This northern flicker won't leave a Calgary attic, won't pay rent, and the homeowner is completely powerless
Species is protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act
SALMAAN FAROOQU
First posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 07:19 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:38 AM EDT
When David Parker returned home from vacation with his wife this month, he discovered a new upstairs neighbour making a heck of racket — and a mess — in his attic.
What’s worse, the terrible tenant won’t pay rent, won’t talk and, most frustratingly, can’t even be evicted.
“Its pretty frustrating, but I guess if they say you can’t do anything, you can’t do anything,” Parker sighed.
The reason for Parker’s predicament? His new neighbour is a northern flicker, a protected species of bird from the woodpecker family.
The trouble began when the flicker drilled a hole into the siding of Parker’s house and nested in the attic.
Initially, he tried spraying it with water. Then he crafted a fake crow out of black paper, put it on a stick and tried to scare the flicker away.
But he had no luck.
“You could yell and shout and scream, I even blew a penny whistle but nothing would move the thing,” said Parker.
Exasperated, he called the Humane Society for help.
That’s when he was told there’s nothing he can do about the bird, and that he has to let it go ahead and live in his attic since the particular species is protected.
“I think my wife might have giggled and said, ‘You gotta be kidding,’ and he got pretty upset and said, ‘It’s not a laughing matter, these are protected birds, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’”
It turns out that even yelling at the bird, or preventing it from returning if it left, would be illegal. So, after speaking to the Humane Society, he’s stopped any activity that would disturb it.
The bird can thank a pretty strict piece of legislation dubbed the Migratory Birds Convention Act for its new digs, said Chris Fisher, ecologist, and author of the book Birds of Alberta.
“The key thing at this time of year is the flickers and migratory birds, their nests are protected not only from destruction, but also from disturbance as well, so it’s actually a pretty significant piece of legislation,” said Fisher.
While cases of flickers causing huge amounts of noise and damaging property in their bid to attract mates are common, a flicker nesting in someone’s house is relatively rare.
“I’m going to have house guests, a whole damn family of them,” Parker conceded.
This northern flicker won't leave a Calgary attic, won't pay rent, and the homeo
Species is protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act
SALMAAN FAROOQU
First posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 07:19 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:38 AM EDT
When David Parker returned home from vacation with his wife this month, he discovered a new upstairs neighbour making a heck of racket — and a mess — in his attic.
What’s worse, the terrible tenant won’t pay rent, won’t talk and, most frustratingly, can’t even be evicted.
“Its pretty frustrating, but I guess if they say you can’t do anything, you can’t do anything,” Parker sighed.
The reason for Parker’s predicament? His new neighbour is a northern flicker, a protected species of bird from the woodpecker family.
The trouble began when the flicker drilled a hole into the siding of Parker’s house and nested in the attic.
Initially, he tried spraying it with water. Then he crafted a fake crow out of black paper, put it on a stick and tried to scare the flicker away.
But he had no luck.
“You could yell and shout and scream, I even blew a penny whistle but nothing would move the thing,” said Parker.
Exasperated, he called the Humane Society for help.
That’s when he was told there’s nothing he can do about the bird, and that he has to let it go ahead and live in his attic since the particular species is protected.
“I think my wife might have giggled and said, ‘You gotta be kidding,’ and he got pretty upset and said, ‘It’s not a laughing matter, these are protected birds, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’”
It turns out that even yelling at the bird, or preventing it from returning if it left, would be illegal. So, after speaking to the Humane Society, he’s stopped any activity that would disturb it.
The bird can thank a pretty strict piece of legislation dubbed the Migratory Birds Convention Act for its new digs, said Chris Fisher, ecologist, and author of the book Birds of Alberta.
“The key thing at this time of year is the flickers and migratory birds, their nests are protected not only from destruction, but also from disturbance as well, so it’s actually a pretty significant piece of legislation,” said Fisher.
While cases of flickers causing huge amounts of noise and damaging property in their bid to attract mates are common, a flicker nesting in someone’s house is relatively rare.
“I’m going to have house guests, a whole damn family of them,” Parker conceded.
This northern flicker won't leave a Calgary attic, won't pay rent, and the homeo
