'Recalcitrant bird feeder' fined $3,000 for feeding birds from car window

SINGAPORE — A woman who kept feeding mynahs, doves and other wild birds despite being warned not to was fined $3,000 on Wednesday (27 October).

Wendy Kang Mei Ling, 44, was observed feeding the birds by throwing food from her car from April to June this year.

Kang pleaded guilty to three out of five counts of feeding wildlife without approval from Director-General of Wildlife Management of National Parks (NParks) after she was charged on Wednesday. The remaining two charges were taken into consideration for her sentencing.

Kang was observed feeding the birds from the window of her car on 13 and 26 April, and 30 May to 1 June this year. All of her offences took place in the morning along Upper Changi Road, Cosford Road, Jalan Kayu and Tanah Merah Besar Road.

Kang was warned against feeding the birds 25 August last year after she was seen throwing food to birds in Fernvale. She was mailed a letter of warning, but she continued to do so. She was warned again in April this year, to no avail.

This proved that Kang was a recalcitrant bird feeder, said NParks prosecutor Packer Mohammad, who sought a $3,000 fine.

The prosecutor added that this was the first such case involving bird feeding under the Wildlife Act. An offender who was previously convicted for feeding boars under the Act was fined $2,500.

Packer said that there was no reason for anyone to feed the wild birds as they have ample natural food in Singapore. Feeding birds may cause them to linger near humans, and lead to bird droppings in the area, he said.

The fine of $3,000 should deter like-minded bird feeders, said the prosecutor.

For feeding wildlife, Kang could have been fined up to $5,000 for her first offence. For a second or subsequent offence, an offender may be fined up to $10,000.

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