I wonder...

Do you think the Mayor, Council and City Manager would trade houses for the holiday weekend? How about it? They can stay in a house where you can't go outside with a mask on, the smell is horrible, you can't swim in the pool, you put your health in constant risk daily.

Why won't anyone help? Why are we being forced to live like this for some birds?

They are still here...

Well the birds are still here and the numbers are growing. I am really developing a dislike for these birds.

The Doctor's Visit...

Well got a shot for the sinus infection and am now on antibiotics. They also took blood to test for any diseases from the birds. I should have the results in about 10 days. I was also advised by the Doctor that any time I am outside to wear a mask.

Once again...why do the damn birds have more rights than tax paying citizens?

Going to the Doctor

I had sinus surgery last year to help keep me from having sinus issues. My face is currently swollen, sinus burning and starting to get a migraine. Oh the joys of living in a rookeries...did the sarcasm come through?

We are just incurring more and more expenses due to these birds.

Our water bill has gone up since I have to rinse the back yard of droppings every night. We rinse the sidewalks, trees and mailbox out front every other week. I have gone through more tape and Press N Seal covering the mailbox. I have flip flops and an umbrella I am going to have to throw away once the birds are gone. We are going through more than normal alchol, hand sanitizer, mask and Lysol. We have had to make trips to the Doctor we would normally not have to make and prescriptions.

When they are gone we have to have the tree's trimmed and put up all kinds of devices to try and keep them away next year.

There are several people in this neighborhood who are on fixed incomes. We all know in the summer your bills go up due to the heat. To have them go up for birds that are not even endangered and a invasive species is just ridiculous.

Sent a request to Washington...

Well found a couple of email addresses and sent a request for help to Washington. No one should have to live like this...you can't go out front with out a mask on due to the stench and feathers. The back yard is getting bad too...

Feathers...

The feathers floating through the air is just simply amazing. It looks like the neighborhood is full of Cottonwood Trees. Several of the neighbors are having respiratory issues due to the droppings and feathers.

This is just not good. No one  should have to live like this...the law needs changed.

City Hall...

Well we went and spoke again tonight at City Hall. The tone has changed, we still would like for the streets to be cleaned by someone other than God (not knocking the free water and street cleaning). The death toll is now up to around 75 and over 100 have been picked up total.

The law needs to be changed so they can be thinned out. The population is just to great for all the locations I have found out about so far.

They are in Carrollton, Dallas, Royce City, Ennis and San Antonio...

Here comes some rain...

Well there is rain in the forecast for the next two nights. This is the only way the streets will be cleaned while the birds are here. There are still more birds coming in building new nest.

September and October is a long way away...

The stench outside tonight hurt my chest. I couldn't stay outside to long.

The birds keep falling...

I am just amazed at the number of birds that have fallen from the trees. Seven were picked up just today by the afternoon. There are also more birds still coming in building nest and this is only June. We still have to make it to September....

Other Heroniries or Rookeries currently in Texas

I have found that there is currently a problem with these birds in Royce City and Ennis where they are in a populated area. There is also another that is in the middle of the San Antonio Zoo.

Why is the Cattle Egret protected? This is a invasive species that is destroying our trees. They will come back to the same area over and over even after the trees are gone. There is a area in a park in Carrollton designated a "natural area" where it is left to grow wild. This is not because they are trying to show and preserve the natural beauty. This is because they can not disturb the ground due to the bird droppings.

What sense does it make to protect the birds who don't even belong and make the people suffer...

Our Pool and Mailbox

Take a look at the feathers floating in the pool. This is a daily occurrence not to mention how they cover the yard and roof.

Here is what it looks like out front. I do not think this was the intention of the law created by our forefathers...

How sad is it that we have to live like this?

Since we are getting no relief from the birds we have had to change a few things. Our mailbox now has Glad Press and Seal on it to try and save it from the extreme amount of bird droppings. I have spray bottles filled with alcohol hand sanitizer and Lysol by each door. Outside the front door is flip flops and umbrella we can throw away once the birds leave. I also have particle mask for when we go out front to check the mail.

Last time I checked I lived in Texas. Why am I living like this? Oh yeah. The City Manager and Environmental Services do not have a program in place to keep Heron and Egrets from roosting in neighborhoods. Oh, correct that there is a plan in place if you live in a $250k and up neighborhood. If you are under that you are on your own.

