G.G. from Ohio writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
For many years, I have had bird feeders up but a few months ago I was told to remove it because squirrels were eating the remains on the ground (my feeder with the regular food is a roller feeder, squirrels can’t get on it)–so now the condo manager has said I have to take the roller feeder down even though it is not in the condo rules (I was allowed to keep my thistle feeder up). He apparently saw squirrels near his deck on his house-so after all these yrs. says take it down? I’m moving in the Spring and he knows this, I feel he’s doing this as he doesn’t like me very much. There have always been squirrels around as there are woods behind me–can he
do anything if I put it back up, as I intend to, now that it’s winter and snowing? Do I have any recourse? I have a nasty neighbor who may have complained (who the manager really likes)-he even took my feeder down a few years ago after seeing a raccoon feeding from it–never said anything to me, just stole it. I need to get out of this place which is why I’m selling. Please let me know–I think I’m putting this feeder up anyways. I had asked him in an email and he never replied.
Mister Condo replies:
G.G., since you are selling and leaving the community soon, I really don’t see what advice I can offer you. If you are intent on placing your bird feeder back up, despite knowing that the property manager and your neighbor would prefer that you didn’t, you can certainly hang the bird feeder back up. My guess is that the neighbor and/or Property Manager will not be happy with you and may retaliate in kind. You claim there is no rule prohibiting you from hanging a birdfeeder where you would like at your condo. I assume there is also no rule stating that you can hand a birdfeeder. In other words, the rules are silent on the subject. That neither gives you permission nor denies the activity. Typically, the Board would be asked to make a rule to address the grey area. Seeing as your bird feeder has already attracted feral animals that are not beneficial to the community and seeing as most condos do forbid the activity of hanging a bird feeder on association grounds, I think you would be a better neighbor by not hanging the birdfeeder. Since you are planning on moving shortly, I would encourage you to not ruffle any feathers on the way out. If you are moving into another condo, you would be wise to ask if you can hang your bird feeder on the association grounds before you purchase. You might even want to consider a house versus a condo if feeding the birds squirrels, raccoons and other creatures of the forest is a priority for you as most community associations and condos forbid it. Good luck!
Mr. Condo, my 92 year old mother lives in a condo and has a Hummingbird Feeder on her back porch. The condo association is telling her to remove it. Since it’s not a seed feeder, does it have to be removed? Thank you.
M.Y., I am sorry that the Hummingbird feeder has come under scrutiny. Typically speaking, unless and I them is allowed by the governing documents, it is at the Board’s discretion to disallow anything it doesn’t consider allowable. In this case, they have decided that the feeder needs to be removed. Perhaps, some flowers that attract hummingbirds will work in its place. All the best!