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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU- noisy aviary

30 replies

RhigaOsaka · 10/10/2020 19:17

Hello. I'm new here and learning all the shortcuts so apologise if I get something wrong. AIBU by being upset by the noise that is coming during daylight from an aviary two gardens down? I have spoken to them and they are a lovely old couple but all they said was "sorry, there is nothing they can do". They also said that now it is coming up to winter they won't be so noisy for so long. I told them that it was the summer when I would prefer them to be quiet because that is when I want to be outside.

They have an aviary that runs the length of their garden but it faces mine. They have a parrot, some cockatiels (don't know how many) and over 30 budgies. The screeching is fairly constant and I have to have my windows closed and hate going into my garden. The lockdown obviously made this worse as I was at home all day with my DD and DS (I'm learning the lingo). DH is also bothered by it but less so than me. I spoke to the neighbours next door and they said it doesn't really bother them but they have a yapping jack russell that is let out occasionally and maybe they don't want any complaints about their dog. Although I would rather not have the yapping they only let it out 3 or 4 times a day for 10 minutes or so. No, it is the screeching of the cockatiels and parrots that upset me and when they are quiet (not often) the budgies just chirp along.

Does anyone have any advice or should I just try and get used to it?

OP posts:

Original poster

RhigaOsaka · 10/10/2020 19:18

Also, if you think I am not BU then what do you suggest I do about it?

OP posts:

user12345796 · 10/10/2020 19:29

I don't know. I've never lived near an aviary. The 40.mins a day jack Russell would annoy me though.

clairethewitch70 · 10/10/2020 19:32

It's not a bird rescue centre is it? Personally I love the sound of birds.

ForTheLoveOfCatFood · 10/10/2020 19:32

Move (sorry) did you not hear it when you went to view?
You might get used to it, we live near a kennels and never notice the dogs but visitors often comment on it

user12345796 · 10/10/2020 19:32

Maybe ring environmental health for an informal chat?

RunningFromInsanity · 10/10/2020 19:35

You can report them to your environmental health team at your local council. They will then investigate to see whether the noise is significant enough to be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act.
They may be able to suggest ways to minimise the noise i.e. boarding up the side of the aviary closest to you

MyPersona · 10/10/2020 19:41

@clairethewitch70

It's not a bird rescue centre is it? Personally I love the sound of birds.

I love the sound of garden birds, but an aviary a couple of doors down from us used to drown them out. They also attract rats.

BlackberrySky · 10/10/2020 19:50

This would drive me insane. Pet owners who just shrug their shoulders saying there is nothing they can do are really irresponsible. They could reduce the number of birds they have and keep them indoors. What they actually mean is "there is nothing we can do without making compromises".

blue25 · 10/10/2020 19:52

How annoying. Some people are so inconsiderate. Why should all their neighbours have to listen to their birds?

I’d look into environmental health. I’d also have one eye on moving somewhere quiet and remote!

Nymeriastark1 · 10/10/2020 19:58

I'd move sorry I know that's probably what you don't want to hear. @clairethewitch70 I like the sound of some birds but believe me parrots a bloody awful. I had to house sit for someone who owned one. It's squawk is ear piercing, and they bite. They latch themselves to one owner, and tend to be aggressive to anybody else. Personally I think owning that many noisy birds in a garden is just as anti social as someone who plays music extremely loud in the night, or owns several noisy aggressive dogs.

Serin · 10/10/2020 20:09

I love birds (see username) but there is a world of difference between a song thrush and a shrieking cockatiel.
I'd contact the council yo see if they can help, if not I think I would move.
We backed out of a house purchase once, when we discovered the NDN had a whole flock of geese that went mental if they saw us in the garden.

Beagledbybeagle · 10/10/2020 20:09

Can you just try to find ways to ignore the noise. I have no idea how.
Before you complain to environmental health, how do you think they will feel if they are forced to get rid of them. In turn how do you think this would make you feel?
They probably do worry about the noise, but the birds must be a huge part of their lives.

