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New condos in Kenneth City are really for the birds
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Friday, June 1, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/060107_par-06.jpg) |
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Mayor Muriel Whitman points to red, white and blue patriotic bird house "condo" in back of Town Hall. |
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KENNETH CITY – Three new condos have been constructed here without the approval of zoning authorities or the Town Council.
That’s OK, though, because they’re for birds. Literally.
One of the new bird houses is painted patriotic red, white and blue and is located behind Town Hall. Two others are at a nearby municipal park near a gazebo town officials installed less than a year ago.
“The birds love them,” Mayor Muriel Whitman said. “It gives them a place that they can call their own.”
Sure enough, there were several species of them trying to get into the one behind Town Hall.
All three bird houses were built by Vice Mayor Al Carrier who numbered each entrance hole.
“It’s like condos for birds,” Whitman said.
The mayor, however, is still irked by the overabundance of Muscovy ducks that have made Kenneth City their home. The large birds, originally from South America, have taken over entire neighborhoods and leave their droppings on streets, sidewalks and driveways. Many residents complain of their noise and other problems they cause.
Fortunately, they are too large to make a home for themselves in one of the bird houses.
“There were at least 50 Muscovy ducks near my home the other morning,” Whitman said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Town officials have asked residents to stop feeding the ducks in hope that they will go away, perhaps to nearby Pinellas Park that apparently has duck egg-eating snakes as photographed recently by former Mayor Cecil Bradbury.
“They have snakes that eat duck eggs? Bring them here,” Whitman said with a hearty laugh.
The male Muscovy ducks can tip the scales at 12 pounds with females reaching about half that. Their feet have sharp claws that allow them to perch on branches. Some people say the red carbuncles above the beak and around the eyes make them unattractive.
No one is willing to say what will happen if the duck population continues to grow. Ideas range from shaking newly-laid eggs to prevent embryos from developing to using anti-fertilization drugs, or bringing in hungry corn snakes from Pinellas Park.
The bird houses are perched on high poles to keep away predators. Whitman did not know if others would be built for other neighborhoods.
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Article published on Friday, June 1, 2007
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