6 STAR AVENUE - LETTER FROM NEIGHBOR REGARDING NUISANCE 2
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10/11/23, 10:46 AM SeeClickFix CRM
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Salem Health Department
Sanitarian-JM
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opened: 10/10/2023 11:13 AM
Acknowledged: 10/11/2023 10:46 AM
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An anonymous SeeClickFix user I Registered User
Opened
10/10/2023 11:13 AM
City of Salem G2'(https://seeclickfix.com/users/1354684) 1 Verified Official
Assignment
0
City of Salem assigned this issue to Salem Health Department
Flag • 10/10/2023 11:13 AM
An anonymous SeeClickFix user I Registered.User
Comment
Resident providing food to local pigeons through means of scattering nuts and other feed onto residential public street outside
front of property as well as ground area near back of property.This ongoing practice has led to pigeons and other rodents
seeking shelter in neighboring buildings causing corrosion/damage and creating a health hazard due to the excreta of pigeons
left on sidewalks,cars and nearby properties.Additionally,this resident's feeding habits has created a rodent infestation in and
around the surrounding area that have taken up residency in neighboring properties;which has now caused a small population of
coyotes to frequently enter the nearby properties to hunt these rodents and creating an unsafe environment for neighboring
pets/children/residents.
Flag . 10/10/2023 3:54 PM
An anonymous SeeClickFix user I Registered User
Comment
Resident providing food to local pigeons through means of scattering nuts and other feed onto residential public street outside
front of property as well as ground area near back of property.This ongoing practice has led to pigeons and other rodents
seeking shelter in neighboring buildings causing corrosion/damage and creating a health hazard due to the excreta of pigeons
left on sidewalks,cars and nearby properties.Additionally,this resident's feeding habits has created a rodent infestation in and
around the surrounding area that have taken up residency in neighboring properties;which has now caused a small population of
coyotes to frequently enter the nearby properties to hunt these rodents and creating an unsafe environment for neighboring
pets/children/residents.
Flag • 10/10/2023 3:59 PM
Sanitarian Gr(https.//conversations.seeclickfix.com/organizations/407/constituents/188496) I Verified Official Edit
Acknowledged
https://crm.seeclickfix.com/#/organizations/407/issues/154183l 9 2/3
Dwen V. Green
31 Juniper Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
October 18,2023
ATTN: Dave Greenbaum
Department of Health
Salem, MA 01970
RE: 6 Star Ave.,Salem Willows; Susan and Kathy Ellis(homeowners); (Priscilla Hobbs-tenant)
Dear Mr.Greenbaum:
As it may be difficult to gain a complete perspective with only a brief inspection of the current situation
at 6 Star Ave in Salem Willows, I hope this letter will be helpful in providing more clarity of the
circumstances we've been dealing with for quite a long time now.
Priscilla Hobbs' bird feeding ritual that is overtly carried on at the rear garden adjacent to ours has
caused a private nuisance that substantially interferes with the safe use and enjoyment of our property.
She has created a condition that is harmful to our health and obstructs the free and ordinary use of our
property.
When I spoke with Priscilla in the Spring of this year,she acknowledged there was an ongoing problem
with pigeons in the immediate area. Upon further discussion,she readily admitted that her use of the
public street for feeding may have contributed to the recent uptick in pigeon infestation on our
property. She agreed to stop scattering nuts and other feed onto the street(6 Star Ave)and ground
areas as it was contributing to the increased volume of pigeons and rodents seeking shelter in our
property and neighboring buildings.
She has been asked numerous times by other neighbors nearby to either relocate or stop her feeding
as well. As one neighbor put it,"I've complained to her about the bird excrement in my garden and
lawn for years."
Between 30-60 pigeons gather daily for her feeding creating a frenzy whenever they see her come
home or step outside. The bird food, nuts,etc.,has attracted various degrees of rodents causing a
rodent infestation in and around the surrounding properties; which has now caused a small population
of coyotes to frequently enter not only our garden but other neighboring properties to hunt these
rodents and creating an unsafe environment for pets/children/residents.
Without prejudice to her reasons or actions,we felt writing Priscilla a letter on October 4th,would
afford her the opportunity to give consideration to our situation and time for her to revisit the issue and
correct the problem. Based on her reluctance to stop her habit of scattering nuts and feed onto the
street and ground area of her property, I now understand that she has no intention of putting forth a
genuine effort to resolve the conditions.
Let me be clear on what life is like for us and possibly some other neighbors nearby:
We are no longer able to sit outside in our garden due to the unsanitary conditions of pigeon
droppings. Our garden furniture has to be disinfected and cleaned multiple times. The problem has
Dwen V. Green
31 Juniper Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
become so severe that the vegetable garden had to be destroyed and all vegetables discarded
because of pigeon droppings throughout the entire back garden and patio. Again,direct result of
their flight path back over from 6 Star Ave feeding area.