Happyheartlovelife · 10/10/2020 20:12

We live right on the water. With a dockyard best by

I find the sound really soothing. But people comment on how loud it is

I don't even hear it now. Unless a ship honks it's horn at 3am. Which it does.

You can get environmental health out. Make a diary of the noise too

gamerchick · 10/10/2020 20:14

I'm not really sure what to suggest. What would you like them to do?

Branleuse · 10/10/2020 20:14

If you call environmental health does that not count as neighbour dispute if you want to sell up and move later

Original poster

RhigaOsaka · 10/10/2020 20:16

@clarethewitch70 I love the sound of blackbirds, robins, great tits and even welcome the magpies and crows but this is not the natural sound of nature and impossible to get out of my head. It really is not possible for me or DH to sit outside after a hard day's work and have a drink when the children have gone to bed.

When we viewed the property we didn't hear them and the second viewing was awful weather so we just looked at the garden from the windows. Stupid now I think of it. Moving would be an option but the cost of doing that is prohibitive before exhausting all other options. It is a smallish village we are in so a complaint will spread like wildfire I imagine though I'm not sure I'm particularly bothered if everyone knows it is the newbies that have started to complain.

I have thought about the council but wondered if I was overreacting. Thank you for your responses though. I should have joined MN ages ago. You all seem a nice bunch.

OP posts:

Original poster

RhigaOsaka · 10/10/2020 20:22

@gamerchick honestly, I would like them to compromise at least. One thing I thought they could do was put some cover over the aviary from, say, 5pm as I've heard that birds believe it is night if it gets dark in their environment. At least then I would know that we could all use the garden after 5. The children don't notice the noise at all so they play a lot in the garden but I cannot ever relax when I join them. I feel it is unfair but the old couple are obviously attached to their animals.

OP posts:

goose1964 · 10/10/2020 20:56

Try having sparrows nesting in your jasmine.

LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 10/10/2020 21:15

Climb over their fence at night and cut a hole in the aviary! Joking obvs.

Shizzlestix · 10/10/2020 21:26

I would hate this. I can’t bear wild birds being locked up, even a good sized aviary is awful. I love watching the budgie flock near me wheeling round the sky. They’re a muddy blue colour, presumably after years of inbreeding.

sonjadog · 10/10/2020 21:44

I don´t think I would do anything about it. If the other neighbours aren´t bothered about it and neither is your DH, it might be a noise that you get used to and don´t notice after a while. Just right now you are hyper aware of it which is making it worse. I would try to relax and focus on other things first. I think there probably aren´t many things they can do about it, apart from get rid of their pets. I think I would try to accustom myself to the noise before I went down that route.

user12345796 · 10/10/2020 22:09

Oh op I just googled how long do parrots live, planning to cheer you up, but unfortunately they will outlive the old couple and you as well.

Notnownotneverever · 10/10/2020 22:20

If they are genuinely a nice elderly couple I would question whether I wanted to cause trouble for them by contacting environmental services as suggested by previous posters. These birds might bring them lots of joy and happiness. If it was something less natural like a constant drum noise or stereo blasting or car revving, etc then I think you might have more of an issue.

tenlittlecygnets · 10/10/2020 22:29

@Notnownotneverever - These birds might bring them lots of joy and happiness.

But the birds screeching do not bring op joy, and op is entitled to enjoy peace and quiet in her own garden!!

Op, sounds awful. And I love normal bird nose! But screeching cockatiels - no thanks. I agree with contacting the council's noise department.

Good luck!

Original poster

RhigaOsaka · 11/10/2020 09:57

@notnownotneverever I do understand your sentiment but I have compared it to someone constantly playing music in their garden only this has absolutely no tune to it. Also it is very rare for music to go on hour after hour, day after day. This is my problem really, that i know it will never end. But thanks for responding because as they are a nice couple in all other respects I am hesitating about taking this further as kindly suggested by others.

Thank you @tenlittlecygnets

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