Here is the news story by Jason Allen on CBS 11 tonite
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/05/30/protected-egrets-concerning-carrollton-neighborhood/
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Press...
Today has been a busy day. We were contacted this morning by Randy McIlwain from NBC 5 who ran a new story about our street on the 4, 5 and 6 o'clock news. He and his camara man John were here most of the day talking to residents and photographing our "war zone".
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Egrets-Invade-Carrollton-122841369.html
We also spoke to Jason Allen from CBS 11 who will air a story on the 10 o'clock news. He and his camera man advised us the Herons and Egrets have moved across the street as well. We will be contacting those neighbors to warn them of what can happen if they don't scare them off.
Animal Services had to come out twice today to pick up not only live but dead baby birds. There are also several eggs on the street as well.
Summer is not going to be pretty...
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Egrets-Invade-Carrollton-122841369.html
We also spoke to Jason Allen from CBS 11 who will air a story on the 10 o'clock news. He and his camera man advised us the Herons and Egrets have moved across the street as well. We will be contacting those neighbors to warn them of what can happen if they don't scare them off.
Animal Services had to come out twice today to pick up not only live but dead baby birds. There are also several eggs on the street as well.
Summer is not going to be pretty...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend
Due to the birds our planned get together was cancelled. We can't have anyone park out front right now. My husband cleaned the mailbox and covered it in press and seal to minimize the damage from the birds.
We have spoken to Endocrinologist's and Microbiologist who have told us to avoid the "poo". Leave your shoes out front and take extra precautions with animals due to pest.
I received a call back from TPWS and Burt Solomon's office. I called both back and left voice mail messages.
I have also received emails back from NBC and CBS regarding my email. We shall see what happens...
We have spoken to Endocrinologist's and Microbiologist who have told us to avoid the "poo". Leave your shoes out front and take extra precautions with animals due to pest.
I received a call back from TPWS and Burt Solomon's office. I called both back and left voice mail messages.
I have also received emails back from NBC and CBS regarding my email. We shall see what happens...
Friday, May 27, 2011
Today's happenings...
I was contacted by Phil Alvarado from Fox 4 News. I advised him I was at work but my husband was home and gave him his cell phone number. He did a interview today with my husband and the neighbors that was on the 6 o'clock news. Thank you Phil Alvarado.
While I was on lunch I received a call from the Mayor of Carrollton. He advised me that he just took office and was getting situated. He said that they take what the citizens say seriously and wanted me to know they were working on our problem. He said that the TPW and Environmental Services were working together and had been on our street this morning. They were trying to figure out a way to handle this problem and not cause any other problems.
The bird poo is high in nitrates and they don't want it going in the storm drains and killing the fish in the pond. Ok, question, what about when it rains? It all goes the same place. Wouldn't a controlled release be better than all at once?
I let him know that the Environmental Services Department had told my husband yesterday that nothing would be done. So I have emailed and called everyone. I also let him know that I had spoken with the Co. Game Warden and a permit is not required to remove the nest. He asked me to give him 1 - 10 days to come up a resolution for our problem. I told him I would give him the time he is asking for to come up with a resolution.
He also said he wanted to make come up with a plan for the future for this problem. I agreed that it needed to be done so no one else has to go through this problem. I also advised him that these birds are used to city noises. They are doing construction on the main street and a cement truck turned down our street today and stopped. It had the mixer running and was right under the birds. The noise did not phase them at all.
I am hopeful that the streets will be cleaned and a plan in place for the future. We shall see...
While I was on lunch I received a call from the Mayor of Carrollton. He advised me that he just took office and was getting situated. He said that they take what the citizens say seriously and wanted me to know they were working on our problem. He said that the TPW and Environmental Services were working together and had been on our street this morning. They were trying to figure out a way to handle this problem and not cause any other problems.
The bird poo is high in nitrates and they don't want it going in the storm drains and killing the fish in the pond. Ok, question, what about when it rains? It all goes the same place. Wouldn't a controlled release be better than all at once?
I let him know that the Environmental Services Department had told my husband yesterday that nothing would be done. So I have emailed and called everyone. I also let him know that I had spoken with the Co. Game Warden and a permit is not required to remove the nest. He asked me to give him 1 - 10 days to come up a resolution for our problem. I told him I would give him the time he is asking for to come up with a resolution.
