Can It Actually Happen?

Posted on April 20, 2019 by

92 Comments

Yes, it can!  It’s actually not legal to feed birds in this town!  Unless it’s done a certain way.  That means the bird feeder must be 10 feet (about 3 meters) off the ground.  Okay.  I made sure my feeder is 10 ft and 1 inch off the ground.  No problem. Well, yes, there is still a problem.  I like to take pictures of the birds.  Not many birds will come to a feeder that’s 10 feet high.  Most of the birds are ground feeding types.  I like to take pictures of them.  However, since I do not have a big telephoto lens I must get close to the birds.  So, I use bird seed spread on the ground to attract them in close so I can get a nice picture.  Not now.

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A little junco, not very colorful perhaps, but very friendly, they will hop around my feet, and on my feet, even on my shoulders.  One of my favorites because of this.

Seems I have a neighbor that doesn’t like the fact I feed the birds.  So…ring, ring.  He calls the authorities.  Stomp, stomp.  The officer in charge comes and says no more feeding on the ground.  Doesn’t matter why I’m doing it.  I’m only putting out a few seeds to attract the birds, I don’t put out a lot.  However, it’s against the law.  I say, there are lots of people breaking the law, why are you not stopping them?  Don’t have the time is the answer, he only looks into it if there is a complaint.  Hey, that’s discrimination.  Tough.  He wouldn’t say which neighbor.  I know which neighbor.  I only have one.  Sigh.

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When I was taking pictures of my collections, Muffin just had to get in front of the camera.

 

There is a $500.00 fine, first offense.😲  Goes up from there.  For feeding birds.  Amazing really.  Don’t pay the fine, go to jail. 👮‍♂️ Is this really happening?  Sigh.  Just a warning this time.  Fine next time.  Actually it’s not fine to pay a fine.  Sigh.  So…that means it’s going to be a bit tougher to get some nice pictures this year.📷  Sometimes I think I should move.🤔

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So nice to have the robins back with their cheerful spring song.

Okay.  Breathe deep.  Relax.  Nice and calm.😂 Oh well.  Why count the leaves on the tree if you’re swimming in the lake?🙃 Another nice spring day.  A little very light rain this morning.  The sun is trying to break through the clouds now.  It’s mild.  Very nice.  Hmm, maybe if I lie on my stomach and cover myself with a brown blanket the birds might not notice me.  Then they will come close enough to get a good picture.  Probably get attacked by those huge man eating spiders.  They like to live under my deck.  I don’t care if they want to stay there.  But they keep wanting to come up on the deck.  That I don’t like.  I could be sitting there feeding the chipmunks and one of those critters could come crawling up my back.🕷  Heart attack time!😲

It’s still okay to feed the chipmunks and squirrels.  As long as I’m holding the peanuts. That’s okay, that’s what I do.  It is so nice to sit on the deck and listen to all the birds singing.  So many different species around now.  There was a red-winged blackbird here a couple days ago.  I could be on the deck, didn’t scare him. I brought out my camera, off he went.  This happened 3 times.  No camera, fine.  With camera, gone.  It’s like he knew.

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Rusty coming back for more peanuts.

I will keep this shorter today.  Thank you so much for dropping by and reading my little adventures.  I will be back again Monday, perhaps with Muffin too.  Until then, enjoy your Easter weekend and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.

 

Category: Birds, Cat, Chipmunks, Country, Country Living, Country Pleasures, Saturday, Spring, Uncategorized, WeekendTags: , , , , , , , , ,

92 Comments on “Can It Actually Happen?”

  1. Seriously. You have a law to feed birds. I had to pick my face up off the floor. I love feeding the few birds that visit my back yard. I also feed the squirrels. I put a bird bath in my backyard to keep water for both the birds and the squirrels. I love to be close to nature.

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    • Yes, I do that too, never knew about the law before. They actually want to ban it altogether, no feeding, no bird bath. Quite amazing really. Have a great day!😃

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  2. I have never heard of such thing, well, happens seems, i hope you will continue your great job🤗

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    • Thanks so much Ilona! They actually want to ban feeding birds completely which is amazing. Thanks for reading, I appreciate your time, I hope your evening is going well!😃🌞😺☕ Grab a cup of tea, say hi to Leya from Muffin!

