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Vulture issue in Autumnwood Square

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Tom Grant, Dec 13, 2017.

  1. cjfj

    cjfj Member

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    I' not sure that those work. Several of the townhouses on Autumnwood Sq backing onto the trail have them, and the birds are just sitting on the other roof features, such as the vents, etc, basically everywhere the spikes aren't...
     
  2. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I think it's worth a try particularly on the vents. Wouldn't want their urine or poop seeping down the duct work into the house. That is my main concern and protecting anything rubber/plastic that they can pick apart.
     
  3. CJA

    CJA New Member

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    I feel bad for the people that live over there. Honestly I would not buy a house if I saw all of those birds hanging around. It would be nice if they trapped some of them and relocated them. It seems like the number goes up each year.
     
    PDILLM likes this.
  4. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I was walking along Claiborne a few afternoons ago around 4pm. It looked like Dulles airport with all the vultures returning to roost. I counted over 60 of them in the trees and on rooftops. There were probably a lot more.
     
  5. glockenspiel

    glockenspiel Member

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  6. AutmwdResident

    AutmwdResident New Member

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    This is a real problem on Autumnwood Square. And, yes, the Broadlands Association is responsible for cleaning up this problem. Those vultures live in the common area, which they have responsibility for (the main point!!), and then those vultures come onto our rooftops and defecate/urinate on our rooftops, fences, decks, and patio furniture.

    This issue has nothing to do with trash day! No one on Autumnwood Sq leaves their trash in bags or unopened containers! All trash bins are contained. This is not what is attracting these vultures to live here!

    When I first moved here, around 5 yrs ago, there was not a problem at first. Then, all of a sudden, I started hearing noises (I thought something was in my attic). Day and night! They would cause my dog to bark, even at night, they were so loud. I thought there was an animal in my attic. I paid to have someone come to check out my attic--a couple hundreds dollars. They didn't find anything in my attic. Then, I realized, after talking to neighbors, that it was the vultures living in the trees behind my house. The problem has only gotten worse as the years to by.

    One day, when it was very windy, I have found 7 of them perching on my fence. I guess it is too unstable for them to stay in the trees. My dog was going crazy! I went outside to try to chase them away, and they didn't flinch! So, I sent my 80 lb dog out to bark at them, and they finally left. This is not acceptable!

    The Association needs to take action on this matter. It is not healthy. We buy houses in this community expecting peace and quiet and no harm to our property.

    This past summer, I was driving into Autumnwood Square and saw the vultures on rooftops, and counted them. There was at least 100 of them!! There is probably more of them now!! This is definitely a problem, and it is the Broadlands Association's problem, since the vultures' habitat is on community property.

    I would be willing to contribute something to get rid of these vultures, if it comes to that, but the Association needs to take responsibility and reach out to the residents to come to some kind of a solution to get rid of them and keep them from coming back!!!!
     
    cjfj likes this.
  7. AutmwdResident

    AutmwdResident New Member

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    I didn't realize that the post I was responding to was from a few years ago, but, as I said, the problem has only gotten worse, and Broadlands Association needs to address the problem and reach out to the residents and come to some solution!! I look forward to a response/solutions!
     
    cjfj likes this.
  8. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    While the forum can provide awareness to HOA Board members and the administration, if you are looking for a response/solution the better approach is to present your concern at a Board of Directors monthly meeting. As noted in the December newsletter, Board of Directors monthly meetings are held in the conference room of the Clubhouse on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm (Virtual via Zoom). Residents are welcome to observe the public portion of meetings and to address the Board during the ‘Homeowner Forum’ section of the meeting. If virtual, the link will be posted to the HOA website.
     
  9. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    This issue has been addressed with residents on Autumnwood Square on two separate occassions, with solutions provided. The most effective of which was hanging a dead vulture in the trees.
    Yes the trees are in the Common Area, but the HOA does not control wildlife or nature. And it the HOA did do something and the vultures simply roosted elsewhere in Common Area trees, the HOA would be solving one problem and creating another.
     
  10. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I remember that. It actually worked and kept them away for approx 3 yrs, but I read that repeating it will not work - not sure why as most of them seem to be juveniles.
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I had my roofer install something similar to this
    [​IMG]

    I have fewer spikes than what is shown in the picture but they are stainless steel and were purchased at Lowes. They are barely visible unless you are looking for them. The first morning, I could see one curious vulture investigating them and then he went over to the neighbors roof ridge to perch. So far, they seem to be doing their job. We'll see...
     
  12. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Did you submit an application for the spikes?
     
  13. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Seriously?! If the HOA wants to be proactive dealing with all the vulture complaints then they should issue a blanket waiver to allow a deterrent for the entire TH section dealing with them. There should be no questions asked. You would think I'm putting gnomes on my roof.
     
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  14. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Yep.

    I have no problem with them but they still should be applied for.
     
  15. Chris Cuellar

    Chris Cuellar New Member

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    Hello Tom. In the 20 years I’ve lived in the Broadlands, I’ve probably posted twice to the forums. I happened to stumble upon your post when researching the 2021 budget of the HOA. It’s funny how things work. I hope I can help your cause.

    This is an issue the board should deal with. The money is there, just peruse the budget for next year.
    This is a question of minimizing property damage (both private and common area), maintaining property value (or at least not reducing it) and of course health. Have you seen the number of vultures that congregate on the west slope of Hillside Elementary?

    I have three recommendations:
    1) start a petition in your neighborhood, I would be glad to assist with the families that live near Hillside
    2) plan to address the board early 2021 with the petitions and as many members attending as possible
    3) write an article for the Broadlands blast and the newsletter, this forum is useful but honestly I would not have known of your efforts except by coincidence, or was it?

    I would prefer to communicate directly (email or phone or even in person) if you like.

    Kind Regards,
    Chris Cuellar
     
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  16. CJA

    CJA New Member

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    I hope he takes you up on this I don't live right there but just walking by it's not hard to see how much of a problem this is. They should be able to hire someone to relocate them to a state park or some other open area.
     
  17. CJA

    CJA New Member

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    Just take them off before you move. :)
     
  18. glockenspiel

    glockenspiel Member

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    There is an impressive flock this afternoon. The spikes do seem to be a deterrent. Here are a few pics I took today. Looking closely - you can see the spike ridge on the the left side houses in each pic. Neat.

    20201229_154122.jpg 20201229_160024.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2020
  19. shim

    shim shim

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    Tom, let freedom ring, the time to protect your home and family from buzzard bile is now. By any means necessary - Godspeed.
     
  20. Patrick S.

    Patrick S. New Member

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    Today, I saw a large group (~30) of these birds on the playground between Welby Terrace and Harvest Green Terrace (a block South of Huntsman), effectively blocking this common area from use (and arguably blocking the footpath to Hillside Elementary unpassable for kids). It appears this problem is growing (expanding South) and is in the common areas; I've got a board member neighbor, and plan on asking him how to raise this issue, and would be glad to support other's efforts to address the issue with the board. Thanks.

    -Patrick Snyder
     
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