It's 2025, but Yishun woman is still feeding birds even after being Stomped 3 times
New year, but no new me for this woman.
She has been caught on camera feeding birds illegally in Yishun Avenue 6 multiple times on past occasions and continues to do so, as seen in a video circulating online recently.
Stomper Jesslin alerted Stomp to the video uploaded on Feb 20.
It shows the woman, who is wearing plastic gloves, pinching and throwing out food onto a grass patch at Block 465B Yishun Avenue 6 for a large flock of pigeons.
A Stomper previously shared that the woman has been doing this since November 2023. Her behaviour persisted even after measures by the National Parks Board (NParks) and Nee Soon Town Council, said another Stomper.
The town council told Stomp in Sept 2024 that it is aware of the woman and her bird-feeding, adding: "Despite the town council's multiple engagements with the resident, she continues to carry out the illegal feeding.
"As a last resort, we have also sought the help of NParks to carry out enforcement measures.
"In such difficult situations where there are recalcitrant feeders, we have to also put in pigeon population management measures.
"We share the frustration with the other residents but will continue to advise the recalcitrant feeder."
NParks told Stomp in Oct 2024 that it is looking into the matter.
Mr How Choon Beng, group director of wildlife management at NParks, said: "We have been working with Nee Soon Town Council to manage pest bird populations and advise residents against the feeding of birds, while sharing about the implications of these actions on public hygiene and health.
"NParks will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action against errant pigeon feeders."
Mr How also shared more insight into the management of the pigeon population and said: "Rock Pigeons are a non-native species in Singapore and their flocking and roosting behaviour can result in soiling and hygiene issues.
"To safeguard public health and minimise dis-amenities, town councils and agencies take a science- and community-based approach to managing the pigeon population, comprising measures such as food source reduction, habitat modification, and population control. NParks conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements.
"The public can help to reduce the population growth of pigeons by not feeding them and ensuring that food scraps are properly disposed of."
Mr How said NParks monitors feedback on illegal bird feeding and undertakes active enforcement, which includes physical surveillance and the deployment of CCTV cameras at identified feeding hotspots.
"Managing the pigeon population requires the efforts of the community, multiple agencies and town councils," he noted.
"This includes reducing human-generated food sources, such as by tackling high rise littering and managing waste at food establishments and bin centres.
"NParks also reaches out to members of the community such as students through outreach talks in schools, and the elderly via the 'Our Avian Neighbours' initiative which aims to raise awareness among the elderly on the negative impacts of bird feeding.
"Under this initiative, which was launched in July 2023, NParks collaborates with Active Ageing Centres to organise engagement sessions comprising a talk on common urban birds and the negative impacts of bird feeding, and these messages are emphasised through educational games, and the distribution of collaterals."
Under the Wildlife Act, offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for their first offence of feeding any wild animal, including pigeons, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences.
