As a bird lover, am I over-reacting?!

Woolsery

greensalad said:

(I made a comment recently to my family about how awful I thought "I'm a Celeb" was because they're eating all sorts of animals and isn't that really cruel? The animals didn't want to be involved). Just got blank stares. "They're only spiders". 

I thought that programme was awful because an entirely different kind of beast was on it, but I just got blank stares too. Psychological manipulation at its finest!

Slinky

Woolsery said:

greensalad said:

(I made a comment recently to my family about how awful I thought "I'm a Celeb" was because they're eating all sorts of animals and isn't that really cruel? The animals didn't want to be involved). Just got blank stares. "They're only spiders". 

I thought that programme was awful because an entirely different kind of beast was on it, but I just got blank stares too. Psychological manipulation at its finest!

I refuse to watch that dreadful programme due to the lack of respect for living creatures, whatever they are.

TELLIT01

My neighbour's pots aren't capped, they have wire mesh domes on them which means the fires can still be used without concern about airflow.  It probably won't be cheap to do these days as any roofing work is supposed to require the use of scaffolding although some people may still be willing to do a minor job such as that just using ladders.

FreeBear

Gavin83 said:

FreeBear said:

RealGem said: 1. How expensive is it to make a chimney birdproof? (for a regular 2 storey house)

2. Would anyone else here have blocked the fireplace off before blocking the chimney at the top? (knowing birds could still get stuck)

1) Last time I enquired, all be it a few years back, about £50. But with inflation, I'd expect around £100 now.

I'm surprised it's that cheap. I'm also surprised they'd even come out for such a small amount of money. Plus I thought most trades would refuse to go on a roof without scaffolding in place due to health and safety.

The quote was from a chimney sweep, and based on the assumption that they would be sweeping at least one flue (for an additional fee).

Black_Cat2

I also love pigeons (not something I thought I'd say today lol) but unfortunately you can't tell your neighbours what to do.  Even suggesting something is a no no.  People take offence very easily. 

I feel pigeons get a bad press but they do have a place in 'nature's chain' by hoovering up all the seeds the messy 'cutesy' birds drop.  I'm sure if they looked like peacocks people wouldn't dislike them so much!

Embrace the pigeons peeps.  Plus they are great target practice for my cat, who btw, has never caught one.  Something about them seeing things in slow motion I think?  Should've paid more attention to Mr Attenborough! 🦃

Norman_Castle

Slinky said:

Woolsery said:

greensalad said:

(I made a comment recently to my family about how awful I thought "I'm a Celeb" was because they're eating all sorts of animals and isn't that really cruel? The animals didn't want to be involved). Just got blank stares. "They're only spiders". 

I thought that programme was awful because an entirely different kind of beast was on it, but I just got blank stares too. Psychological manipulation at its finest!

I refuse to watch that dreadful programme due to the lack of respect for living creatures, whatever they are.

I refuse to watch it because its rubbish. It should be called "i'm a nobody, get me on the telly"

Mistral001

Many people recommend that, when blocking up a fireplace, you either put a cap on the chimney, or have a vent in the wall where the fireplace used to be.  This is to make sure that the flue stays dry.  I have a vent where my fireplace was blocked up about fifty  years ago. There is a grill over the chimney to prevent birds getting into the flue but if a bird had got in by some means, I am pretty sure that I would have heard it through the vent. 

It is up to the neighbour of course as to what they do.  To make them feel more sympathetic towards these feathered friends, maybe you should give them a Christmas present of a calender with pictures of pigeons on it.

diystarter7

RealGem said:

Thanks everyone.

I was not upset about bird deaths in general, as most are quick! 

But the very slow process of them starving to death over one to two weeks is different. Maybe it's because I have saved several regular pigeons over the years that I love em so much. 

I once had a baby pigeon in a cardboard box, waiting for a rescue lady to pick it up, and I was busy photographing it. When I looked down, there was a semi-circle of six adult pigeons round my feet. They heard the baby's cries and no doubt wondered why I had one of their own in a box. 

It was quite a surreal experience. 

Hi OP
Thanks for this post, appreciated.

TBH, if you lived next door to me and said what you said to your next door I'd be miffed but I would act.

You are a caring soul, God bless you.

Your story remind me of an incident where a piegon hit our upstairs window and fell to the ground. As we have glass window wall downstairs we saw it - most fly off this one did not - it was a sad sight, we went out it was a warm day tried to comfort if put it in a basket and bread and water. Then out DiL came to pick our grandson up we told her - they have a massive garden and shed - she took it back nursed it for three days and the night before it was trying to fly but the next day it passed away - so sad.

You are a good person

Take care.

Woolsery

Slinky said:

Woolsery said:

greensalad said:

(I made a comment recently to my family about how awful I thought "I'm a Celeb" was because they're eating all sorts of animals and isn't that really cruel? The animals didn't want to be involved). Just got blank stares. "They're only spiders". 

I thought that programme was awful because an entirely different kind of beast was on it, but I just got blank stares too. Psychological manipulation at its finest!

I refuse to watch that dreadful programme due to the lack of respect for living creatures, whatever they are.

I didn't say I'd watched it, but I saw comments from those who had and felt sad at how easily the public are manipulated. Then I wondered if those people actually existed, or were more like the people in MSE's moral dilemmas!

Back on topic and our chimney sweep goes onto the roof annually to clean the bird cowl with a wire brush, charging £10 extra for the service.  We live in a bungalow, of course!

RealGem

diystarter7 said:

RealGem said:

Thanks everyone.

I was not upset about bird deaths in general, as most are quick! 

But the very slow process of them starving to death over one to two weeks is different. Maybe it's because I have saved several regular pigeons over the years that I love em so much. 

I once had a baby pigeon in a cardboard box, waiting for a rescue lady to pick it up, and I was busy photographing it. When I looked down, there was a semi-circle of six adult pigeons round my feet. They heard the baby's cries and no doubt wondered why I had one of their own in a box. 

It was quite a surreal experience. 

Hi OP
Thanks for this post, appreciated.

TBH, if you lived next door to me and said what you said to your next door I'd be miffed but I would act.

You are a caring soul, God bless you.

Your story remind me of an incident where a piegon hit our upstairs window and fell to the ground. As we have glass window wall downstairs we saw it - most fly off this one did not - it was a sad sight, we went out it was a warm day tried to comfort if put it in a basket and bread and water. Then out DiL came to pick our grandson up we told her - they have a massive garden and shed - she took it back nursed it for three days and the night before it was trying to fly but the next day it passed away - so sad.

You are a good person

Take care.

Thank you diystarter7

Aww sorry your pigeon casualty died. But you all tried your best to save it.