A Gatineau woman said she’s taken aback after the city warned her she could face a $400 fine over the bird feeder in her backyard.
Earlier this month, Ashley Robillard installed the offending bird feeder on a tree in her yard.
Someone complained to the city’s bylaw services about the feeder — Robillard doesn’t know who — prompting a visit from an officer on April 17 while Robillard was out. She came back to find a notice from the city.
“It’s really sad,” Robillard said of the complaint. “We love animals, we love nature and there were already birds in this tree singing every morning and it’s really sweet.
“So I’m like, why not feed them?”
After contacting the city about the warning, Robillard said she was told if there is another complaint she could be brought to court and face a $400 fine.
Since her conversation with the city, Robillard said she has not put seeds in the feeder and is thinking of taking it off the tree. She’s already told her three-year-old daughter they can’t feed the birds.
“I know [she] was sad about that too,” she said.
The City of Gatineau’s bylaw on the “keeping, control and care of animals” includes a section on bird feeders which states that “no one shall feed or attract birds on any property.”
Feeders are allowed for small birds such as chickadees and goldfinches, however. The bylaw adds that feeders must be squirrel- and wildlife-proof and must not create unsanitary conditions.
The City of Gatineau confirmed to CBC it received a complaint about bird feeding and sent an officer to verify the situation, but that no one was home at the time.
A ticket, as opposed to a notice of infraction, is issued only if the officer observes an infraction, city spokesperson Nancy Villeneuve said via email.
If no one is present at the address in question or the officer can’t “confirm” an infraction, a notice is left as a warning or reminder of the regulation.
Robillard said she is thinking of swapping her feeder with one that has a bigger seed catcher.
But she said she’s worried about getting a second complaint.
“It made me nervous,” she said of her experience so far. “Like, why bring me to court for a bird feeder?
“They sell bird feeders everywhere, so why is there a law on that?”
