Regarding the Cardinals on my back porch: the police were here this morning ...

[marble falls]

... we told the guy fixing some roof problem in the condo he couldn't work on ours because of the Cardinals and the state and federal laws regarding migratory birds, Migratory Bird Act of 1919, State laws regarding non-gamebirds and offered him the number to the Burnett County Game Warden.

He said, "I'll be there at eight to do the work, I'll get rid of the birds, nest and eggs.", and hung up.

At 7:30 I was out front and composed because he's been a jerk in the past.

He pulled up as I was hitting the sidewalk. He was pissed because one of the other owners hadn't cleared the parking lot space he wanted.

Calmly, I asked what was the plan today.

"We're going to knock that ceiling today." And I said, "No, we are not."
"WHY NOT!!!!"
"Because there is a migrating bird on our porch nesting". There's also a nest of House Wrens that are about ready any day to abandon the birdhouse.
"I'll take care of them!"
"No, you won't, it's against the law, come onto the deck and I will call the cops."
"Call the cops!! I dare you! Stop calling me names!"
"What? What name did I call you???"
"An FS! Stop yelling at me, stop attacking me! Stop calling my mother terrible names! I'm calling the cops!!!!" and starts dialing.

Meanwhile, I have Texas Game Commission on the phone. I offer the phone to him and he refuses, screaming I hit him, cussed him out to the dispatcher.

Our POA president, older than I and deaf, as is the builder, is very confused and obviously distressed.

The roof has been leaking for more than five years. What were two or three weeks going to hurt? Ironically enough he's working at my Mil's house right now, instead, in another town.

The cop said in that I didn't hit him or that he didn't hit me, they were done. But that if the Warden says there was a crime, they'd be back.




When he was at the MiL's house he told her that at fifty if he was 10yrs younger he'd a kicked my ass. I'm 70+. He could thoroughly beat me into last Sunday right now. But he'd never get a finger on that nest for three weeks.


Should I start a bail gofundme???

[Hugin]

1. Thank you for standing up for the birdies.

It is good trouble to protect them.

[LakeArenal]

2. Where I live Cardinals are non-migratory.

I shudder to think what he’d do here.

[marble falls]

3. In the 1918 Act Cardinals are mentioned specifically. At any rate in Texas it's a nono!

[LakeArenal]

4. Morally a no no. Anywhere.

I wouldn’t do it but there might be protection for nesting birds. Sounds like none of those would stop some people.

[marble falls]

8. Texans, for example. I hate it here. At 72 I'm not going anywhere.

[LakeArenal]

14. I have a DU friend who says the same.

I think they will move East when they retire.

My mother was from Texas. We were at odds forever. I hated visiting there.

[marble falls]

15. We almost made it to Oregon, but almost as soon as we decided, prices for real estate jumped ...

... the Terminal Tower in Cleveland, Oh has turned a lot of floors into apartments:

https://www.terminaltower.com/

Cardinals are the state bird of Ohio.

[Treefrog]

23. I think they're the state bird of NC too.

[sarge43]

26. The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven states.

IL, IN, KY, NC, OH, VA, WV

[Treefrog]

34. Beautiful birds!

Thanks, I didn't know that!

[sarge43]

36. They are that

I have a pair that comes to the feeder every day.

[Treefrog]

37. I have quite a few in my yard.

An interesting fact (or fable) I recently learned is that many believe them to be messengers from those whom we've lost. I like things like that.

[sarge43]

38. That's a lovely thought. n/t

[Treefrog]

39. I know, I thought so too because my father was very fond of cardinals.

There's a female who always comes closer than the others, frequently peering in my picture window or watching me outside. Dad always said he'd come back as a female lol. Who knows?

[scarytomcat]

44. So what was the message?

Do you speak bird?

[LakeArenal]

24. Well we have moved. To Costa Rica.

Talk about birds!!! It’s against the law to harm any. But I’m sure construction would go on as usual

[marble falls]

25. I was following your posts on it, you moved last year, right?

[LakeArenal]

35. 2019. Thanks for following.

Dreams come true. Wish you were here!!!

[DownriverDem]

16. How about

considering moving to the Great Lakes State of Michigan? You would be most welcomed.

[marble falls]

19. I've looked at Ann Arbor (big MC5 fan), looked at Detroit while consider an intercity truck ...

... farm idea. I had some concern over being perceived as a carpet-bagger.

Too old for the Yuper, though.

[Peer Gynt]

17. Cardinals are a protected species everywhere in the US

under federal law and in Canada as well.

In the United States, this species receives special legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which also banned their sale as cage birds. It is illegal to take, kill, or possess northern cardinals, and violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to US$15,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_cardinal

[SWBTATTReg]

5. This idiot deserves to lose any licenses etc. that he has being such an a&& w/ your request(s) and

the law to leave the birds alone. If anything, I'd make sure that I update his BBB ratings (he probably doesn't have a BBB posting) and ensure that other future customers don't run into this nut job. Pulled out every lie in the book in an attempt to get you arrested, harassed/etc. (a bully in short). I don't understand why you still had him do the MIL's house...perhaps you already negotiated a deal w/ him, paid an upfront down payment etc. but I would have ordered him off the property anyways for how can you trust him now?

