City of Astoria Approves "Sirens" for Waterfront Condominium to Deter Starlings

Some Astorians have complained recently about loud siren type noises that were sounding in the area of the Columbia House Condominiums on the Astoria waterfront near 3rd Street. Air horns were being used to deter a large flock of starlings that have been plaguing the building by using it as a nesting site, spreading dropping and repeatedly getting into and spreading refuse from garbage containers. 
City Manager Paul Benoit said the Condominium Association was granted city permission to use the air horns. 


Benoit.wav  “The way the codes reads, it allows the city manager’s office to issue permits, noise permits, sound permits, and we did that, and I think it was for a period of a month.  Columbia House was sounding the air horn I believe at dusk. It does say that we have the ability to terminate the permit if we receive numerous complaints.”  (:20)  

Jim Campbell of the Columbia House Condominium Association sought permission from the Astoria City Council to continue the use of the air horns on a limited and intermittent basis.  The goal is to make the building undesirable as a nesting location, Campbell said without an effective deterrent, the birds will return.

Campbell.wav “The tenants declined to pursue killing the Starlings, even though they are deemed by the Department of Agriculture to be one of the five most destructive invasive species in the United States and therefore not protected.”   (:14)

At last nights City Council meeting, Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen proposed an ongoing 60 day permit renewable in increments of 30 days.  The council approved the permit.  Campbell said the condominium association would limit noise after 10pm in the summer months.