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.

Or be kind and kill baby birds kind?

It's going to need cleaning, and bricks moving and stuff

Why would you say that? Wait until they've gone, leave the nest and plug the hole up. It'll just disintegrate over time. Nobody is going to take bricks out to clean it out.

Ew. Yeah just throw the baby birds in the bin. While you're at it, theres a neighbourhood cat bullying my dog, throw that in while you're at it.

In all seriousness. YOU cant do anything about it. The wall needs fixing so liquids from outside dont get inside. But your landlord is not allowed, by law, to disturb the nest. So block the entrance, wait for nesting to stop then ask your landlord to fix it. If he wont, move out. Easier said than done maybe, but you can't do structural work to someone elses property. And you cant disturb bird nest in use. You just cant. By law and also, if you throw baby birds in the bin you are scum.

Oh yah I just hand reah the chicks while I'm doing my affirmations and getting Jemima to lick the bird shit off the window yah her immune system is great yah #trulyblessed #shitinmyroomyah

We have jackdaws who nest in our wall each year, I love to hear the new babies peeping and know they have bred successfully again. I don't really understand how you are getting bird poo inside your window. What type of bird are they?

Here we go, once again, as soon as anything has even the slightest impact on the 'oh, so important human species' it has to be removed, destroyed, treated as vermin and/or put to death. If it's not spiders it is ants, wasps, woodlice, earwigs, mice and now...it's birds. I despair. All of these wonderful creatures were around long before humans, the most pointless and destructive species of all, appeared on the scene. And, provided we don't destroy them all in the interim, they will still be around long after the human species has died out.

And, whilst I am riding my hobby horse, yes, it is an absolute offence to wilfully or knowingly destroy a wild bird's nest containing eggs or chicks. Why then, as soon as spring, and the nesting season, is here is it accompanied by the buzz, hum and whine of hedgetrimmers being wielded by tidy minded 'gardeners', intent on manicuring their hedges, regardless of the destructive outcome for wildlife, particularly nesting birds. I would hope that if people could only see the carnage they are causing to nests, containing eggs or chicks, they would cease and desist forthwith. Please, may I ask you to consider if cutting your hedge is really neccessary before late summer and the end of nesting season. Farmers are not permitted to cut their hedges from 1st March to 31st July, for this very reason, except in exceptional circumstances, in the interests of public safety, alongside a road, for example, where vision is impeded. The same law should apply to domestic hedges.

I fear there is more shit coming out of your mouth now than will ever be on your window.

@TrainspottingWelsh but yet people kill rats all the time. They are wildlife. See what I mean about double standards? Anyhow the foam would kill them. And I did say bin the nest, not the live birds.

@Binterested thank you. I'm actually quite a fan of birds normally but this is horrible!

Few of the posters here are frankly disgusting human beings...

The chocks will be gone in two weeks or less. Just listen for the beeps. When they stop, clear it and fill the hole. Or get someone to do it.

Op, research H&s regs a bit, write to LL/HA, Mark it urgent, say your kids are lockdown and at risk and insist THEY come and temporarily block up the gap (to the outside that shouldn’t be there anyway...)

I’m sure that the OP will use her natural charm to make it happen.
🙄
The kids are not at risk. The nesting birds are small and fast according to the OP, it would be different if there were pigeons as they are a health risk.
The OP can block the vent herself.
Honestly doing a bit of DIY in the middle of a pandemic is not a big deal.
But she would rather create a huge drama and swear at everyone and wheel her kids out as victims while railing against the middle classes.
Unnecessarily Dramatic.

@Beekeeper1 I don't live in a fucking hedge tho.

LostDesire

@TrainspottingWelsh but yet people kill rats all the time. They are wildlife. See what I mean about double standards? Anyhow the foam would kill them. And I did say bin the nest, not the live birds.
So you are happy to encourage someone to break the law and destroy wildlife on a public forum?
Just to score imaginary points about eating meat?
How edgy of you 🙄

@OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow clear it using my three storey legs?

Sorry OP I could only see the first page of responses when I replied. Obviously you have explained the issue.

Why wouldn’t you have 3 storey legs?

They would go with the bungalow sized mouth.

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz what? You have three-storey legs?

Well unfortunately no one was able to tell the birds that they're not allowed to share our houses. So whether you live in a hedge or a mansion it's all equal in their eyes, it's a secure, private place to rear vulnerable young.

If you block the vent is there any other impact on yourself from the birds nesting there?

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz
Surely you mean your fucking three storey legs?😀

Right.

Well, ignoring the large part of the thread which is on fire, if the problem is a gap between your window frame and the wall, why not use some polyfilla, or mastic sealant if the gap is narrow. They're cheap, easy to use and only takes a few minutes to do.

@OldGranvilleHouse well obviously. And a jetpack.

@Lockheart because. I'm. Three. Storeys. Up.

Bird woman, are you on drugs?

@BirdwomanofAlcatraz I. Know. But. If. It. Is. Coming. Down. The. Inside. Of. Your. Windows. Then. Apply. It. To. The. Gaps. On. The. Inside.

I wouldn’t want bird shit inside my bedroom either and I’d like to think if a bird is nesting in your cavity wall or attic or house then you can disturb it.

Do you need the vents? Could you seal it up with silicone sealant, the clear stuff so the HA never notice you’ve done it. And deny all knowledge if they do.

Write to your MP?