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.

You can’t pay someone to clean your walls and windows because of your insurance policy? That’s very strange. What insurance company are you with?

Why on earth would she pay someone to clean her walls and windows? What insurance company is going to send someone out to Clean windows?

What are you on about?
She cannot undertake any structural work its not her house. Tenants in HA dont have buildings insurance as its the LL who is responsible for the upkeep of buildings!

She just wants the birds out her wall.

And why on earth would she glue wood over her windiw/wall vents permanently? They are there fir a reason.

I dont believe anyone would be happy with this situation. A bit of empathy not sarcasm and ridicule goes a long way.

OP.

What do you want from this thread?

You’ve had information and advice and you’re getting increasingly aggressive and inappropriate.

What can people do?

@EnoughAlready2020
None of it was deserved ? People genuinely trying to help and offer reasonable advice and accurate information ?
Have you read Op’s replies ?
Granted one of them has been deleted by Mumsnet now, but there are many others.

So there's a gap between window and brick?

It's more than likely a sparrow. In which case they'll be fledged very fast indeed.

However, you are unlikely to get anyone out. My sister's had no hot water on and off for weeks....landlord has had trouble getting it sorted in Lockdown and that's far more essential than this.

You may need to be patient I'm afraid.

You a being completely unreasonable. They're nesting, you cant kill the chicks that's madness. Theres something g wrong with your windows if the poo is on the inside of your window, does rain come through too?
Also, your landlord is completely right that this is far from an emergency and it can wait until after coronavirus lockdown. Just block whatever hole the poo is coming through until it can be repaired. The birds aren't physically in your living space.

Op is your house a new build?

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz hey. You did explain that. I was just trying to empathise with what a nightmare it is having birds inhabit your home. It's not the wildlife dream everyone in here is making out!

@Willow2017

Why on earth would she pay someone to clean her walls and windows? What insurance company is going to send someone out to Clean windows?

You’ve quoted me out of context there.

OP asked what people would do if it was their house. I said I’d clean the window and wall myself or else pay to get it cleaned (she is on the third floor- she might need a window cleaner with a ladder), but she said she couldn’t do that because of her insurance policy.
I didn’t say an insurance company would have her windows cleaned.

@Samtsirch yes your reply about how I'm a whinging bastard or whatever was deserved was it? Fwiw I haven't raised a repair in the four years I've lived here prior to this so no, I don't think I have a note on my file. I've paid for minor issues including plumbing and heating myself but I'm not insured for stuff like this as far as I know.

As an interim measure you could try Pets at Home or ring your local vets to get some household flea spray for your bedroom especially the area around the window that would kill flea larvae (unlikely possible that some could drop in from the nest). One application lasts 6 months and has the bonus that it kills house dust mites as well, which are a common allergen.

Much sympathy for the bird shit. We often have house martins nesting in the eaves of one of the bedroom windows, which are a joy to watch and listen to, but thankfully the poo is on the outside windowsill and mostly dry little balls that the parents push out of the nest. I might be less inclined to admire the wonders of nature if I had starling shit splattered down the inside of my window.

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz

Unlikely but possible I meant to say.

@NorthernLass75 are you being deliberately obtuse? My issue isn't about cleaning but about the fact that I have an infestation. Cleaning will not fix this.

It has fuck all to do with being a HA tenant, you'd get the same answer.

Nobody understands how the birds are shitting on the inside of the window, and because you are too busy ranting inanely to explain it, I imagine many of us are cynical about how shit gets through a sealed vent.

Also confused as to how you haven't had chance to film them and don't know which species they are, but you know it's one that nests till autumn. Let me guess, it's a pterodactyl.

I’m not being obtuse.

I’ll ask again-

What do you want from this thread?

You’ve had information and advice and you’re getting increasingly aggressive and inappropriate.

What can people do?

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz
It posted too soon.
At no point did I call you « a whinging bastard»
Those are entirely your own words !!!
People have tried to help.
Are you always this angry ?

Nobody will touch them with a bargepole at this time of year. They are protected whilst nesting so it's illegal. Nobody can do anything about them right now.

Also, you'd have to be massive dick to harm/disturb them yourself. Not saying you will but you sound irrationally angry about them. Have some more respect for wildlife. Just leave them be, they'll be gone in a few weeks.

It may be an inconvenience to clean up their poo for a few weeks but unless you lick the sponge/don't wash your hands you won't catch anything from them!

Tbh you sound a bit dramatic, they're birds, they won't harm you.

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz
Are you another « poo fetish « poster ?
🤣

It’s not an ‘infestation’. You just sound paranoid when you keep saying that. They’ll go soon enough, and use the suggestions you’ve been given in the meantime.

How is a pair of nesting birds an 'infestation'?

she might need a window cleaner with a ladder
To clean the inside of her window?

What kind of birds are thse? I'm still stuggling to picture this.

Small like a blue tit or a sparrow?
Medium like a blackbird?
Large like a golden eagle or albatross?

Come on OP, take a deep breath and calm down. It's hardly an infestation. Maybe the birds aren't happy about that human infesting their nest and ranting and raving the whole time whilst they are trying to get on with raising their babies.

Don't go licking the bird poop & it will pass. You aren't going to catch the bird-lurgie. Do't be hysterical.

Link to legislation - www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-surveys-and-licences

If the gap is this big then you need that looking at. I’m surprised water isn’t getting in.

Annoying for you but you aren’t allowed to disturb nesting birds. Nesting season isn’t until autumn, it’ll been a few weeks.

Once they’ve gone try the HA again. There is clearly a structural problem with the house and having birds nesting in it won’t help.

It's hardly an infestation. You've got some birds nesting above your wall. If you had a bedbugs nest behind your headboard you'd have a point but you're massively overreacting to this.