He also said he wanted to make come up with a plan for the future for this problem. I agreed that it needed to be done so no one else has to go through this problem. I also advised him that these birds are used to city noises. They are doing construction on the main street and a cement truck turned down our street today and stopped. It had the mixer running and was right under the birds. The noise did not phase them at all.
I am hopeful that the streets will be cleaned and a plan in place for the future. We shall see...
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Our Representatives...
I have also emailed for help and put the link to the video to:
Texas US Senators - Kay Bailey Hutchison & John Cornyn
Texas US Representatives - Kenny Marchant
Texas State Senator - Chris Harris
Texas State Representative - Burt R Solomons
We shall see...
Texas US Senators - Kay Bailey Hutchison & John Cornyn
Texas US Representatives - Kenny Marchant
Texas State Senator - Chris Harris
Texas State Representative - Burt R Solomons
We shall see...
Let's see what happens?
Since the City has decided not to help I have emailed our request for help to:
Fox 4 News
NBC 5 News
ABC 8 News
CBS 11 News
Dallas Morning News
Let's see who responds to our plea for help...
Fox 4 News
NBC 5 News
ABC 8 News
CBS 11 News
Dallas Morning News
Let's see who responds to our plea for help...
Phone Calls Today...
Here are the phone calls for the day:
I received a call back from Dr. Shelly Stonecpheir with TDSHS and unfortunately her department is not the one to help us. She advised me I need to go to Denton County and the City. She had never heard of our problem before and suggestted we avoid contact with the bird droppings. She also advised me to speak with TPWD. I told her everyone I have called about this already. We are needing help.
I still have not heard back from the TPWD - Wildlife Services Division yet. I will be calling them tommorow since he was suppose to be in the office today.
Scott Hudson the Director for Enviromental Services call today. They did exactly what I thought they would do...they can't wash the street because it will disturb the birds! Are you kidding me?? Then you might as well block off the street, stop traffic and all neighborhood outdoor activites. We are off a 6 lane road that is a major throughfare for police, fire and amublance. We are also in the flight path for the hospital and two small airports. There is all kinds of activity on our street daily which does not phase the birds at all.
I received a call back from Dr. Shelly Stonecpheir with TDSHS and unfortunately her department is not the one to help us. She advised me I need to go to Denton County and the City. She had never heard of our problem before and suggestted we avoid contact with the bird droppings. She also advised me to speak with TPWD. I told her everyone I have called about this already. We are needing help.
I still have not heard back from the TPWD - Wildlife Services Division yet. I will be calling them tommorow since he was suppose to be in the office today.
Scott Hudson the Director for Enviromental Services call today. They did exactly what I thought they would do...they can't wash the street because it will disturb the birds! Are you kidding me?? Then you might as well block off the street, stop traffic and all neighborhood outdoor activites. We are off a 6 lane road that is a major throughfare for police, fire and amublance. We are also in the flight path for the hospital and two small airports. There is all kinds of activity on our street daily which does not phase the birds at all.
The Carrollton News is asking questions...
This afternoon a reporter from The Star knocked on the door and asked a few questions. He had been at the City Council meeting and heard us speak. We caught somebody's attention...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Phone Calls Made...
Well here is a list of who I have called so far about the birds:
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) (512) 389-4505
Spoke to a very nice gentleman who refered me to Texas Wildlife Services and County Game Warden
Texas Wildlife Services (817) 978-3146
Spoke to a very nice woman who took my information and said either Adam Henry or Randy Smith would call me back in a day or two. They were currently dealing with a problem in Athens.
TPWD County Game Warden - Daren Blackery (817) 718-5885
Great guy - took my information and called me back when he said he would. He spoke to a Biologist who said we couldn't move the birds since there was so many. He refered me to the Texas Wildlife Services and said they would be able to help us. He also said we would not need a permit to remove the nest once they were gone.
Denton County Health Services (972) 434-4700
They refered me to
Denton County Enviromental (940) 349-2920
I spoke to a really nice woman who refered me to
Texas Department of State Health Services (817) 264-4500
I left a voice mail message for Dr. Shelly Stonecifer and am waiting for a call back
CDC (800) 232-4636
They are just informational and not regulatory - they refered me to TDSHS.
Texas State Senator - Chris Harris (817) 978-3146
Spoke to Daniel Strickland who said he would call the City on our behalf
more to come....
