Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization

One of the renters in a property we manage complained about blackbirds that spend the evening in the branches of trees that shade a small portion of the parking lot. The trees belong to the adjacent property but planted right by the property line and some of the branches hang over to our side and shade as far as just the hood of the cars parked there.

Apparently these blackbirds arrive by dusk and leave by dawn and, as I was told, mess up the cars with their droppings. This renter has decided to park in front of his unit, which he is not supposed to do, to save the car's finish. I was told that the previous landlord, two years ago, cut all the overhanging branches straight up and solved the problem this way. I do not see much evidence of this and I would hate to sugggest such a drastic measure to the owner of the building. This type of "mohawk" cut would certainly detract from the property value, and might damage the trees.

Has anyone had this problem before? How did you solve it? I would like to offer some options to the owners of the property when I present this problem to them.
Thanks for any suggestion.

Ana Ghia-Pereira
Peartree Group Property Management
1568 Merivale Road, Suite 610
Ottawa, ON K2G 5Y7
tel.: 613-686-7575
fax: 613-686-7570
email: ana.ghiapereira@peartreegroup.ca