What can I do about a neighbors extremly noisy bird?

Question

I live on a canal, so sound carries.One of my neighbors has a cockatoo.Even the breeders warn buyers of their "nails on the chalk board "screech. I feed lots of birds and love animals but this bird drives me and my husband nuts. I've spoken with the owners but they say their bird has as much right to be outside as we do.The owners put the bird outside, go into their home, close the windows and doors and turn up the music. I've called the police but there is nothing they can do. Any suggestions? thanks...

Answer 1

Your big hungry cat has just as much right to be outside as their pet...

Answer 2

OMG I almost thought you were talking about me until I read the part about putting the bird outside (mine are never outside unless we're on a walk- but we live on a canal also).

I know how the noise carries over water! With the windows closed, I can hear my two goffins cockatoos from atleast a block away. That being said, no one has ever complained about our birds in this place.

I wonder how old the bird is, because one of mine is going thru her "terrible twos" and is just awful (she screams about everything)!!! The 6 year old is MUCH quieter.

It also sounds like your neighbors really don't want to spend much time with the bird and are ignoring it. Cockatoos are VERY social. The ONE thing which will make my older bird consistently constantly scream without end is if he has not gotten enough love. "Enough love" for (my) goffins cockatoo is 30 minutes of attention in the morning, ambient attention while I do home-office work all day, and 30 minutes in the evening (usually I eat lunch with them, too).... needless to say, cockatoos are VERY intelligent and VERY demanding (to the point of being sometimes emotionally draining- it's like special needs children sometimes)!!

Can you try talking to the bird? Bonding with it? Sometimes screaming is actually a "contact call". My birds are learning to say "hey Boo" and "hahahhaha" instead of screeching when I leave the room. The people downstairs must think we're nuts.

You might also want to check out the forums on http://mytoos.com and refer your neighbors to that website-- since it has a TON of info and support (though it is biased AGAINST keeping cockatoos as pets).

Good luck and I feel so sorry for that poor bird...

Answer 3

Honestly, there isn't too much you can do. You could call the local animal shelter and calmly explain the situation. You also have to realize though that it's a bird, it's going to make noise and there isn't anything you can do to stop it.
You should try the police again, there is a law about how much noise you can make in certain areas. Research the noise limit for your area then call the cops again, bring up the fact that you know the noise limit, etc. Unless of course you live in a less populated area, outside of any town (no matter how big or small) then I'm not sure about noise limits.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, they're right. If you really wanted to be a nuisance back, you could turn your music up just as loud & give them no choice but to tolerate it. If you want to go the extra mile, you could pick something really obnoxious with a LOT of bass, crank it up, and leave the house for a few hours :-) If the cops show up at YOUR door, trying to give you crap about a noise ordinance, then you can tell them to shove it until they do something about the incessant screeching next door. And yes, get yourselves a couple of (fixed) cats, keep them long enough to understand where home is, then let them roam the yard. They may not be able to get the bird in a cage & attempted attacks will cause a racket for sure, but they'll put the fear of God in that sucker, and hopefully knock some sense into its owners.

Answer 5

Offer to buy the bird from them, and then resell it for a profit. Then find a better home for the bird. Everyone wins! Doesn't sound like they like the bird much themselves. So you can probably offer a small amount for the bird. You have nothing to lose but a big headache.

Answer 6

Close your windows lock up your doors turn on the music & dance with your husband forgetting about the noisy bird without calling the police.

Answer 7

they leave their cockatoo outside, what is their problem, their bird can catch diseases from the birds outside. I would contact the homeowners association if you have one. I can see them having a point if the bird is inside, but outside is crazy especially when they know how loud the bird is. Or call animal control, it's not right for them to ignore the bird like that.

Answer 8

why dont you go to your next door neighbor and ask them nie word and tell them that if they willin put the bird inside the house instead beingin outside and u ahould tell them that you cant able sleep at night cause their bired making aloud noises . so you should do that if they wont listening to you then i think you should move out and find some where else where its queit and you wouldnt worried about hearing aloud singing bird anymore . you can just leave a nice music and before you go to bed you can also put a ear plugs in your ears so you cant heard it singing out side front your house . me i never had that problem before .

Answer 9

is a canal the same as a cul-de-sac? a dead end street, that is?

if the police cant do anything, it sounds like you're out of luck, sorry to say. since you cant make the bird be quiet, and you cant force them to take the bird inside, your only option is to prevent the sound from reaching inside your home. that means either trying some kind of soundproofing, or killing the bird.

so like i said, you might be out of practical options. sorry. :-/

Answer 10

Your neighbours are not bird lovers. If they were they would not put the bird in danger this way. It could easily get stolen or have a predator knock the cage into the water. You could contact your local council and get them to issue a noise abatement notice on them. I know what a cockatoo sounds like. I have one!

Answer 11

sounds like i would be calling the humane society or find a local bird rescue.. they are everywhere and if these people are neglecting this bird at all they will be on top of it!! bird rescues are the best bet....they are passionate and will not let it happen.....neglect is a big deal and they would take care of it..