[pandr32]

9. Absolutely

[marble falls]

11. The problem is getting a contractor to take and do good work on job under $5,000. This guy ...

... has an excellent reputation as good craftsman, if a bit expensive. The condo assoc has used him for years. I use him if he'd reduce his price and if we wouldn't have to interact.

But this is the worst I've seen him in years.

We tried to hire him to straighten the floor and replace the sink stand with a smaller and safer sink stand. He came back with a $12,000 quote and a total gut of the bathroom.

My thought was get the stand safe and give us a good floor for around $3,000 depending on the worms we pull out of a can in the floor.

He's claimed to have helped build this place in the mid 70s, but he's only 50.

Welcome to small town 50 miles from Austin, 80 from San Antonio, Texas living.

[CCExile]

22. Sounds like you live in the Great Western Colorado River/Retirement Valley.

LOTS of old right wingers moving out there and retiring over the last twenty years. They've been in Corpus longer, but have only been rabid in the last ten years or so. Texas was a pretty nice place until the Tea Party riled 'em up and made mouthing off a virtue.

[marble falls]

43. Says it all - "Texas was a pretty nice place until the Tea Party riled 'em up and made mouthing ...

... off a virtue."

They're mainly military, ex-government and oil industry retirees - well off if not rich, well educated if not in the liberal arts, and completely full of themselves.

Even Joy and I are about that: I'm Navy, she's ex-CIA (30 years), her late father retired here a Major after 30 years coming up from a PFC (an amazing record as an OG antifa), her mother worked for the Army, and Missile Defense Agency since she was 16, over 40 years.

Joy and I provide the turds for the RW punch bowls we're invited to.

[CCExile]

45. Right on. I know your area well... I lived in Austin from 1972 (Groovers Paradise) until 2014

I lived in Austin from 1972 (Groovers Paradise) until 2014, when it just got too congested. Thought I would be there forever, but all good towns must be over-run. It's the law.

[marble falls]

46. The yuppie scum stole it, its being developed. Lot rents got over $1,000/month ...

I don't get it. They want what we have and then they turn it into what they had before.

[PatSeg]

42. He is such a jerk

It is hard to believe he has any customers at all.

[Marcuse]

6. Good work! Any video of the encounter?

[marble falls]

12. I left the smart phone in the house. I regret it.

[brewens]

7. Too bad you can't train those birds to shit on him if he comes back. :) n/t

[herding cats]

10. Excellent job, MF!

People have taken being a jerk to a new level now days. Thank you for saving the birds. ❤️

[llashram]

13. little things

to help all helpless creatures from clods such as this binky the clown mofo...

[efhmc]

18. What a hideous (pardon my language) "person" but....

cardinals are year-round residents in the eastern two-thirds of Texas. Not sure where this puts MF Also: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), codified at 16 U.S.C.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0511.pdf
If there is any other website where you can report this nutty, stupid person, I would do so.

[Tanuki]

20. Thank you for looking out for those harmless and defenseless creatures.

They make the world a more beautiful place. What a horrible person that roofer is.

[Treefrog]

21. Good for you for standing up for the birds!

I'm a birder from way back. My entire front, side and back yards are planted and designed just for the birds. Unfortunately, the squirrels find the yard very homey too.

[ZonkerHarris]

27. You need to talk to your POA and have that guy fired. He tried to frame you with false charges and

claims. I've seen guys react like that before and they are scum.

You need to file an official complaint to your POA board and get him fired.
Tell them if they force/make you let him in or on your house you will hold them legally and financially responsible for any crimes or damage he does to you or your home.

I would not let that guy near my house, ever.
He cant be trusted in any manner shape or form.

[marble falls]

28. This happened in front of the President of the POA and he's an independent contractor.

[ZonkerHarris]

31. Restraining order then. No way should you let this person on your property or near you

[BobTheSubgenius]

29. He seems a tad volatile. Just a tad...

Might be a MAGAt. What do you think?

[TomDaisy]

30. he engaged in elder abuse. you should have him arrested for that

[marble falls]

33. You're right. Never thought of myself as elderly, though I have embraced my geezerhood.

[wryter2000]

32. The condo needs to fire his ass

That is no way to behave, birds or not.

[halfulglas]

40. I have a cardinal pair in my backyard in the adjoining condo/townhouse yard in Maryland.

They've been here for years. Don't know if they migrate or not in that I don't see them much in the winter but come spring and summer they are very visible. Mostly the female comes to my bird feeders, but the male shows up occasionally. They are so pretty. It's funny, the neighbor's cats don't seem to bother much with them even though the cats consider my yard theirs also. I don't mind them. I think they help keep the mice away. I never see any blue jays around here, thank goodness. I had them in Connecticut and they bullied all the other birds and in addition crapped on everything.

[FailureToCommunicate]

41. From what I have learned about cardinals, they will be fine if moved. They mate for life and

usually make several new nests and lay eggs through the year.

They also don't usually migrate, and, you would almost certainly see the same pair again, especially if you are setting out sunflower food for them.

I agree that it's pretty crummy on the contractor's part but maybe there are other issues involved with him.

Some battles may not be worth the blood pressure rise, especially if the birds in question would likely be okay in the long run.

Good luck.