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Times Forum Online 9 Nov 05 Are there rules against feeding crows, pigeons? Letter from Jonathan Cheng Hern Sinn Straits Times Forum Online 7 Nov 05 NEA has ongoing crow management programme Reply from NEA Straits Times Forum Online 4 Nov 05 Find other ways to curb crow population Letter from Jaipal Singh Gill Straits Times Forum Online 3 Nov 05 Close tabs kept on bird reserve for avian flu Reply from AVA and SBWR Straits Times Forum Online 1 Nov 05 Cull crows to prevent spread of bird flu Letter from Andrew Seow Chwee Guan Straits Times Forum Online 31 Oct 05 Avian flu danger: Please don't feed the birds Letter from Margaret Tan (Miss) Straits Times Forum Online 27 Oct 05 Bird Danger Letter from Ken Leong Chi-Yung Straits Times Forum Online 21 Oct 05 Sick pigeons a worry Letter from Azman Abdullah THERE are pigeons, mynahs, crows and sparrows in almost every HDB estate and hawker centre. Their droppings can be found almost everywhere, in playgrounds, on footpaths, etc. A few weeks ago, I saw two sick pigeons in the drains outside my flat in Tao Ching Road; the next day, they died. I have seen egrets among these birds. Are the authorities aware, and has action been taken to check if these birds are possible carriers of the deadly bird-flu virus? Azman Abdullah Straits Times Forum Online 31 Oct 05 Avian flu danger: Please don't feed the birds Letter from Margaret Tan (Miss) I refer to the letter 'Sick pigeons a worry' by Azman Abdullah (ST Oct 21). I share the same concerns with him. In my estate in Circuit Road, pigeons, mynas and crows feed daily on rice, bread and leftover food thrown by residents living on the higher floors. From time to time, dead pigeons and crows can be found. I once saw a pigeon picking on a dead rat outside my flat. The Marine Parade Town Council is aware of this problem and I wonder what actions have been taken to educate the residents against feeding birds and littering. It has to weed out these inconsiderate actions. Or are the authorities waiting for an outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus before any action is taken. I sincerely hope this is not the case, lest we are faced with a similar problem like dengue. Margaret Tan (Miss) Straits Times Forum Online 1 Nov 05 Cull crows to prevent spread of bird flu Letter from Andrew Seow Chwee Guan WITH the bird flu looming, it is time the authorities step up crow-culling operations. It was reported in the media that large amounts of the virus are found in the droppings of infected birds. Direct contact with infected poultry or surfaces and objects contaminated by their droppings is considered the main route of human infection. It is common to find crows descending on food left unattended at food centres. They also congregate around rubbish bins, particularly at food centres, and feed at garbage collection points. Studies have shown that they can breed rapidly and their population could double every year. Crows roost communally on either tall trees or high-rise apartments. Their droppings are just about everywhere and this poses a health hazard. They have also been known to attack passers-by when they feel that their young are threatened. One particular area where roosting takes place is the carpark next to Specialists' Centre. Despite the heavy traffic, the din can be heard daily from 6.30pm. The many droppings along the footpath suggest a high concentration of crows on trees there. Another hot spot is the carpark at Tanjong Katong Road next to Sheng Siong supermarket. Short of total extermination for ecological reasons, the crow population should be kept to a minimum. To keep crows in check everyone should play his part. This includes: Food-centre operators ensuring that any leftover food is cleared quickly. The National Parks Board pruning trees more often to prevent roosting. Tightly securing garbage at food centres, to avoid food spillage. Andrew Seow Chwee Guan Straits Times Forum Online 27 Oct 05 Bird Danger Letter from Ken Leong Chi-Yung WITH increasing concerns over the deadly avian-flu virus and Singapore being a stopover point for migratory birds, it might be prudent if the authorities closed off certain routes within the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve which bring visitors close to the migratory birds. I was at Sungei Buloh last Wednesday and I noticed that some routes were downwind of these birds, with the stench from their droppings clearly noticeable. Ken Leong Chi-Yung Straits Times Forum Online 3 Nov 05 Close tabs kept on bird reserve for avian flu Reply from AVA and SBWR WE REFER to the letter, 'Bird danger' (ST, Oct 27). We understand the writer's concern and would like to reassure him that Singapore is free from bird flu. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the National Parks Board have an on-going surveillance programme for avian flu in wild birds at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. AVA collects blood samples and swabs from trapped wild birds to test for the presence of avian-influenza viruses. To date, no viruses have been detected. There is thus little risk of the public coming into contact with wild birds and being infected with bird flu in the reserve. Moreover, visitors would also not come in close contact with the wild birds. They view the birds at a distance with their binoculars and telescopes. We would like to assure the public that the reserve is safe to visit. Goh Shih Yong Assistant Director Corporate Communications for Chief Executive Officer Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority Ministry of National Development Ng Sock Ling (Ms) Assistant Director Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Straits Times Forum Online 4 Nov 05 Find other ways to curb crow population Letter from Jaipal Singh Gill I REFER to Mr Andrew Seow Chwee Guan's letter, 'Cull crows to prevent spread of bird flu' (ST, Nov 1). There is an overemphasis on culling of animals every time a problem of this nature crops up. It happened with Sars a couple of years ago and I fear it will happen again with the looming threat of bird flu. Can we consider ourselves a civilised, mature and gracious society if the culling of innocent animals is always the first thing on our mind? The 'gracious' society that we are working towards involves being gracious to all kinds of life. Yes, crows may be a vector for bird flu but, surely, there are other ways to approach the problem than just killing them, like the suggestions put forward by Mr Seow to keep the crow population in check, other than by culling. Every time I see the crow-culling van around my estate, I wonder if an equivalent, if not more, effort has been put in by the authorities to look for other means of controlling the crow population. Could the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority enlighten us on this? Jaipal Singh Gill Straits Times Forum Online 7 Nov 05 NEA has ongoing crow management programme Reply from NEA WE REFER to the letter 'Cull crows to prevent spread of bird flu' by Mr Andrew Seow Chwee Guan (ST, Nov 1). We would like to assure Mr Seow that the National Environment Agency (NEA) has an on-going crow management programme. This includes culling crows at their roosting and foraging sites, and attending to public feedback on crows and carrying out culling where necessary. We appreciate Mr Seow's feedback on the crow situation in the two areas he mentioned. Our crow-culling team will conduct culling exercises in these areas over the next few days. We will also continue to gather the support of all concerned, particularly food shop operators, to ensure good refuse management and deny the birds a food source. We wish to reassure Mr Seow that table cleaning systems are already in place at hawker centres to ensure that soiled crockery and leftover food are cleared from the tables promptly. In addition, our officers remind cleaners and stallholders constantly to bag their garbage properly before disposal into the bins. Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback to NEA should they observe any lapses in hawker centres. S. Satish Appoo Head, Environmental Health Department National Environment Agency Chan Wai San Head, Hawkers Department National Environment Agency Straits Times Forum Online 9 Nov 05 Are there rules against feeding crows, pigeons? Letter from Jonathan Cheng Hern Sinn It seems to me the solution to the crow problem is clear. The National Environment Agency has said it over and over again. Cut off the food supply. However, enforcement is the weak link. What are the rules regarding the feeding of crows and pigeons if they exist at all? What's the enforcement plan? I live in the Dorset Road area and there are some residences who feed the crows, pigeons and cats every day. I've tried talking to them but they sometimes get aggressive. What can be done about this? Let's nip this problem in the bud before it gets out of control in view of the threat from bird flu. Jonathan Cheng Hern Sinn links Related articles on Global issues: bird flu issues, polices, impact |
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