AURORA (AP) — Aurora city officials have obtained a court order allowing them to collect 300 birds found in the home of a self-confessed hoarder.

City officials said Wednesday they have a Kane County Circuit Court order to allow a bird rescue group to collect the birds at the home of 57-year-old Dave Skeberdis. Officials in the western Chicago suburb described a home filled with trash, debris, bird seed and bird feces up to waist high. Some of the birds were dead and decaying.

Skeberdis had originally given verbal consent for the city to rescue the birds. But he later revoked consent, saying he wants until Friday to donate the birds and clear pathways in his home.