BIRD NUISANCE

Mr Ang Mong Seng asked the Minister for National Development whether there are any practical and effective solutions to resolve the bird nuisance faced by residents at the older and established Housing and Development Board estates.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the main factors behind the bird nuisance problem are the easy availability of roosting places and food sources.

The National Parks Board (NParks) and the Town Councils regularly prune dense foliage to reduce roosting places. Bird nests found are also removed during pruning activity. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), with the assistance of the Singapore Gun Club and SAFRA Shooting Club, will cull the pest birds wherever possible and safe to do so. However, these are short-term measures. The pest birds would return to the roost when the trees regain their foliage.

A more long-term and effective solution is to reduce the easy availability of food sources. The Ministry of the Environment has taken measures to require food stalls, shops and households to store their refuse in covered bins to keep them away from birds.

To minimise the bird nuisance problems more effectively in the long run, we will also need the cooperation of the public. The Town Councils have made concerted efforts to educate residents not to feed the pest birds such as pigeons or leave food scraps lying around. The community, as well as owners of eating establishments, should help to ensure that food wastes are properly disposed.