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.

And yes, apply it from the inside.....so stand in your bedroom and do it.

@LostDesire I think exactly the same about needlessly killing rats or anything else. There are occasions when the rat population needs to be controlled, however I'm not aware of any small bird species that needs culling by random householders. And killing anything should always be instant and humane.

Sorry to misinterpret your suggestion as the sick idea of binning live baby birds. Now I realise you simply meant remove them from the nest to die, or suffocate or bury them alive in the wall. It's a good job you've cleared that up or I'd be thinking you were a sadistic cunt.

Is the vent like this?

@Lockheart that would be the vent. If I put pollyfilla on that it would be damaged and no longer work. And my ha would go for me. And actually I quite want to have a window vent.

You sound a delight op, lucky birds living with you

@Lockheart
Well.said.
🤣

Anyone want to chip in to book the OP a holiday in Bodega Bay?

OP, it’s not an infestation; it’s nesting birds. They don’t come under the same category as the usual pests.

You are right in that birds will nest between now and end of the summer as most birds, including starlings which is likely what you have, will nest more than once (usually twice I believe).

I have starlings in the space above my window. I have done so now for getting on 10 years. I would like to tell you they are not there all year round but I hear them shoving each other around and complaining at each other during the winter too. They don’t bother me though. They currently have babies and I enjoy watching them flying in and out to feed them.

You won’t be able to do anything about the nest site whilst it’s active. I think you’ll have to do something to block up the vents on the inside to stop the mess as you will not be able to do anything about the nest itself. It’s illegal.

You need to accept this and move on.

Are you sure it’s birds and not bats?

@JacobReesMogadishu yes exactly like that. I haven't dared open the windows since I realised as presumably all the shit is piling on top of the frame 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

Oh @Ulver there is no points to be had, I eat meat lol. I was simply pointing out the double standards we all have. Same with people who wash on 30c to save the planet yet they use bio washing powder which the enzymes don't get killed off at and get released into the water waste. Kills many a plant and wildlife.

And yes the law maybe broken in killing a bird but what about chickens? We kill them. Also can you say you have never broken a law in your life? What about killing? Have you ever killed anything? A ant maybe or the nits living on your dcs head? What gives a bird's life more meaning in your eyes?

I stand by my point. However I feel it may have been lost because of the nest binning statement.

Don't those vents have a lever to close them as standard...?

Oh that sort of vent! Well in that case seal it for now with some flashing tape. That won't let anything through and can be removed later on. It costs around £7

From the gov website:

All wild bird species, their eggs and nests are protected by law. You must always try to avoid harming birds or to use measures which do not kill or injure them before considering taking harmful action.

In most cases you should be able to avoid harming wild birds by:

timing your work to avoid the breeding season
using a range of methods that deter but don’t harm them
In exceptional cases the law allows certain exemptions to permit legal activities (such as a development with planning permission) and where avoiding harm isn’t possible. You may also be able to get a licence from Natural England for certain activities if you need to remove wild birds because they’re causing problems.

If wild birds are causing you problems, there are ways to deal with them legally.

@JacobReesMogadishu it's definitely birds. I see them going in and out.

You could also try plugging them with blutak, or plasticine. Will give a seal but can be easily removed.

And yes they do close with a lever, but flashing tape would make absolutely sure nothing could get through. Job done in less than 30 seconds.

BirdwomanofAlcatraz, I wasn't suggesting that you live in a hedge, my comments were generic regarding the needless destruction of other living things

You may need to be patient I'm afraid.

I'm sensing this may not be in the OPs repertoire

Nobody is laughing at you

Speak for yourself.....

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

Or the gap simply filled in once the birds have gone maybe?

OP have you tried logging it with 101?

@TrainspottingWelsh but killing a rat is not any better then killing a bird. Also rats are killed in a lot of ways suffocating them is indeed one way. Same with removing babies or "kittens" from the nest to kill them.

I guess if I am a sadistic cunt then so be it.

Bats have dry droppings, nothing like bird poo, so I don’t think it would be bats

@Lockheart @thecatneuterer yes I've closed them and put tape over them but like I say the windows are a bit fucked in general and the shit is still coming through.

Why all the nasty responses to a perfectly reasonable question from the OP? She's clearly at the end of her tether with this problem and not getting any help from her HA. Having birds in MY walls would drive me crazy, too!

I can't believe some of the nasty, unempathic replies on this thread. The ones joking at the OP's expense are just purely nasty - if you can't help, fine, but to mock her situation, which is clearly distressing for her is vile.

@LostDesire Can I say not to kill them because I'm vegan and dont kill ants either?
We all have double standards, eating meat is a big one because people are detached from it. Many wouldn't cut a pigs throat but would pick up bacon at the shop. But to kill wild baby birds with your bare hands? Jesus.

Might be house martins? They can get in small gaps.