. There is a gap in the wall that they're getting in and out of.

What can I do? I've submitted a complaint after they dismissed my request for maintenance but not heard anything. As far as I know landlords do still have a duty to ensure their properties are not infested, even at this time. I pay my rent every month and haven't asked for a repair before. This is driving me crazy.

Hi OP. Forgive me if I'm being dim or missed you saying somewhere but have you tried videoing the birds instead of photographing them? Even if you couldn't send the video to the housing association, you could still take still shots from the video to send as pictures. This sounds like a crazy and frustrating situation, and because it's birds and not vermin I can imagine people wouldn't take it as seriously. I hope you manage to get it sorted x

From the RSPB website
All birds their nests and eggs are protected by law: the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981. This makes it an offence, with certain exceptions, to deliberately take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. It is also illegal to take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.

Also this on their site about nests in your roof
What should I do about a nest in my roof?

You don’t have to do anything about a nest in your roof. Many birds use roof spaces for nesting, generally doing no harm whilst there. Because all wild birds and their active nests are protected by law, it would be a criminal offence to remove or block off an active nest. We recommend that any roofing work is scheduled to be done outside the spring and summer months when birds are likely to be nesting.

Block it from the inside. Wait until they have raised the chicks, unblock, clean it up. Then get it blocked properly.

And calm down before you burst something.

When the babies have fledged, hang some old Shiny CD’s on string sa a deterrent when they move in the wind?....and place a large black cut-out shape of a predatory hawk on the window glass?

If you’ve taped up the vents how is the shit still getting in?

I am also baffled by the number of people who apparently can't understand why the OP is bothered by a light smattering of birdshit raining into her bedroom and the possibility of a few friendly fleas. I would be very upset by this too and frankly I think most people would be. If they're on this list you can disturb them on the terms of this licence by the way: www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-for-public-health-or-safety-gl35

Yabvvu and ridiculous. We have plenty every year in the eaves, and loads more in the stables and barns shitting everywhere. You'll be pleased to know nothing, nobody and nowhere has ever caught fleas. You'll also be relieved to know that even if the fleas weren't host specific, they live on the host, not in the intestines. HTH.

Of course, if you've sealed the vents and they are managing to shit on the inside of your window because it's basically a piece of glass loosely supported by bricks then it's reasonable to ask them to remedy that. But I'll hazard a guess your window has a frame and is waterproof like any other.

Do you breathe on the inside of the window when you're talking about the birds in the eaves? Because that would explain where the shit is coming from.

I stayed in a holiday cottage with blue tits nesting next to the bedroom. First light they chirped up.
Bloody things

So I bought them food and put it on the window ledge to help make the parents life a bit easier.

Lovely to watch.
On a practical side, could you block it with clingfilm and sellotape.

Someone I know used to work for a local housing association, they deliberately went out of their way to be as unhelpful / inaccessible to difficult or aggressive customers ; they were marked on any notes/ communications as SG ( shitty git )
Is there the remotest possibility that you may fall into this category OP.?.
Also local councils and housing associations are actively encouraged to promote wildlife and so would not go near an active nest, unless to protect it.
Love and peace to you sunshine 🌞

yeah it's not just cleaning. Off you pop, pet

I’m afraid you don’t get to dictate who roosts where.

It’s like a script on here sometimes.

OP- AIBU?
Majority of MN- Yes.
OP- we’ll I’m noooot and I’m going to stomp my feet and be rude and abusive.

Honestly, OP, you’ve had loads of good advice on here and you’re getting increasingly ruffled.

1. The staff at your HA are working from home, trying to give a good service on a laptop instead of the 2/3 screens they normally have, often with a less reliable connection. They have a whole new set of criteria to use when deciding whether to raise a job. If they need advice they have to phone or e mail a manager and to top all that they have to take abuse from tenants who think it's acceptable to slate someone for doing their job diligently.
2. There is a pandemic! 20000 people have DIED in this country already. Your HA will be following advice from the government and Public Health UK and only raising emergencies to try and keep their tenants AND staff safe. This is in NO WAY an emergency.
3. Check your tenancy agreement. Pests are a tenant's responsibility unless they are in a communal area. When pest control have removed the pest, your HA will arrange to block their means of access. Obviously this would be when the lockdown is lifted and they are able to raise routine repairs.

