RCR 3 EVER
ArboristSite Guru
Sorry to laugh at your problems, but I had to chuckle when I read your post. I've never heard of anyone being reported for feeding birds, but I can definitely understand what it is like to feud with neighbors.
Yep, chimney fires can happen even if you do everything right and sounds like your neighbor did everything wrong.
The guy made the complaint that the birds were getting sick because they would eat and defecate in the same area,yet he was not worried that I was on the ground rolling in the bird poop having an asthma attack from his thick smoke coming from his fires.
City guy came to actually inspect feeders and told me their was a state limit as to how much food I could put out for the birds and he had no problem with my feeders though. Besides what was I supposed to do put diapers on all the birds? Birds and animals have been always pooping & eating in same area. Cattle don't go to a toilet then eat the grass.
State told me the limit was for deer not birds and I was in the clear as long as I did not target deep feeding. City agreed and said no problem or issue as well as long as I kept the area reasonably clean.
The battle and feud was on for retaliation (fish oil attack) and now Karma has hit him big time.
I am glad house did not burn down as it would have involved my huge Oak tree that borders his yard and there are very few of these trees left in the area. Plus they would have been living in a tent for who knows how long and having birds fly overhead and dump on the canvas.