The Town That Went To The Birds

When A Texas Street Was Overrun With Egrets, Neighbors Came Together For A Solution

(CBS)  In the wild, egrets, with their lanky bodies, and snow white feathers, are as graceful and elegant as anything in nature.

But on Holly Lane, in the once quiet town of Taylor, Texas, just the sight of an egret is a call to arms.

The weapons in the battle of Holly Lane are all acoustic - noise makers to discourage egrets from landing in the trees, reports CBS News correspondent Don Teague.

And if you're wondering why residents are so militant about keeping the birds away, it's because thousands found the town's tall trees a perfect place to nest last year.

"It was so gross I can't even explain what we went through last year, trying to keep this place cleaned up," said resident Sharon Bunge.

"I don't know how else to describe it to you," said Pat Rogers. "It was a war zone."

The egrets poop - a lot. It piled up four inches thick, making residents sick, forcing them to stay inside, and vowing to never let this happen again.

Egrets are federally protected animals - it's a crime to disturb Egrets once they've begun nesting, so last year, residents were helpless, but this year …

"We were able to find out by using different sounds we could actually discourage the birds from landing, and if we did that, that was cool," said Reginald Zepeda with Taylor Animal Control.

So beginning two months ago, the two dozen residents on this street declared war.

From sunrise until sunset they watch, wait, and wail at the sight of even a single egret.

As anyone who lives within about a mile of this street will tell you, the neighbors manage to make plenty of noise with stuff they find at Wal-Mart, but wildlife officials weren't sure they were making enough noise so they brought out some heavy artillery.

This is an acoustic canon, which delivers 160 of ear-shattering, bird-frightening thunder.

"Do you think this is the loudest street in America right now?" Teague asked.

"Oh yeah," said Rogers, laughing.

But it's also one of the closest streets, where folks who once barely knew each other are winning the battle against the bird together.

[barbaram99]

I love gogs. but I hate it when they poop everywhere and their oeners won't clean up after them. Yep. They are suppose to and they can't run free. i don't like them yappy little dogs.. I was walking to Safeway and a lady was walking her. It was mean. I wqa on the other side of the sidw qalk. I don't care for birds.It a bloody health issue them people had to put up with. They are fighting back. GOOD.

[britta02]

Reminds me of the morning of the wedding in "Steele Magnolias". I would surely hate to be a third shift worker living on that street.

[barbaram99]

I saw tgis on TV.I I can't blame the people for making a racket to scare them nasty birds off. Bird droppings are a mess and can make us sick as they are dirty, On the list or not, the govt ain't there to clean the darn mess up. They lucky I am not there. The health rixks of it Boot the birds..

[brianbwb-2009]

It is a novel solution, especially for Texas.

I applaud the residents for finding other ways than shooting the birds.

[Dgunner]

THE MANURE OF THE EGRET WHEN MIXED PROPERLY IS PROBABLY SOME THE MOST POTENT FERTILIZER NEXT TO BAT GUANA. SINCE COWS DON'T EAT IT THE TEXANS DON'T NEED IT. i WONDER IF THE CANNON WAS LOUD ENOUGH WOULD THIS WORK ON TEXANS AS WELL?

[rrozsa]

Now bring in some cannons into every neighborhood in America and get rid of all the yapping, howling, barking mutts!

Posted by johnb8888 at 4:54 AM : May 27, 2009

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Amen! I hate outdoor dogs. If they're fenced in they bark 24/7; if they run free (our neighborhood has no leash law), they poop in everyone's yard and get into everyone's garbage.