Buckhead business owners say they're losing thousands of dollars after being hit with multiple power outages they say were caused by pigeons.
Businesses along Roswell say the hungry birds are camping out on Georgia Power lines, awaiting food. Merchants say that sometimes, so many birds congregate on the lines that they blow transformers.
Emma Head of the Pie Shop said that one of the power outages occurred on Saturday – the store's busiest day.
Owners say that the pigeons are being fed by Don Lewis, who is known as "Birdman."
City investigators confronted Lewis this week. He said that they told him he could not feed the birds.
"The city health department said I could not feed the birds. But…there is no city of Atlanta health department. The Fulton County Health Department handles everything from Johns Creek to the south side," said Lewis.
Lewis said that he doesn't believe he is causing the problem.
"Birds have been around the city for years and years," said Lewis.
Lewis said he has a lawyer and has the right to feed the birds on his property.
Georgia Power has put covers on the power lines in hopes of solving the problem.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:32:47 GMT
The wives of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers.
The wives and family members of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers. They say their loved ones are forced to work extra jobs just to make ends meet, leaving little time for family.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:19 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:19:31 GMT
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy.
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy. They say he was approached by a man as he got off his school bus on Wednesday, and that man pulled him into a pickup truck. He was able to escape, but the suspect is still on the loose.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says a $652 million plan to deepen the shipping channel to Savannah's seaport remains very much on President Barack Obama's radar.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says a $652 million plan to deepen the shipping channel to Savannah's seaport remains very much on President Barack Obama's radar.
Rick Barron will take over next month as Fulton County's new elections chief, as the department continues to deal with a state investigation into problems at the polls.
Rick Barron will take over next month as Fulton County's new elections chief, as the department continues to deal with a state investigation into problems at the polls.
