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'Awful': Woman facing $30,000 fine for bird feeding

Woman faces $30,000 fine for feeding pigeons in her backyard. Source: Getty
Woman faces $30,000 fine for feeding pigeons in her backyard. Source: Getty

A 72-year-old Adelaide woman is reportedly facing a $30,000 fine for feeding pigeons in her front yard.

Elizabeth Vlajkov told 7NEWS she had been feeding birds in her front yard for more than 25 years, but her neighbours have seemingly had enough.

Her bird-feeding habit is allegedly attracting up to 600 birds a day, and is keeping her neighbours awake at night.

Vlajkov told the publication that the council is “hurting innocent birds”, and the birds would go hungry if she didn’t feed them.

Salisbury Council has since sent a warning letter to Vlajkov, saying that if she doesn’t stop feeding the pigeons, she could be facing a $30,000 fine.

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“I feed them,” Vlajkov said.

“I spend $6 every day for their food. Charging the old lady for pigeon feeding...that’s awful.”

Salisbury Council told Yahoo Finance that they issued a warning to a resident on Hatherleigh Road at Parafield Gardens following ongoing complaints about the resident actively attracting birds to the area by feeding them.

“Prior to the notice being issued, Council previously sent correspondence on this matter to the resident on three other occasions and did not receive a response,” a spokesperson said.

“Under the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016, it is an offence to actively encourage animals to gather in a particular area if the activity unreasonably interferes with, or is likely to interfere with, the enjoyment of the area. The activity of bird feeding results in noise, odours, faeces and roosting on properties or structures.

“Council would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further with the resident, and the resident has the right to appeal the notice. Failure to comply with the notice may result in a fine being issued.”

It’s not the first time feeding birds has caused a neighbourly spat, with a Melbourne man facing court and an “outrageous” $1,000 fine back in 2018 for feeding birds in hig front yard.

The man, Brad Martell, had been doing it for two decades, but new neighbours complained to the local council after his avian friends were making a mess.

“I’ve formed a bit of an attachment with them over the years,” Martell said.

“I feel sorry for the birds, they’re just hungry and I’m just trying to feed them.”

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