Why is there no contigency plan in place?

Why does the City of Carrollton not have a contingency plan in place to make sure Heron and Egrets do not nest in or near residential neighborhoods? This question really bothers me. The Woodlands has a plan. Van Buren AR has a plan. Why do we not?

You would think after the "bone head" decision by someone to plow down the Rookery in 1998 and moving another one  in 2005 their would be. The City Manager himself took steps to keep them from nesting in the trees at his lake house.

Why was there nothing in place to protect the citizens? There are several individuals in our neighborhood who have respiratory issues. The dander from the birds is outrageous. The smell is overwhelming. The diseases they carry are numerous.

I think we need a explanation as to why and what they will do for the future...don't you?

We went and voted today...

Well we went out and participated in early voting today for the two open spots on the City Council. We made our voice heard!

The birds are still in the trees creating a health risk and destroying property. Thank goodness we covered the mailbox with Press N Seal. It is SO gross! We will not be getting mail by the end of the month. I don't even want to touch the mailbox.

The smell is horrible and will only get worse with the hotter it gets. Animal Control has us on a rotation two times a day. They miss some of the birds since they blend in with the droppings.

I also found out some other good information I am working on to help out the neighborhood and will provide details at a later date...

The Texas Commision on Enviromental Quality

Well I spoke with Sid with TCEQ regarding the water quality for our lake. He has spoken with the City and they know how they are suppose to clean the streets. If the rain washes it into the lake it is a natural occurrence. If we do it is a findable offense... how's that work?

So many birds

Spoke with a animal control officer and found out they have picked up over 17 live birds so far. They had to start taking them to another wildlife rescue because the first has been overwhelmed. I am unsure on this number but I think there has been around 50 dead so far.

There is still broken eggs, dead fish, regurgitation and droppings covering the streets. The City is holding steadfast that they will not clean the streets until the birds are gone. How wonderful...not!

We are being forced to be prisoners in our own homes due to birds. This is not what the Migratory Bird Treaty Act intended.

Shame on all the government officials who have let this happen. Remember what you put out there is what you get back...just saying.

Our opinion doesn't matter...

Some of our neighbors were just told by a candidate in the run off elections for City Council that the pulled the voter logs for our neighborhood. We did not have enough of a turn out to warrant help and our opinions did not matter. How wonderful is that? In the past the entire Council was recalled due to how they treated citizens. It may need to happen again. I thought because we were citizens we have a voice and our opinion matters. Can't wait for everyone to know...

More news coverage...

The Dallas Morning News article was in the paper today. It was the cover story in the metro section.

Channel 11 News Carol Cavazos also came out and did a news story that ran on the 10 o'clock news.

We spoke before the council and meet a few more of the neighbors. We received a notice on the door that they are going to clean the street when the birds are gone. It also had tips on how we could protect ourselves.

Does anyone in the City talk to each other or read what they put out???

I learned a new word yesterday...

Depredation. This is a well hidden secret on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's site. If you are having problems with nuisance birds this is the page for you.

Depredation permits are issued to allow the take of migratory birds which are causing serious damage to public or private property, pose a health or safety hazard, or are damaging agricultural crops or wildlife. For technical advice and information regarding hazing and harassment techniques, contract your local office of USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services. Should it be necessary to apply for a permit to kill a limited number of birds, documentation from their office that they have offered advice in the non-lethal control of birds is required as part of our application information. No permit is required merely to scare or herd depredation migratory birds other than endangered or threatened species or bald and golden eagles.

Found a couple more news articles on line

The Star - first news agency to get a hold of us
http://www.scntx.com/articles/2011/06/01/carrollton_leader/news/049.txt


DFW Urban Wildlife - don't know when they were in the neighborhood
http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/2011/06/02/journal/june-2-2011-chamberlain-drive-rookery-in-carrollton/

Yesterday's happening...

Well meet a couple of more our neighbor's yesterday. We had to do some work in the front yard and had to wear a mask the whole time. It is really bad out there...the smell is horrible. I also found a dead fish in my backyard. The trees are becoming bare, white and smelly.

These birds have got to go...they have no business being in a residential neighborhood. I can not belive our goverment officials keep hiding behind laws and forcing the tax paying citizens to live like this.

Got a letter...

