HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous - 10 FOULDS TERRACE 4/30/20184-- 0 a� cn a U L c n. _ o e _ � m � o E .N ° o o � m y � O O Q � i U L to CL m 9 'd 0 •C i R7 � C d � TO V L O m Lam_ r (B Q) Q O Q W 0 Q 4 ra O E m U O ° C r U •� C p U 7 s. r oPP011-4r_ = NORTH ANDOVER HOTTSI G .AUTHORITY P. O. BOR 373 s s t• $ t = NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS M.845 '':4ACHUse<<,d� TEL. 882-3932 September 19, 1983 Board of Health Town of North Andover 120 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845 Gentlemen: It has been brought to my attention, that there exists a serious health problem behind a section of our Foulds Terrace complex, numbers<10 and 12 to be exact. It appears that some species of birds are nesting in the trees and the droppings are all over the trees and the grounds. The residents of these buildings have been complaining of the noise and the odor from these birds. The residents at this time, are unable to open their windows due to the smell. Upon investigation, we find that a real problem does exist there and since the trees do not belong to the Authority, we are stymied as to how to solve it. The species of bird is a mystery as they only seem to nest during the evening and night hours and our investigations have been during the day. We would appreciate it if you could look into this matter. We will be glad to assist you in any way possible to get rid of the birds and the droppings before anyone becomes ill. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Sincerely C G�Gud i Louis P. M Executiv ' LPM/hm yo/ s 6nAeuc �e-�J r .� itor IJ a WATERSHED RESIDENTS QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Name ,l� S . ��p A�✓ �'1 / �✓ 2. Street Address �'� F-© U dS —re' -YY ,F} / A/c, 09WI70Vey� d/ �. 3. How many members are in your household? 4. What type of sewage disposal system do you have? ❑ cesspool ❑ septic tank and leaching area X connection to municipal sewer ❑ other (describe) ❑ do not know 5. Are the plans (drawings) for your sewage disposal system on file with the Board of Health? ❑ yes ❑ no ❑ do not know_ _ ❑ 11-20 years. . 6. How old is your sewage disposal system? ❑ 0-5 years ❑ over 20 years ;X do not know 7. Has your sewage disposal system been rebuilt or repaired? ❑ yes ❑ no g do not know If yes, approximately how long ago? ❑ 6-10 years years. What was done? V6 No T- 8. How frequently is your sewage disposal system pumped out? ❑ annually ILJNV IL/ ❑ every 2-4 years ❑ every 5-10 years ❑ over 10 years ❑ never i 9. Have you had any problems with your sewage disposal system? ❑ yes 150 no If yes, what problems? - ❑ repeated pump -outs needed ❑ system clogs, backs up, or drains slowly ❑ odors ❑ sewage surfaces through ground 10. How many of each appliance are connected to your sewage disposal system? washing machine dishwasher garbage disposal %Y dehumidifier drain sump pump toilet roof/pavement drains shower/bathtub -Y 11. Please state the brand and type (liquid or powder) of detergent you use for: b ✓ ' dishwasher H gye. /V o 7) <, 7 -ti Js i s W o -r i 'v clotheswasher W 1 s k , 4 v d / N >'h e b h 12. Does your property have a lawn? yes ❑ no If yes, approximately what size? less than 1/4 acre ❑ 1/4 acre ❑ 1/2 acre ❑ 3/4 acre ❑ 1 acre ❑ more than 1 acre (Specify) acres 13. How often do you fertilize your lawn? No. of applications per year Season(s) of the year 14. Please state the brand and type (liquid or. granular) of lawn fertilizer you use: Check here if your lawn is maintained by a professional landscape contractor. 0 OF rs,.. controlling: ADC 103 BLACKBIRD/STARLING ROOSTS BY DISPERSAL Blackbirds and starlings often establish large fall and winter roosts in areas where their presence is objectionable because of potential health, economic, and/or nuisance problems. Roosts of more than a million birds are not uncommon. Red -winged blackbirds (At elaius Dhoeniceus), common grackles (Quiscalus cuiscvla), brown -headed cowbirds (Molothrus Ater), and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) make up most of the roosts populations. Methods have been developed to reduce blackbird/starling populations by various means. However, lethal control is not always the answer to bird roost problems. It is possible to move the birds from an established roost, and this is sometimes the best solution to a particular roost problem. There are a number of tools or ways to cause the dispersal of an estab- lished blackbird/starling roost. The use of noise -making, scaring de- vices is, no doubt, the most popular and effective of the tools. Other frightening devices and habitat manipulation are.also important in dis- persing roosts. As with other animal damage control programs, these tech- niques tend to be more effective When used collectively rather than indi- vidually. ;- _T. .. _ Distress and alarm calls of starlings and blackbirds have been used singly and in conjunction with other scare devices to successfully move roosts. They are available on records and tapes. The calls should be played back on mobile sound equipment in the roost intermittently for 10 to 15 seconds each minute as the birds attempt to enter or continuously when most birds have entered the roost. These devices, operating.on acetylene or propane gas, are designed to produce loud explosions at controllable intervals. They should be placed (elevated above the vegetation, if possible) in high bird use areas of the roost and set to fire at no greater than 30 -second intervals. Since birds are known to easily habituate to exploders, it is best to move the exploders about during the scaring operation and/or combine their use with other scare devices. Exploders can be left in the roost after dis- persal is completed to discourage birds from returning. These devices known as shellcrackers or scare cartridges are 12 -gauge shotgun shells containing a firecracker which is projected into the air about 300 feet before exploding. The shells should be fired so that they will explode in front of or underneath flocks of birds attempting to enter the roost. The purpose is to produce an explosion between the birds and the roost site. Each shooter should be given an ample supply of shells (50 or more rounds) and cautioned to conserve ammunition. The last few minutes that birds are moving is a critical period when the firepower is most needed. f These devices are fired