Also she does have every right to be in her backyard when she wants - it is only going to antagonise the situation should you / your husband keep telling her to go away.
Seriously - doesn't anyone ever think of it from the other side? What if it was you going into your backyard and the neighbour was abusing you? You would be on here just as quickly going on about what an invasion of your privacy that the neighbour wouldn't let you sit in your own backyard!!!
I disagree.. just because it's on their property doesn't give them the right to impinge on your lifestyle, if your neighbour plays the drums and you can hear it inside your home, you can legally have the drumming stopped.
I'd question why the bird scarer is facing away from the neighbours property and why it has conduit.
I'd also claim that birds no longer enter your property as a direct result of your neighbours bird scarer, your neighbour may have a right to scare off birds on their property, but not on yours or anyone else's.
I'm with the understanding (you'll need to verify with your local council) that bird scarers are NOT permitted unless approved by your local council.
10. Notification of Intention to use a Device
10.1. Persons intending to operate a bird scaring device(s) must notify the Council
of their intention to do so outlining;
10.1.1 their name and address;
10.1.2 the number of devices intended to be used;
10.1.3 the type of each device; and
10.1.4 the minimum distance from occupied neighbouring premises.
If the bird scarer is a disguised camera ... well that just opens up a can of worms, you'd have to question the intent. If I was as worried as you are I'd be making a call to the cops and get them to investigate your suspicion.
I'm with Kyton. Wow, whatever happened to neighbourliness?
The bird scarers refered to in council regulations are the ones that go "Bang" every couple of minutes all day long. Plastic owls would not count in the regs any more than garden gnomes, which have been known to scare small children and dogs.
The wire attached to the owl (if it is a wire), could be a lightening conductor or a way of moving the owl (static owls lose their potency as birds get used to them), or even a speaker through which they can make owl noises . If you are really worried, get a laser pointer and point it at the "camera" for a few seconds... result, dead camera. But I think you will only be dazzling a plastic owl, which may or may not impress it, whoooo knows.
Now go and invite them round for a barbeque...
We now own 4 owls... , so you can practice dazzling them if you like, target practice so to speak.
Ed
Are you unaware that birds can and do die of fright? (especially newly hatched, but not limited to) that's why I said to check with the local council. Councils have their own By-Laws relating to their area, even if it's not a written by-law council may decide to take action particularly if native fauna could be affected. e.g. a rosella nest nearby, possum territory etc.
I doubt the wire is a lightning conductor, why in-case it in conduit?
btw @ recommending pointing a laser devise at a camera...unaware of the term 'willful damage' or the 'intent to willfully cause damage'? err ..it's unlawful.