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) (512) 389-4505
Spoke to a very nice gentleman who refered me to Texas Wildlife Services and County Game Warden
Texas Wildlife Services (817) 978-3146
Spoke to a very nice woman who took my information and said either Adam Henry or Randy Smith would call me back in a day or two. They were currently dealing with a problem in Athens.
TPWD County Game Warden - Daren Blackery (817) 718-5885
Great guy - took my information and called me back when he said he would. He spoke to a Biologist who said we couldn't move the birds since there was so many. He refered me to the Texas Wildlife Services and said they would be able to help us. He also said we would not need a permit to remove the nest once they were gone.
Denton County Health Services (972) 434-4700
They refered me to
Denton County Enviromental (940) 349-2920
I spoke to a really nice woman who refered me to
Texas Department of State Health Services (817) 264-4500
I left a voice mail message for Dr. Shelly Stonecifer and am waiting for a call back
CDC (800) 232-4636
They are just informational and not regulatory - they refered me to TDSHS.
Texas State Senator - Chris Harris (817) 978-3146
Spoke to Daniel Strickland who said he would call the City on our behalf
more to come....
Video of our Street
The attached video is of our street...this is what we are living with daily.
Can you say "gross"?
Hello Neighbors,
For the last two years we had Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron and Yellow Crowned Heron on our street. It started out with a couple of birds the first year, then a few more the next year and now...
we have a Heroine or Rookery in our front yard. We were never warned that the Heron's were the precursor to the Egrets.
First there we just a few, then a few more and a few more...there is now around 500 of them on our streets. We call the City of Carrollton when there were just a few birds which would have been a easy number to relocate. One neighbor told them he could not go out front to get his mail barefoot. The Cities response "put on shoes". Another neighbor called and complained about the mess the birds were making. The Cities response "get a hose and have a good time".
After a few more phone calls for help we get a pamphlet from the Texas Parks and Wildlife - Nuisance Heroines in Texas left on our door from the Environmental Services Department. It had a letter in it stating that same thing we have all heard over and over "Sorry, the birds are protected there is nothing we can do."
Really??? In the letter which quoted the pamphlet it states: "However, this beauty and concern for population well being cannot completely overshadow other management needs in certain circumstances where these birds strongly conflict with human needs."
What part of a there are 500 birds (right now wait for more babies) pooping on our trees, street, mailbox and sidewalk doesn't conflict with human needs? The pamphlet also talks about that they can be a nuisance when they are located adjacent to residential areas. These birds are not adjacent to a residential are they are in a residential area! There is also mention of the damage they cause to vegetation and the diseases they carry.
The neighbors banned together and we went to speak at the City Council Meeting. They are not allowed to comment on items brought up in the public forum until the next meeting. We shall see what happens.
For the last two years we had Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron and Yellow Crowned Heron on our street. It started out with a couple of birds the first year, then a few more the next year and now...
we have a Heroine or Rookery in our front yard. We were never warned that the Heron's were the precursor to the Egrets.
First there we just a few, then a few more and a few more...there is now around 500 of them on our streets. We call the City of Carrollton when there were just a few birds which would have been a easy number to relocate. One neighbor told them he could not go out front to get his mail barefoot. The Cities response "put on shoes". Another neighbor called and complained about the mess the birds were making. The Cities response "get a hose and have a good time".
After a few more phone calls for help we get a pamphlet from the Texas Parks and Wildlife - Nuisance Heroines in Texas left on our door from the Environmental Services Department. It had a letter in it stating that same thing we have all heard over and over "Sorry, the birds are protected there is nothing we can do."
Really??? In the letter which quoted the pamphlet it states: "However, this beauty and concern for population well being cannot completely overshadow other management needs in certain circumstances where these birds strongly conflict with human needs."
What part of a there are 500 birds (right now wait for more babies) pooping on our trees, street, mailbox and sidewalk doesn't conflict with human needs? The pamphlet also talks about that they can be a nuisance when they are located adjacent to residential areas. These birds are not adjacent to a residential are they are in a residential area! There is also mention of the damage they cause to vegetation and the diseases they carry.
The neighbors banned together and we went to speak at the City Council Meeting. They are not allowed to comment on items brought up in the public forum until the next meeting. We shall see what happens.
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