from a 15 mm flare pistol. Noise bombs (also called bird bombs or clow bombs) are firecrackers that.travel about 75 feet before exploding. They should be used similarly to the exploding shotgun shells. Whistle bombs are similar to noise bombs, but do not explode. They produce a noticeable response just prior to darkness because of the trail of smoke and fire as well as the whistling sound. Racket bombs make noise in flight but do not explode. Pyrotechnics A variety of pyrotechnic devices including firecrackers, rockets, and Roman candles are available for dispersing birds. Firecrackers can be inserted into slow -burning fuse ropes to control the timing of the explosions. The interval between explosions is determined by the rate at which the rope burns and the spacing of the firecrackers. Visual Scaring Devices Flashing lights, owl decoys, and helium -filled balloons have all been used as scaring devices. Their effectiveness is•enhanced when they are used in conjunction with auditory scare devices such as recorded distress calls or exploding devices. Habitat Manipulation Thinning roost vegetation, thereby making it less attractive to birds, often produces longer term results than using scaring devices. When feas- ible the roost vegetation should be thinned to discourage any rebuild -up E of bird numbers after a dispersal program. Vegetation thinning, however, is not a permanent solution. In a few years the vegetation will again become dense and provide attractive roosting habitat. In pine plantations, proper thinning is actually a good timber management practice, besides making the area less attractive to birds. The vegeta- tion at deciduous roost sites is often not of sufficient economic value to create any objection to removing it by bulldozing. However, if the roost has Histoplasma capsulatum, a disease producing soil fungus, soil disturbance should be avoided. Before beginning dispersal efforts, inform local residents near the roost of the planned operation to avoid any apprehension on their part. Work with local authorities so they can assist in the dispersal program and provide for spectator safety and traffic control. Begin scaring as soon as possible after a roost develops. Generally, the longer a roost is established, the more difficult it is to disperse. Begin scaring as soon as the birds begin arriving at the roost in the evening. This requires that all personnel and equipment are ready before the first birds arrive in the evening. Once birds are in the cover of the roost vegetation, especially after dark, they are extremely difficult to force to leave. Therefore, continuing scaring efforts after dark is Pointless and sometimes harmful because the birds may habituate to the stimuli. Using scaring devices in the morning (one-half hour before nor- mal roost departure) as well as in the evening may speed up roost dispersal. Be persistent. Population reduction is often not noticeable the first or second night. Scaring often needs to be continued for four'or more nights before the birds abandon the roost. Use a combination of scaring devices. Although birds have been dispersed using one device, different devices often complement each other and make the dispersal effoet easier. Cover the entire roost in the dispersal effort. The number of personnel and the amount of equipment required depends on the size and type of roost and may change each night in response to bird movement. Normally one person shooting shell.crackers or with a hand-held speaker for playing distress calls can adequately patrol 1 to 2 acres of roosting habitat. Very little emphasis has been put on finding out where birds go once they. are dispersed from a roost. Understandably, some birds may move to nearby areas where they continue to be a problem. If so, an effort should be made to move them from these areas also. Once birds have been moved from one site they usually become more responsive to dispersal efforts and moving them another time is rather easy. 3 Special care should be taken when using any of the pyrotechnic devices and firearms. Safety goggles and ear protectors should be worn when using any of these devices. When firing the exploding shotgun shells the shooter should inspect the gun barrel after each shot for wadding that sometimes jams. The use of non -choked or open bore shotguns will help to eliminate this problem. A ramrod (wood dowel) should be.carried to remove the wadding if damming occurs. Use single -shot break open guns to facilitate inspection and cleaning of accumulated powder residue. When using noise or whistles bombs, the flare pistol should be fired at arm's length to avoid any close -to -the -face explosions. When using the flare pistol, hold the thumb in front of the hammer until ready to fire. Persons using pyrotechnic devices and exploding shells should be aware of their potential fire danger. Extreme care should be used near build- ings or when vegetation is dry. Fire -fighting equipment should be avail- able at the scene if conditions warrant. Live ammunition should not be used during roost dispersal efforts because of the additional hazards to personnel and the possibility of killing protected bird species sometimes found roosting with blackbirds and star- lings. Additionally, crippled birds may actually tend to decoy birds into the roost. Personnel working in or around bird roosts should take certain precau- tions against exposure to the respiratory disease, histoplasmosis. This is especially true for roosts in the central and eastern portions of the United States where the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is most common. The disease is contracted by inhaling spores or fragments of this fungus, and the soil conditions in older roosts favor its growth. A face mask or self-contained breathing apparatus and protective cloth- ing, including coveralls, gloves, caps, and rubber boots should be worn. Soiled clothing should be plastic -bagged immediately on leaving the roost and washed as soon as possible, Rubber bccta should be cleaned before entering vehicles to prevent heater fan circulation of spores. These precautions are especialy important when bulldozing a roost site. The disturbance of the soil.can cause large amounts of spores or fungus frag- ments to become airborne. Prepared by ADC h DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.0 20240 1978 INT; 4149-78