Issue With Neighbour Feeding Birds

princeofpounds

The evidence for glyphosate being carcinogenic is actually terribly weak. The controversy arose because of a WHO-funded research group that put glyphosate on a list of potential carcinogens (ranked equally in Group 2A along with other horrors such as red meat, burnt toast, hot beverages, night shifts, cold sores, fried food, being a hairdresser and having a wood stove at home), but was particularly aggravated because of a civil case in the US where a jury was asked to decide about the cancer link in an industrial injury case. The jury was swayed, but obviously there is nothing scientific about a US jury.

https://monographs.iarc.fr/list-of-classifications

Many other scientific bodies have decided that glyphosate is either not likely to be carcinogenic or that the evidence very much inconclusive, despite being one of the most studied household chemicals. That includes other groups within the WHO itself, as it happens. It also includes the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority. The paper below describes some of the science (and regulatory frameworks, which are frankly often even more important to lists like this) involved.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515989/

TL:DR. It's exceptionally unlikely that you're ever going to get cancer from using round-up or even from eating food with residue on it. But you probably wouldn't want to bathe in the stuff on a precautionary basis.

greatcrested

Makes me think of my elderly father who has had disputes on a range of iisues with his neighbour over 2+ decades.

One is the cats. My father has a wildlife pond in which frogs breed each year. Problem is the neighbour's cats which attack th frogs as well as pooping allover his garden. He's tried all sorts of methods to dissuade them - electronic, various sprays/smells, wire netting etc etc but nothing works. Cats are dirty, messy, destructive and vicious. Neighbour just laughs....

AdrianC

Davesnave said:

Can you show me evidence that glyphosate is more carcinogenic than Jeyes fluid, especially at unknown dilutions?  I don't believe you can. I suggested a weak mix of glyphosate, ... which would  have roughly the same carcinogenic potential as a bacon sandwich.

Well, I know which of the three options I'd prefer to take my chances with.

Crumble2018

Lover_of_Lycra said:

The OP has cats that enter the neighbour's garden, cats that probably !!!!!! in the gardens surrounding the OP's house yet the OP has an issue with with a neighbour feeding wild birds and talking to the birds.

My thoughts exactly!  Cats are a bloody pain in the !!!!!!!

hb2

OP, cat proof your garden to keep your furry companions away from Mr NextDoor. You could try telling him that Jeyes fluid is highly toxic to birds - but that wouldn't help with his feeding and talking to them! 

onwards&upwards

He sounds like a slightly eccentric old man who likes birds. 

Just let him be and get on with your own life maybe?  

Davesnave

Mickey666 said:

Crumble2018 said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

The OP has cats that enter the neighbour's garden, cats that probably !!!!!! in the gardens surrounding the OP's house yet the OP has an issue with with a neighbour feeding wild birds and talking to the birds.

My thoughts exactly!  Cats are a bloody pain in the !!!!!!!

Yes.  Leave the old guy alone and let him feed his birds in peace if that’s what he likes to do.  The OP should keep their cat under control by fencing the murderous thing in their own garden.

I don't think most of us would mind the bird feeding or want cats to have free access to the old guy's garden, but I'd guess most of us would prefer not to live next to a plot from which smells reminiscent of the worst public-toilets of yesteryear are constantly wafting.

Also, some cats are quite pleasant animals. Mine, for example, actually hide from the blackbirds and swallows that bully them, and they've been known to run to me for protection if a pheasant dares  enter their domain. OK if you're a vole or mouse you would not survive their attentions, which is one of the reasons I have them, but 'murderous' doesn't quite strike the right note.

sheramber

I know it is strange but I love th smell of Jeyes fluid.   
My son's neighbour has   an owl bird scarer on her pergola.  Its head moves  from one side to the other slowly. It is to stop th seagulls landing in her garden.
Maybe something to  deter  the pigeons from coming into your  garden. 

daivid

Warhilt said:

Not sure if this is a unique issue as I've seen loads of posts with people complaining about neighbours feeding wild birds and the noise / mess.

A neighbour of my in-laws feeds Red Kites from their garage roof. They like it but I'm sure it bothers some others, feeding time can bring quite a number of Kites and I'm sure many have (unfounded) fears for pets and smaller wildlife they have in their gardens.

I have no solution for your issues though sorry.

Norman_Castle

The neighbour needs a dog.