Jurong West residents find Singapore’s most common bird, the Javan Mynah, a nuisance.
By Tan Li En
Nov 15, 2019
The Javan Mynah is the most common and abundant bird in Singapore. They are often known by Singaporeans as the “Hawker Centre” bird, though not to be mistaken as pigeons, as they like to eat people’s leftover food. Photo by: Tan Li En
Javan Mynahs, the noisy neighbours of Jurong West residents, have been causing problems such as noise pollution and hygiene issues for the past few years.
The black birds with yellow beaks have been flying into Jurong West residents’ homes to find food to eat. They also like to rest on the air-conditioner compressor outside residents’ windows.
Mdm Lim Lian Hua, 80, a Jurong West resident, said in Mandarin,
“The birds fly into my house at least twice every day and they scour through the rubbish bin, making a mess all around [the kitchen]. They also drop their faeces everywhere, including inside the sink and stove.”
A Javan Mynah standing on the metal window rail seconds before it flew inside the house and started searching for food in the rubbish bin. Photo by: Tan Li En
Mdm Lim is concerned that the Javan Mynahs may carry diseases in their faeces and transmit illnesses to her family and herself when they enter her home. Rewashing her laundry to get rid of bird droppings also “burdens” her.
According to Dr Tang Qian, 30, a research fellow of the Avian Evolution Lab, not much research has been done to prove that the faeces of Javan Mynahs contain diseases.
Another resident of Jurong West, Ms Ho Jia Wen, 18, said, “Every day, the birds will be my natural alarm clock. They’re always resting on the air-con compressor outside my window and are so noisy throughout the entire day. I can’t get a good sleep or study in my room.”
Mr Yee Chia Hsing, Minster of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC (Nanyang) said that they usually ask the Town Council to prune trees the birds nest in, but it is not a long-term solution as the trees will grow back and the birds will just find other trees to nest in.
“The best solution is for residents to take precautionary measures themselves by installing bird net on their windows. We also tell residents not to feed the birds because they will be attracted to the HDB blocks with people who feed them,” said Mr Yee.
According to the 2019 Annual Bird Census conducted by the Bird Group of Nature Society (Singapore), the Javan Mynah is the most common and abundant bird species in Singapore.
Dr Tang said that the Javan Mynahs are an invasive species to Singapore as they originated from Java Island, Indonesia.
Estates like Potong Pasir have trapped the Javan Mynahs in a ‘Roost Net’ and euthanised them last year. Opinions on killing the birds are divided.
Dr Wee Yeow Chin, 82, founder of the Bird Ecology Study Group, said, “I am in agreement to the need to control the bird population as they are becoming a pest.”
However, Dr Tang said that the possibility of culling the Javan Mynahs in Singapore is a tricky situation since they are currently endangered in Java, their original habitat.
“Killing is not always good, because if they reproduce faster than you kill, how much money, time and effort are you going to put in [to kill them]?” said Dr Tang.
Mr Yee said that Chua Chu Kang GRC does not usually cull Javan Mynahs as it is not the most effective measure and will be the last resort.
“People have to realise that actually, we have to co-exist [with them]. We think that they’re coming into our environment, but they’ve been here before the housing estates were built,” Mr Yee added.
Infographic by: Tan Li En
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