I’m with the birds, sadly they have to live near someone so negative who hates them. We have starlings nesting above our bedroom window and a flock of sparrows in our ivy. It is a joy. Both species are on the Red Endangered list. There is some poo on the window, but it is temporary during the Spring nesting period and can be cleaned.

If it's in the roof space, it's not a tenant repair. It's building maintenance and will always be a low priority, as it's not bound by any legal timescales or priority. Add in that they'd need scaffolding hire, a scheme of works and several thousand pounds spare in the budget and it's not going to be done.

The only thing you can do is seal the vents. If they're Swallows, they won't be around for anything like as long as Autumn. They'll be long gone by them and you can block the vents more permanently.

I had a Starlings' nest in my first house - they got in a hole left by an old water tank overflow pipe and nested somewhere either in the airing cupboard or the loft. I was woken up by them every morning that summer - they were rather sweet and I missed them when they fledged. Never had any problems with fleas or mites.

I see what my mistake was now. It was saying that I'm a HA tenant. For the record, I pay my rent myself, I don't have permission to undertake structural work, the birds are not in the eaves but in my wall directly above my window and nesting season lasts until autumn. I have two children both of whom have multiple allergies, I have bird shit running down my window, my landlord who I pay is refusing to do anything about it, I have no way of sorting out this infestation myself but god forbid I should expect any useful advice about how to keep me and my family safe from a parenting website because everyone on it is either jealous of me for having a "free" HA house (that I pay for) or desperate to categorise me as a greedy planet raping bitch for not wanting to have wild animal faeces in my home. Well, now we know what Mumsnet is.

“A greedy planet-raping bitch”?

Did I miss the post where someone called you that?

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
When you are feeling better, calmer, read through the whole of the thread again.

People have given various ideas for sorting this out but you clearly don't want to follow any of them. I'm not really sure what answer you are looking for.

If I was the bird in your house I'd move.

Friend has the same issue. HA but she is on benefits, carer for her disabled son. They wouldn't come out last year, she put herself into debt consulting someone about it, who didn't find that they were coming in through the wall, so she's still stuck with the problem and the HA still won't look into it (and that was pre lockdown).

It would have me freaking, as much as I love nature, I understand how you feel.

Ah, I have birds nesting right above my bedroom window. I bloody love them. I like to sit in bed with a cuppa and watch them flutter off to find food for the babies. 😍

Hi OP.

We had a similar issue to you and it is a big pain. Birds make a lot of noise and they were nesting right on top of my daughters bedroom and the poor thing was waking up in the wee hours of the morning.

I love nature like the rest of them, but like you not in my house. Unfortunately we had to do what others were suggesting, we paid to have the sofits replaced in the house so that the birds couldn't nest in them.

You've had an awful time in this thread and none of it's deserved. Good luck x

Just what @Suchawitch said.

I really think you should re-read some of the stuff you’ve posted. If you still think you’re being reasonable and level-headed and most of the folk on here are misguided, then why not contact your local councillor or MP?

In answer to your questions:

You can't make the HA move an active nest. Birds will fledge quickly, it's smarter of a few weeks. They may reuse a nest for a second brood so you have an opportunity once this brood has gone to remove it block the nest site.

If it bothers you do much, you may have to.pay someone to do this.

In the meantime you have had some very sensible suggestions made to you.

Hi @EnoughAlready2020 it's not the soffits. It's literally that there's a gap at the top of the window between the window and the wall. So there's like window, then frame, then gap. I don't even know how that happened but it's there. None of the windows arr that great here tbh, they don't open or close properly, but in my bedroom it's particularly bad.

Come on OP, they will be gone soon. Nesting season started very early this year.

No one cares about your HA, they care about you BU.

Peace.