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      • I dont believe it, its crazy, well the world going wrong since long time, there is still ii hope, happy to stop when i can, had hot tea, will go to seep guys, goodnight🤗

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      • Good morning Ilona! I hope you are having a wonderful day so far. The moon is shining so brightly again, not quite full anymore but still looks so beautiful.🌙 Muffin says hi to you and Leya also. Make sure you get your coffee! ☕And keep smiling!😃🌞😺

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      • Hi Ilona! The sun is shining again, it’s a beautiful day. Looks like a nice day over there too, enjoyed your new pictures. I tried to get some pictures earlier this morning but they didn’t turn out so well, there was still not enough light I guess. Maybe this afternoon I will try again. Time for more coffee, had yours yet?😃🌞☕🌴

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      • Hi Ilona! How has your day been? Probably quite busy as usual, hope it has been a good one for you though. Beautiful day here, have been outside quite a bit today, haven’t been too successful with pictures though. I will try again later. Muffin is enjoying her time in the sun. I decided to treat myself out for lunch today since it was Easter and that was nice, good meal. Let me know how things are going, always enjoy hearing from you!😃🌞😺🌴📷

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      • Good morning Ilona! I hope you are having a great day so far! Keep up with those great posts. I sent an email, when you have some time to check it out. Muffin meows hi to you as well. It’s supposed to rain here today so guess I won’t be getting any pictures today. Oh well. Don’t forget your coffee, I’m having mine right now!😃😺☕🌧

        Liked by 1 person

    • Except the ground out here is usually wet all the time. It’s right at the bottom of a hill, and if very seldom dries out, never in the spring. Oh well, there must be a way.🤔

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  6. Really ? This is interesting and frustrating at the same time. Someone said : Laws exist in order to break them. One of my studies is “Law” …lol… but this time I have to agree with the gentleman who said : “Sometimes we have to break the rules and the Law. It’s not a creation of nature, it’s a creation of men. Which means that sometimes men create stupid laws” Take care Steve. I really enjoy your rare pictures and your wonderful descriptions and your writing style. I’m standing by your side, not by the law. Not because I don’t understand the need to create some rules, but because some rules are created by retards.

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    • Thanks for reading and your comment. Yes, some laws are just amazingly crazy. However, I have no desire to pay the fine or go to jail. If I could I would take the town to court, I think I could win the case, if not, I could certainly bring a lot of attention to the crazy laws here! Oh well. Enjoy your evening.😃

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  7. You are just a rebel Steve!! First caught out on a back road watching Owls and now in your very own back yard!! You must be a child of the Sixties? Born to be a Rebel! Sounds like this time you are definitely justified to be upset and disgruntled though! (You are right?? It’s so hard to tell with you…) You’re just too nice all of the time.. 😉 Fight town hall is what I say!

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    • Hi RJ, amazing isn’t it! But this is a true story. Fight the town? Forget it, I have better ways to spend money. I’m not exactly as upset as I may seem though, but still, it is crazy. Birds can be a dangerous hobby. Who would have thought? Thanks for reading, enjoy your evening.😃 Took me a while to answer, not feeling well.

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  9. OMG really now? What kind of law is that! and what kind of neighbor is that? it’s actually so stupid, I mean what are the reasons, the justification for such ban? Glad it was a warning but it’s not logical at all! What a hateful neighbor, I would have sent them the bear to eat them 😂😂😂 oh that was me dealing with the problem hahhaa
    Hello Muffin, you look amazing 😊😊 Take good care Steve and hopefully we will keep seeing beautiful photos in some way
    Have a great afternoon

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    • Hi Huguette, thanks for reading! It is very hard to believe. For some reason unknown to me, my neighbor has never really liked me or perhaps he just really doesn’t like birds. Yet I have seen his wife taking pictures of the birds at my feeder! Here is the reason, if people don’t feed birds the deer will leave town. We have a lot of deer in town. What is the connection? There is none really, but someone figured out the deer are in town jumping up on bird feeders to eat the seeds. I said, if you ever see that happen give me a call, I would love to get a picture of it! The idea is totally crazy. But for some reason they believe it. Oh well, I will figure something out to get pictures. 📷 Muffin meows hi to you as well!😸 Sorry for the late response, I’m not feeling well for some reason. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!😃

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      • Sorry to know you’re not feeling well and hope things will get better
        Don’t let them ruin your day and time!
        But the deer are dangerous? I mean they’re not!
        Just keep doing what’s best for you and don’t let this neighbor bother you that’s it
        Hope today will be better than yesterday 😊

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      • Thanks Huguette. There are towns here that have already banned bird feeding entirely because it brings dangerous animals into the town. The dangerous animals listed were squirrels and chipmunks. Those same little critters that sit on my knee! Just amazing. I am feeling somewhat better this morning though tired from not sleeping well. Hope you have a great day!😃🌞

