Saugus odor problem for the birds

SAUGUS – Bird droppings, feathers, chicken bones and shellfish litter the roofs and lawns of the million-dollar homes along Gianna Drive and Bria Circle in Saugus.Residents there say seagulls have turned their quiet cul-de-sac into their own personal feeding ground and they?re blaming Rocky Hill Farm, which sits several hundred yards through the woods off of Route 129.?It?s ridiculous in the morning here they cover all these roofs,” said Gianna Drive resident Lisa Trio. “You can see the poop from them on the roofs. We find crab legs, chicken bones, big pieces of bread and all kinds of different foods. It sounds like you live at the beach. You walk out in the morning and you hear them cawing. It?s crazy.”However, farm owners Francis and Marianne Buzun insist the seagulls are a product of the countless restaurants along Route 1.?Drive up and down Route 1, look at the light poles in the parking lot,” said Francis. “They fly over here just like they can fly anywhere else they want. Do you see any droppings on my building? If they were eating here, don?t you think they?d be here? The seagulls like to sit up there because they like to look down and see the reservoir. When the sun comes up in the morning, my theory is they follow the sun?s rays to the roof to get warm.”Neighbors call Rocky Hill a “pig farm,” but the Buzuns insist that it?s not a pig farm and stated they have a few animals but mostly specialize in organic composting.?I might buy a cow and sell it,” said Buzun. “I have chickens over there. I might buy some rabbits at Easter time and sell them. Don?t call it a pig farm. I don?t have any pigs here.”Neighbors on Gianna Drive have also been complaining about a foul smell and loud gunshot-like noises that they say come from the farm. Trio?s husband, Tony, said sometimes the smell gets so bad they can?t even leave the house.While the smell has been an issue for Trio since he built his home there 10 years ago, he said he?s equally concerned about a possible health hazard from all the bird droppings.?We don?t want to see birds on our roofs,” said Trio. “The birds wouldn?t be here if they weren?t doing whatever it is they?re doing.”Vincent Gargano has lived next door from the Trios for 10 years, and described the smell as “worse than manure,” and said he hears the gunshot noises late into the night, while Bria Circle resident Frank Cambria said the smell is “terrible.”Cambria has even started a petition from neighbors to bring to the Board of Health and the Board of Selectmen to get the situation resolved because he said the seagulls combined with the smell keep potential home-buyers away.?Probably the biggest source of food for the animals has got to be right here, the pig farm,” said Cambria. “I feel sorry for all of these people. We?re getting bird (droppings) all over the roofs, cars, chicken bones in the backyard, crab shells. I?m not asking to put him out of business. I want this to stop and whatever it takes for him to do to stop it, stop it. If it means put it all inside ? then enclose it.”Police have responded to the farm several times about noise complaints, but discovered the noise was a noisemaker at the farm set to a timer used to scare away birds.Marianne Buzun acknowledged they use an air machine to scare off starlings and seagulls, but said it?s never used at night.?We use it sparingly and only when necessary and only during daylight hours,” she said.Public Health Director Frank Giacalone said he?s been monitoring the situation, but doesn?t believe Rocky Hill Farm is the source of the seagulls or a major source for the odor.Giacalone said the Board of Health had issues last year with seagulls getting into the trash barrels at the Taco Bell and KFC on Route 1, but the board had owners install new lids, which he said helped with the problem.?They like to roost at the highest place,” said Giacalone. “And Gianna Drive is the highest place in the area and coincidentally it does abut that farm.”Giacalone acknowledged