Woodpeckers have been poking holes in the building and exposing the drywall, electrical and plumbing installations
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A Calgary long-term care home has been ordered to do something about two bird deterrent devices aimed at warding off woodpeckers because they shine bright strobe lights into a neighbouring property.
Intercare Corporate Group Inc. recently bought itself a little extra time to fix the problem. It took the City of Calgary to the Licence and Community Standards Appeal Board over a Sept. 23 order giving the long-term care home dubbed Kingsland Terrace Supportive Living two weeks to alter or remove “two bird deterrent devices located along the east side roof’s edge to ensure they no longer allow a strobe-type light to enter directly into adjacent property windows located immediately east of building.”
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Intercare “submitted that they installed the bird deterrent devices on the roofs of their care facility to ward off woodpeckers which have been poking holes in the building and exposing the drywall, electrical and plumbing installations,” according to Huma Sharma, the company’s director of support services and material management.
Sharma “stated that as care home service providers, they wanted to ensure that their building was safe for their residents and compliant with stipulated safety requirements.”
He noted that the bird deterrent devices were installed in line with recommendations on the city’s website.
Calgary has a bylaw that “outlines a property owner’s obligation not to allow an outdoor light to shine directly into the living or sleeping areas of another dwelling house unless the outdoor light is permitted or required” by law or a development permit, said the Nov. 18 decision.
A Sept. 23 call to the city’s 311 service about Intercare’s bird deterrent lights prompted the Calgary Police Service to investigate, Sgt. Christine Thatcher told the appeal board.
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An officer went to the property that day around 4:15 p.m., eyeballed the problem and took two photographs, according to Thatcher. He issued a notice to fix the issue, promising he’d return Oct. 17 to make sure it was done.
Thatcher “submitted that they took no further action because an appeal was brought to their notice on October 15.”
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Because they didn’t know which neighbour complained about the lights, Intercare “took a variety of pictures to understand how the roof aligned with the neighbouring property,” according to Ian Woodcock, the company’s chief operating officer.
“Mr. Woodcock added that the problem with the birds was not limited to actual burrowing through the stucco but extended to the birds going into the framing and starting to nest in the building which creates an entirely different issue related to nesting animals. He noted that fortunately, they were able to confirm that nesting had not occurred,” said the appeal board.
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Woodcock told the five-person panel that Intercare has “been in business in Calgary for about 30 years, he takes relationships with the community, professionalism and by extension, reputation extremely seriously.”
Guy Seward, Intercare’s maintenance team leader “explained that the placement of the bird deterrent devices depends largely on the part of the building where the birds are trying to poke holes.”
The devices, Seward explained, can’t be “moved around because the installation involves drilling holes into the roof membrane. Therefore, they install them in a particular problem area and hope the birds do not come there again.”
Woodcock told the appeal board that Intercare “considered the City of Calgary’s recommendations on how to deter birds from causing building damage before installing the bird devices. They believe they have been fully compliant with those recommendations.”
He “submitted that they did their best to look at the angles and the heights and opted for a location where they believed the light could not reflect.”
Woodcock “expressed his hope that the outcome of the hearing would provide additional direction regarding the prevention of damage by birds as they plan to install similar devices in three other locations in Calgary.”
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Thatcher pointed out that only two of the bird deterrent devices installed “along the east side of the building were causing the problems.”
The police sergeant “submitted that it is not the city’s intention to inhibit (Intercare’s) efforts at mitigating the obvious damage caused by the woodpeckers. The city is aware of the issue as it has been seen in many properties.”
She acknowledged “that the bird problem is a huge one” for Intercare.
“Sgt. Thatcher submitted that if any other pest management strategies could work without causing the strobe light effect complained about, she would welcome such strategies.”
The appeal board confirmed the order to remove or change the offending bird deterrent lights, but it gave Intercare 30 days to do the work.
“Based on the evidence provided, the board is satisfied that the reflective bird-deterrent devices facing the east side of the subject property are directing light into the windows of the adjacent property,” said the decision.
It acknowledged “that Intercare Corporate Group Inc. is challenged by invasive woodpeckers and the extensive damage caused. Management at Intercare Corporate Group have explored many options to uphold both the integrity of their property and the home of the residents they serve.”
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