No E-grets: City takes action to rid neighborhood of nesting egrets, herons

Last year, a Carrollton neighborhood was overwhelmed by new, unwelcomed neighbors -- egrets and herons. But the city learned its lesson while the birds ruffled a few feathers, causing homeowners to take matters into their own hands and send them packing. Now the first birds are back, and residents, along with city staff, are teaming up to relocate the birds.

From April to September last year, residents suffered through the strange situation as the birds, their noise, droppings along with the strong odor and related hygiene concerns, tested the patience of homeowners. In total, animal control officers removed nearly 700 injured, stranded or dead birds. However, once the birds had nested, special protections prevented any actions that might disturb the egrets.

Animal Services Manager Carl Shooter addressed residents concerns of a reoccurrence of last year's Hitchcock-themed bird events.

"We have not had the same problems that we had last year," he said. "A lot of the birds, as they had arrived, we deterred from landing and kept them from nesting with the use of pyrotechnics and propane cannons."

Shooter said the pyrotechnics used included a "screamer," which looks like a starter pistol commonly used to signal the start of a race and fires a cartridge that ascends into the air while making a high-pitched screaming noise. The other technique used was a "banger," which has the same appearance as a starter pistol but shoots a cartridge nearly 40 feet high and explodes creating a loud booming noise that spooks the birds from the trees.

"Some residents were approved to use screamers -- only a couple asked," Shooter said. "We went out and did some training with the selected residents so we could have some support if we were not available."

The most affected areas were the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Chamberlain, Addington and Castile.

Carrollton resident Allyson Baughn said the battle of the birds is raging in the streets as neighbors form a rag-tag band of brothers to combat the bird brigade.

"We were kind of leery because of what has happened, but are hopeful," she said. "One of the neighbors was told by an expert that you have to scare the birds for five days and we would be good. But this year, we have been fighting the birds since March 14."

Baughn is leery due to the overwhelming amount of egrets that nested just above her home last year.

"Just on our block we had 1,201 nests -- that's not even counting the nests that had fallen," she said. "According to the Audubon website, we had about 50 nests per tree. That's 4,804 adult birds, 7,205 babies and 7,205 eggs -- half of them hatched and half fell to the ground."

Baughn said the only good that has come of the egret invasion is the new friendships created as neighbors blast screamers, bangers and air-horns hoping to prevent the nuisance nesters.

"Animal control has been fabulous," she said. "They have been out there every night to help us out. My neighborhood has come together so well and the only benefit from the birds is that we know each other now. We take turns and are out every morning and evening fighting them using horns, screamers, scary-eye balloons, beach balls and streamers. Animal services has been using bangers and cannons and we have even used water hoses."

Shooter said last year was the first year the city encountered such a bizarre bird problem.

"Last year they started showing up around March and did not leave until the end of the nesting season, which was middle to late August," he said. "This year we saw night herons around mid-march and have been working to deter other birds."

Shooter said residents have reported seeing egrets, but the city has no active nests.

"The residents mentioned the night herons and green herons nested, though not in large numbers," he said. "So although they noticed them, it did not have the impact that the egrets had when they showed up last year."

No other strange avian or animal problems have cropped up.

"Thank goodness because we have been very busy trying to deter the birds," Shooter said.

Residents are encouraged to help the city prevent a recurrence of the bird nightmare by using lawful means to prevent nesting. These include trimming trees, removing old nests, placing visual deterrents and using noisemakers.

Animal services patrol twice daily and as a last resort the city has obtained a federal permit that would allow lethal removal of up to 25 egrets -- maybe 1 percent -- of the birds expected, intended to scare away the most persistent birds.

While the city is nearly in the clear, experts say many birds will be so imprinted on the area that they will be programmed to stay and relocation may take up to four years. Residents should report any egret or other migratory bird activity immediately to Carrollton animal services at 972-466-3420.

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