REPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE – Excessive feeding of feral birds that causes offensive odors, property damage or health problems for neighbors would be a public health nuisance under a measure signed into law yesterday by Governor Neil Abercrombie.
The new law—effective immediately—enables the State Health Department to investigate complaints of bird nuisances on private property and enforce the law by issuing warnings or ordering property owners to stop providing excessive amounts of feed.
The bill (HB619) was introduced by State Rep. Gregg Takayama (D-Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades) and supported by fellow area legislators Sen. David Ige and Councilmember Breene Harimoto.
“This law will help provide welcome relief to Pearl City residents who have been plagued for years by neighbors whose excessive and inconsiderate bird feeding has attracted flocks of several hundred pigeons, whose droppings and feathers create odors, property damage and aggravation of health problems,” said Rep. Takayama.
Residents in several other Oahu neighborhoods, including Kailua, have raised similar concerns.
I have a neighbor that feeds the birds (mainly doves, mynahs, & other species each morning between 6 AM – 7 AM, & between 4:30 to 5:30 each afternoon. I have talked to the Wakafujis (99-726 Hulumanu St) who continue to feed these birds & Shimata (99-728 Hulumanu St) and all I get "that's the way it is". Mr Zobota (99-730 Hulumanu St.) goes around with a sling-shot when he is at home. Okay, now a law is passed & what are you going to do?
Let's be serious over here, it would be really stupid for the police to arrest you for only feeding a dove… don't you think?
Dana, you'd be surprised of how absurd things can get with the police nowadays! My brother locked himself out of the house while naked. He lives near a school so he's been charged with indecent misconduct around children and the school got a restraining order. He can't live in his own house now.
It's not about what the punishment is or how stupid this sounds, it's about the fact that feeding the birds would be harmful to people living there
We're talking about excessive feeding here. Nobody will slap your hand for throwing a hand of bread crumbs to some birds. I don't see anything wrong with this law. Bird can bring about a lot of damage if their number gets out of control.
yeah, but you don't really have a way to tell if you fed the right amount of food to a bird or not…
Well, you can't cut off their natural food supplies and then forbid people to feed them. I know it's a dog eats dog world out there but it's our fault the poor animals don't have anything to eat, so we might as well make up for it!
This law won't stop people feeding the birds and I don't think that will work no matter what you do.
How can these birds be dangerous??
Because when birds flock in large numbers, they can fly as a group into on oncoming motorist, and block their view. This is especially important for motorcycle drivers, as well as areas near crosswalks. When a flock of birds fly into traffic, that distracts the drivers from the view of the pedestrians nearby.
In addition, the excessive birds are now congregating around areas where people walk, and the fecal matter that they emit, can be hazardous to your health.
I don't see how can these little birds cause so many bad things.
But, they're so cute, what bad things could happen if you fed them?
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