Pigeons and mynah birds at Seah Im Food Centre have learned to bypass bird prevention measures, according to recent reports.
Customers have noticed that anti-bird nets and hanging CDs no longer keep birds away from the dining area. The CDs, which reflect sunlight to create visual disturbances, initially worked as deterrents but lost effectiveness over time.
These birds now find different entry points into the food centre and hide on electrical wires until cleaners leave the area. They then swoop down to look for leftover food.
A STOMPER told STOMP that mynah birds disturb him during his visits to the hawker centre. His photos show mynah birds standing on tables, apparently eating rice scraps from the surfaces.
He raised concerns about hygiene practices, noting that trays that birds have pecked at are cleaned with just one wipe of a cloth before being stacked for reuse.
When Sin Ming Daily News reporters visited the location, they saw mynah birds and pigeons entering through customer doorways despite nets installed around the perimeter. The birds were observed waiting on nearby electrical wires until cleaners left, then flying down to dish collection areas to feed.
The cleaning supervisor, identified as Mr Hu (in his 50s), told reporters they had tried hanging CDs and other deterrents, but these tactics 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.”
The hawker centre 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 the birds.
Mr Hu acknowledged they cannot fully prevent birds from entering the premises. He stated that they perform thorough cleaning of the centre quarterly and have cleaners sweep the floors daily for hygiene maintenance.
The STOMPER has reported this issue to the Singapore Food Agency, which forwarded the case to the Singapore Land Authority. The Authority has instructed the hawker centre management to fix the bird problem.
In their email response to him, the Land Authority stated they had directed management to make sure cleaning contractors promptly clear trays, utensils, and carts to stop birds from gathering at the hawker centre.
