Mynah Birds and Pigeons Outsmart Prevention Measures at Seah Im Food Centre, Raising Hygiene Concerns

By
George Yang
-
Advertisements
 

Seah Im Food Centre faces an ongoing bird problem as pigeons and mynah birds have learned to bypass prevention measures.

Food patrons report that anti-bird nets and CDs fail to keep the birds out.

Lest you’re not aware, hanging CDs (if you still know what they are) is a common and effective way to deter birds, particularly those that are attracted to fruits and vegetables. The shiny surface of the CDs reflects sunlight, creating a visual disturbance that birds find unsettling, thus discouraging them from landing or feeding in the area.

Advertisements
 

However, these clever creatures find alternative routes to enter and hide on electrical wires to avoid cleaners before swooping down to search for food.

A STOMPER told STOMP that mynah birds bother him every time he visits the hawker centre. Photos he shared show two mynah birds standing on different tables, likely eating rice that had fallen onto the surface.

He also raised hygiene concerns, pointing out that trays pecked by birds are simply wiped once with a cloth by cleaners before being stacked and reused.

Birds Adapt to Prevention Strategies

When reporters from Sin Ming Daily News visited the hawker centre, they observed mynah birds and pigeons entering through patron entrances despite anti-bird nets installed around the perimeter. These birds perch on nearby electrical wires, waiting for cleaners to leave before flying down to the dish collection racks to feed.

The cleaning supervisor, Mr Hu (name transliterated from Mandarin), who is in his 50s, explained that they had previously hung CDs and other bird deterrents, but these methods only worked for about a week.

“The anti-bird nets don’t work very well either,” he said. “Over time, the mynah birds and pigeons got smarter and learned to fly in through customer entrances. We can only try to collect dishes as quickly as possible.”

Management Response and Official Action

The hawker centre currently stations one cleaner at each dish collection point, with two workers during busy periods. Staff also wipe tables to remove food remnants that might attract birds.

Despite these efforts, Mr Hu admitted they cannot completely stop birds from entering. He noted they conduct thorough cleaning of the centre every three months and assign cleaners to sweep the floors daily to maintain good hygiene.

Advertisements
 

The STOMPER has reported this issue to the Singapore Food Agency, which referred the case to the Singapore Land Authority. The Authority has instructed the hawker centre management to address the bird problem.

In their email reply to him, the Land Authority stated they had asked management to make sure cleaning contractors promptly clear trays, utensils, and carts to prevent birds from gathering at the hawker centre.

Here’s what NCMPs are, and what to expect after GE2025:

Read Also:


 
George Yang
Email: [email protected]