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      • Squirrels and chipmunks! For real now
        As you said: the ones sitting on your knee!!!
        Hope you’ll be able to have some rest then and take good care 😊
        I’m sure you will keep managing 👍😊

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      • Yes, I got a good laugh about that one! And yet when bears come into town they won’t do anything about it. So squirrels are dangerous and bears are not?🐻 I have heard them say, bears are not dangerous if you leave them alone. Well, the same would be true about deer then, the problem is, people don’t leave them alone. Sometimes people can be strange and hard to understand!😂😹 I will still get pictures, it will just be a bit harder.📷

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      • OMG strange people! I really hope the bears will eat them geez!!
        I’m sure you will manage 😊 don’t make them win 👍😊

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  14. It’s illegal to feed the birds? That’s the weirdest thing I have heard! The reason behind that sounds really absurd to be. I still don’t get how are deers and feeding birds are connected? But, I hope that you still manage to keep clicking beautiful pictures like these Steve. I love them!❤

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    • Thanks so much for your comment! It is weird for sure and I don’t see the connection either. Thank you for your wonderful encouragement! I will still be trying to get more pictures for sure. Have a great day!😃

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  15. 1. When the neighbor is not looking throw the bird seed on his lawn.
    2. Did a trench 3 meters deep and put the birdfeeder in there.
    3. There must be crops you can grow that drop or have seeds for the birds eg wheat.
    Good luck.

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  16. Oh my gosh. That’s ridiculous! As you said there’s so many other rules people break but they get away with it. Unfair! But nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to stupid penalties. NOTHING! 😡

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    • Thanks so much for reading Jessica! It is ridiculous for sure and certainly isn’t going to help anything. There are towns here that have banned feeding birds already because it brings dangerous animals into the town. The animals listed were squirrels and chipmunks! Have a great day!😃

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      • I still don’t understand why. But then here in Spain, there’s a sign board at a famous park not to feed the doves. No one listens. There’s even a small stand on wheels that sells seeds for birds.

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      • The idea originally was to stop deer from coming into town. We have a large deer population that actually lives right in town. Some people have the mistaken idea that feeding birds brings the deer into town. That’s not why they are here, it’s because living in town is safe for them and there is an abundance of food, mainly grass which they like. But they will eat bird seed in winter that drops down on the ground. But that little bit of food doesn’t really help them much, it’s just something extra for them. But of course they also think that it brings these other dangerous animals into town like the squirrels and chipmunks! Quite amazing really, but they won’t listen when I try to educate them on this. Have a great day!😃

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Wow, lovely post, but I never tought it will be a law for that… but I hope you feel better🌹Send you a lots of good toughts and a hug from Norway🦋to Muffin also.
    Beautiful pictures🦋thank you.

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  20. Oh my goodness! I am appalled and offended that someone would report you for feeding the birds! And that there is a LAW against such. Yikes. That’s ridiculous! I am so sorry to hear this 😦

    But I am wishing you a wonderful & blessed Easter. I hope it has been a beautiful day for you. ♥ He is risen!

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    • Thanks for reading Leola! It is amazing, one of the reasons given for a total ban of bird feeding is the fact it attracts dangerous animals into town, such as squirrels and chipmunks, no mention of bears being dangerous though. I could hardly believe that one. Enjoy your week!😃

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    • This is Ontario, however, it is not a provincial rule, just a town law. There are a couple towns further west that have banned bird feeding altogether and our town is considering that as well. It’s to keep dangerous animals out of the town, like squirrels and chipmunks. You heard that right. No mention of bears as being dangerous though. Very strange. Have a great day!

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  26. Ok, that is almost the stupidest law ever and we have some stupid ones down her in the states. Each state has at least five from the old days that are still law and just crack me up.

    Throwing seeds in their yard sounds great!

    But do they account for the seeds that fall to the ground? I mean come on!

    If you want the deer to leave open up deer season and extend the boudaries of using a gun on the outskirts of town.

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    • I have suggested that the only way to get rid of the deer is to allow a controlled hunt, but they said that would be too dangerous. The only other thing would be to remove all food, gardens, shrubs, lawns, that’s the main reason they came to town, easy food and grass is actually their favorite! But the little bit of bird seed they might get isn’t going to make a difference. People just don’t have any real knowledge about wildlife in general. So they make it hard on a few people and it isn’t going to help at all.🤔🙄

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