Measures to Control Wild Bird Populations in HDB Estates

22 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development (a)what have been done to control the population of wild birds in HDB estates and the possible transmission of diseases by birds; and (b) whether methods used by airports such as a sonic system to chase away the birds can be used to prevent the birds from over-growing in HDB estates.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Koh Poh Koon) (for the Minister for National Development): The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) adopts a multi-pronged approach to controlling the population of wild birds like crows, mynahs and pigeons in our Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates.

First, AVA works with Town Councils to implement measures to mitigate issues caused by birds, and this includes using bird deterrent gels and fogging trees to discourage birds from roosting near our residential areas.

Second, AVA also works with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Town Councils to ensure proper disposal of food waste at our hawker centres and within our residential areas. This reduces the availability of food that will attract the birds.

Third, AVA also works with NParks and Town Councils to prune trees within the estates to deter birds from roosting in those trees.

AVA also conducts regular surveillance of wild birds to detect diseases and thus far, there has been no detection of diseases of concern in the common bird species. AVA also inspects pet shops that sell birds to the general public to ensure that the birds are properly looked after and in good health. Moreover, in our farming industry, our local poultry farms are required to put in place proper biosecurity measures to prevent any disease incursion. Members of the public are advised therefore also to exercise due care and caution to not handle any dead birds or have direct contact with bird droppings because these are where diseases can be transmitted.

AVA has considered the suggestion to use sonic systems to deter birds. However, we must be aware that the effects are usually temporary and the birds have been known to acclimatise to the sound. Such sonic systems can also be quite loud which reduces their suitability for deployment in our dense residential areas.

The public, I must emphasise, also has an important role to play in curbing the bird population by maintaining the overall cleanliness of the environment and not feeding the wild birds. AVA, NEA and Town Councils will continue to educate residents not to litter or feed the birds. Enforcement actions will be taken against those who do not comply.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. In my area, we have areas that despite the joint efforts put in, the issue is not solved. So, I want to know besides those methods that the Senior Minister of State has mentioned, are there any other latest methods that could be used to resolve this issue? In fact, I have one case which is quite bad. When I was there I can see it is noisy. Is it possible to change to another type of tree whereby it will deter birds from resting in these trees?

Dr Koh Poh Koon: Mr Deputy Speaker, in tackling the birds issue, we also must understand that this is a multi-factorial problem. If some cases, there is high-rise littering. I know there are some blocks in which we have residents throwing food particles, food substances out from the kitchen window. These are behaviour that constitutes the source of attraction for the birds to come. And once the birds are used to coming to a certain location because of the availability of food, they will then find natural places to roost.

So, I think in tackling this issue, it is not about deploying more and more technology. AVA adopts a science-based approach to see which of these methods can be an effective way to deter the birds. But no scientific method will deter birds from coming back to sources of food. This is where we need to continue to strengthen our public education, to also take enforcement actions where necessary against people who throw food particles out of their windows. They continue to constitute a source of attraction for the birds.

So, I would say it is not just more methods. Some of these methods can be expensive and with very limited efficacy over a period of time. In the longer run, it is always more cost-effective and more durable if you work at the source of it which is to deter uncivil behaviour. And also to make sure that our food establishment in our estates continue to practise good habits, good practices of removing food wastes.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh: From the resident who gave me the feedback, I also understand that there was no throwing of food, no high-rise littering to attract birds. From the feedback I gathered, it is because the birds know where to source for the food. In fact, they fly into the house, fly into the flat whenever the residents prepare a nice dinner or nice lunch on the dining table. The bird even went into their house. The Senior Minister of State is right; that could be the source but we cannot really ask everybody to close their windows.

Dr Koh Poh Koon: Mr Deputy Speaker, I understand the concerns that Mr Gan is facing with some of these very sensitive issues especially.

I think there are certain trees in which birds may be attracted to, especially those that could be fruiting. If there are specific tree types that do attract a certain particular species of birds, we can take this back to the National Parks Board and see if there are options to look at the species of trees in our housing estates.

Beyond that, what AVA is trying to do is also to adopt certain trials to see whether there ways in which, regardless of how many trees we change, sometimes the birds just have some way of going to a particular tree. So, they are trying things like fogging methods, deterrent gels and some of these trials may take some time to mature before we know whether the method is efficacious. More importantly, it has to be cost-effective because at the end of the day, this involves extra spending by Town Councils which means conservancy charges will have to be taken in account, on how the money is being spent as well.

At the end of the day we will explore science-based methods to see whether there are newer ways to deter the birds but immediately if you can recognise a certain species of trees, please let us know, we can get NParks to take a look as well.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. End of question time. Ms Chia Yong Yong, do you have a clarification to make?

[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix, unless Members had asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn.]