Ramsey couple facing fine over bird feeder (New Jersey)

http://www.northjersey.com ^ | june 24, 2013 | ALLISON PRIES

[lowbridge]

The bird feeder in Alfred and Annette Rockefeller's back yard attracts five different species of birds. A Ramsey couple are facing up to $500 in fines for their bird feeder, above, which has drawn complaints from neighbors. The borough has an ordinance against feeding wildlife, and an official said the feeder draws other animals.

It has also drawn the attention of borough officials, who issued the couple a summons for feeding wildlife after receiving complaints from neighbors.

Alfred Rockefeller, 77, who is disabled and homebound, said feeding the birds is one of his few joys since he became confined to his Cobblestone Lane home two years ago.

But the borough's environmental health specialist, Leo Egan, said that the wire wreath-style feeder filled with peanuts hanging beside the couple's deck is not appropriate for birds.

"He stated emphatically that birds do not eat peanuts," said Rockefeller.

Now, the Rockefellers must appear in court Tuesday to answer the summons — issued on May 2 by borough police — which could result in a fine of $250 to $500.

Neighboring towns, including Allendale and Mahwah, say they have laws against feeding wildlife but summonses are uncommon.

The Rockefellers said they used to spread bird food on the ground, but borough officials visited their home and said that was not allowed. In response, they bought the hanging feeder last fall.

Several months later, Rockefeller glanced out the window and saw Egan in his yard clutching a camera. Soon after, the summons arrived.

[cicero2k]

I actually succeeded beating a speeding ticket making the exact same argument.

The road was straight, no outside access points for 1/2 a mile but the speed limit was marginally set at 25 MPH.

[bicyclerepair]

I actually had a room mate once who would dump his dinner plate’s scraps out on the driveway ! I quickly put an end to that bs.

DISGUSTING! He was Jamaican.

[dirtboy]

In this case, the ordinance should not be on feeding the birds, it should be inclusive of selling bird feeding equipment, too, and punishing the sellers equally or nobody at all.

When bird feeders are outlawed, only outlaws will feed birds.

And imagine if he had a hummingbird feeder filled with, **gasp**, sugar water. Then he would have Doomberg all over his a**.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don’t know exactly where they live but there are many ponds in that vicinity.

And it’s not the feeder, it’s the droppings from it. Plenty drops for ground feeders.

[cherry]

it is a predicament.....we want to enjoy seeing the turkeys and the deer and the quail and the birds, but we don't want them to mess anything up....

my bird feeders get attacked by the squirrels and the deer....makes me not even want to put feed out....at least there's the hummers....