Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on follow-up actions after the NParks-funded study on feral pigeons

Mar 2, 2021

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether NParks will be taking any follow-up actions following an NParks-funded study titled “Restricted human activities shift the foraging strategies of feral pigeons (Columba livia) and three other commensal bird species”; and (b) if so, what are these actions.

Answer:

NParks’ study has affirmed that food made available by humans is a key driver of wild bird population growth. These findings have highlighted the importance of food source reduction, which are part of NParks’ population management measures for wild birds. It is multi-pronged, including habitat modification and population control.

To reduce the availability of food sources, NParks has been working closely with SFA, NEA, and Town Councils to encourage proper food waste management at food establishments and to enforce against littering and illegal bird-feeding. NParks also partners agencies and Town Councils to educate the community on proper refuse management. As part of its outreach and education efforts, NParks launched the island-wide “Say No to Feeding Wildlife” campaign in January 2021 to raise awareness on the negative impact of feeding wildlife, including birds. 

We would like to remind the public to be socially responsible, by not feeding wild birds, and by keeping public areas clean and free of food waste, to help manage wildlife population.