The decks and patio are covered daily with feathers and droppings that it is no longer sustainable to
continue hosing them down. The third deck has been unusable and unsafe for at least two years from
pigeons swooping over our property from 6 Star Ave's yard and roof top and leaving droppings along
the way. This deck has permanent damage from the uric acid of excessive droppings.
Our van also shows damage from the uric acid eating away the paint as a result of the excreta of
pigeons. Pigeon droppings are quite high in uric acid,which corrodes car exteriors. This uric acid also
damages our roof. The acidic content can cause damage to materials like concrete,car paint,and
roofing materials. The most vulnerable roof material to uric acid are the asphalt shingles.
Unfortunately, my daily cleaning of the front walkway,driveway,and our van is no longer a viable
option for fear of breathing in the excessive dust that is created when hosing down the droppings. The
excreta of pigeons spreads salmonella germs among other varying degrees of bacteria and fungus.
For these same reasons,we can no longer use our garage for daily fitness workouts, as the pigeon
droppings continue to blow into the garage once they dry. We avoid using the garage entirely now
when going out so as to avoid walking through droppings and cross contaminating back into our
home. We now access our vehicle through the front door and go directly to street,avoiding the front
walkway as often as necessary.
Due to the excessive pigeon droppings around the entire outside area of our property,we constantly
wipe down and disinfect the bottom of our shoes upon entering and our dog, Murphy, gets her paws
wiped and disinfected upon reentering as well.
The pigeons have built large nests in the gutters;their nesting material and roosting has quickly built
up, causing water flow issues and damage. They've recently started building nests and laying their
hatchlings in ourflower pots atfront door porch area which has involved some aggressive encounters
upon exiting front door; so we've taken to using the back door and coming around until the hatchlings
and mother have vacated the area. For the record,pigeons are an invasive species,can cause harm to
natural ecosystems and other animals. As pigeons take over food sources,they spread disease and
parasitic pests,damage structures,and they've been very aggressive with us whenever we've entered
their nesting space.
As if things weren't bad enough,they are now slamming into our third-story windows of master bath
and master bedroom. Oftentimes,this occurs immediately after Priscilla has put fresh new feed out
which causes a frenzy of activity swooping up from 6 Star Ave property. Additionally,they are now
digging and scratching at the asphalt roof shingles and roosting in the outside gutters around this area
of the house. The'all hours'disturbance from the scratching, digging and roosting over the master
bedroom has made it impossible to get any decent sleep or healthy rest.
We have endured a complete and utter mess from the sheer volume of pigeons and rodents gathering
daily for Priscilla's feedings and the nuts she uses to attract them to the area. It has been a stressful
period and is one of the most distressing situations that we've had to face in owning a home. It's been
Dwen V. Green
31 Juniper Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
a terrible time dealing with these conditions for more than two years. As I sit here writing, no less than
50 or so pigeons, have swooped back and forth over our home at least a dozen times leaving a trail of
mess along theirjourney.
The increased bird activity from years and years of this unchecked and irresponsible feeding pattern
has resulted in massive accumulations of birds'mess that requires more and more constant cleaning.
It's unreasonable to us and other neighbors that wish to sit in our own gardens for any length of time,
that we have to sit under a garden umbrella because of the amount of birds'mess.
Myself, including other neighbors, have taken the approach for years,of politely asking Priscilla,to stop
or gently complaining to her but it never changes the final outcome. Her behavior and habits remain
the same.
We've only used our third floor deck a handful of times since moving here because at this very moment
it's completely covered in fur,feathers and the excreta of pigeons. Even our windows have fur stuck to
them from forceful impacts. I shouldn't have to hose down 90%of our property area every day just so
that we and other residents don't have to walk through unsanitary conditions caused by constant
pigeon fly-overs from 6 Star Ave.
These current conditions for us and others nearby is the result of constant and(sometimes intermittent)
feeding of scattered nuts and bird feed to pigeons and rodents on public and private property. The
most suitable solution to this pigeon and rodent problem is to stop feeding the birds,and measures
are taken to prevent the pigeons from reestablishing a home in our area.
Yes,a homeowner should have every right to have a bird feeder for songbirds and other backyard
birds on their property, unless their feeding creates an unreasonable disturbance that affects the safety
of surrounding property owners by attracting excessive rodents and other wildlife and renders other
persons insecure in the use of their property.
Good judgment and common sense will eliminate the chances of pigeons and rodents posing a health
threat to us and our fellow neighbors and their children and pets.
Regards,
Dwen V.Green
(photos and video documentation available upon request)