Well I received a letter United States Senator John Cornyn. Impressed I got a hand signed letter back regarding my comments. Upset that the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act was mentioned again. I was told to call Linda Tschirhart-Hejl with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

I have already talked to her and know what I can do next year. It still does not help for this year...

Dr Bing Burton's comment still pisses me off...not a public health hazard but a personal one like smoking or being overweight. My personal choice was to get the birds out of my trees not live in a toxic neighborhood. We did not personal choose to be prisoners in our own homes. Karma is a bitch Dr Bing...

Today's happenings...

I received a call back from Kay Bailey Hutchinson's office asking for a email about the problem we are having. She will send it on the the United States Wildlife Services to see what can or may be done. Coach, Liz and Scott did a story with the Dallas Morning News.

I also found our story on a new station in Colorado! It was also on MSNBC...

Most of the comments on the news stories have been in our favor which is good. We want the streets cleaned and the birds gone!

More News Coverage...

Channel 33 News Story
http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-carrollton-neighboorhood-tired-of-the-poop--20110531,0,7605577.story

Channel 39 News Story
http://www.telemundodallas.com/Video/index.html

Regarding Health Issues

Well Mr. Bing Burton provided some clarity that the health issue on our street is not a public but a personal issue like smoking or being overweight. So glad for the clarity on that...not. We did not choose for these birds to be here and would move them if they were not federally protected. Why are they federally protected in my front yard? We did not encroch on their habitat they have encroched on ours. How can this not be a public health issue? It impacts the citizens, city workers, vendors and more...

Speaking of city workers they have been told if they are on our street, wear a hat, take a change of clothes, sanitaize your hands, don't scratch your eyes and shower afterwards. So this is not a public health issue it is a personal...OK....

We had a good meeting with the neighbors and hopefully will get the streets cleaned. That is the first thing we are wanting since we can't get rid of the birds. I am a animal lover but am really struggling with this...

Next is to make sure this does not happen to anyone else...

May 31st...

The day had started off as a good day...

Channel 5 did a live report from our street first thing in the morning. The poor girl was out front when all the birds were waking up and with the lovely (sarcasm) smell. The first thing she said was "I don't know who I made mad in the new room to get this assignment". We were rolling...

Linda Tschirhart who was one of the contributors to the TPW pamphlet on Nuisance Heronries called me back. She had advised me when they leave in the fall to trim the canopies and remove old nest. She also said it will not only take the citizens it will also take the fire and police. This is due to the noise we will have to generate to ensure they do not roost again in our neighborhood.

I told her the City was afraid to wash the street because if a bird falls out of the nest they would be fined. I advised her Carrollton has had dealings with the birds before they cost the considerably. She said the City can clean the streets and they would not be fined for the birds that feel out of the nest. This is because the City's intention is to clean the street not to harm the birds. This was great news!

I spoke to Landon Bell from Burt Solomons office too. I advised him the law needs to be amended so that Cities are not afraid to act and help their citizens. The people are the one's paying taxes not the birds! He advised me to call Kenny Marchmant's local office as a starting place. He told me to call him back and let him know what was happening. Once again hopeful...

I then received a call back from Adam Henry from TPWS office. He advised me again of what can be done in the fall when they leave. He also said in Feb/Mar when they start to return it will be a neighborhood effort to run them off. Not only will the adults return but their babies as well!! I advised him about the City being afraid to clean due to being fined for falling birds (Scott Hudson's own words!) and he said that it was untrue. If it is not the intention to harm then their is no fine. I also told him about the concern for the nitrates going into the storm system and then the lake. He said it does that when it rains. Thank you...is that not what we told them?? He said he was going to call Scott Hudson directly and discuss the birds with him. Still hopeful..

Channel 33 and 39 showed up to do stories about the plight on our street...still hopeful

And then...I then see a email from Bing Burton which says that epidemiologist, Juan Rodriguez does not think that our street is a public health hazard! Really!!! What part of dead fish, bird eggs, dead birds and extreme amounts of bird droppings are not a health hazard? One of my neighbor's was ill from being outside to long yesterday talking to the news. In a article the Mayor referenced a house had to be abandoned due to Egret's being on the roof. There was also a business that had to close. I have also spoken to Endocronologiest, Microbiologist and a family member who works at the EPA who all told me "avoid the crap at all cost". If Juan and Bing think it is safe why don't they rent the house across the street? Have a BBQ and let the kids play in the front yard. What a load of CRAP...Bird Crap!