"Don't Feed Feral Pigeons" Education Activities
"Don’t Feed Feral Pigeons" Information
IntroductionFeeding wild animals and feral pigeons can cause serious environmental hygiene and animal nuisance problems. In light of the adverse impacts of feeding, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has launched a series of public education programmes, including roving exhibitions, education booths, and talks to promote the message of "Don't Feed Feral Pigeons".
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| Large congregation of feral pigeons |
Feral pigeons (Columba livia) are widely distributed worldwide and have developed from Rock Pigeons that naturally inhabit sea-cliffs and mountains. Rock, domestic and feral pigeons are all the same species and will readily interbreed.
Normally, pigeons are socially monogamous (mate for life) and they can breed at the age of 6 months. The females usually lay two eggs each time that are incubated by both parents for 17-19 days. Squabs are fed on "crop milk" by both parents and the fledging period is approximately 30 days.
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| Rock Pigeon | Domestic Pigeon | Feral Pigeon |
Most of the feral pigeons are bluish-gray in colour, with iridescent purple, blue, green, yellow and red on the neck and throat, a black sub-terminal tail band, and two black bands running transversely across the folded wing. However, due to the long history of cross-breeding programs, feral pigeons can exhibit variable plumages, such as reddish brown, black and white. In addition to plumage, you can easily identify a feral pigeon by observing the following features:
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Habitats and Habits
Sea cliffs and mountains are a good habitat for pigeons to avoid their predators, such as hawks and falcons, and increase their survival rate. A lot of feral pigeons are attracted to urban areas due to human feeding activities. They find ledges, air-conditioners, or exhaust ducts of buildings as a substitute for sea cliffs.
Feral pigeons are non-picky eaters. Different types of seeds and grains (e.g. corn, peanuts, rice), fruits and vegetables are their food in the wild. Feral pigeons are not herbivores, where they may occasionally eat worms, insects and snails.
However, due to the non-picky eating habits, feral pigeons are often attracted to food provided by humans. They consume almost any kind of food offered by humans, such as rice, bread, sushi or even fast food. As a result, a large population of feral pigeons can be found in urban areas.
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| Feral pigeons roost around air-conditioners as a substitute for sea cliffs | People feed feral pigeons with sushi and food waste | Feral pigeons are attracted and aggregated in urban areas due to feeding activities |
Problems of Feeding
Different aspects of adverse consequences of feeding feral pigeons:
- Animal Welfare
- Overweight or nutritional deficiency of the feral pigeons
- May lose the foraging instinct
- Feral pigeons in danger (e.g. on the road)
- Poor living conditions of the feral pigeons and overcrowding will increase the risk of disease and parasite transmission among the population
- Environmental Hygiene
- Fouling or damage of buildings due to pigeon droppings
- Food residue may attract pests (e.g. rats, cockroaches )
- Possible increase in the risk of disease transmission
- Nature
- Feral pigeons are exotic species to Hong Kong. Overpopulation may have negative effects on the native species of Hong Kong and affect the balance of the ecosystem.
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| Feeding by human | Feral pigeons staying on the road | Poor living conditions of the feral pigeons |
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| Large congregation of feral pigeons | Fouling of buildings |
Avian Influenza (AI) Surveillance
Upon receipt of a complaint about nuisance caused by feral pigeons, officers of AFCD will conduct a site inspection and take swab samples of bird droppings for AI testing. We also provide advice to those concerned on how to minimise the feral pigeon nuisance.
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| Sample collection of bird droppings for AI virus testing |
Education Activities
"Mission P." Educational Booths |
Feral pigeon nuisance is a common problem in many cities around the world. The congregation and overcrowding of feral pigeons not only cause environmental hygiene and nuisance problems but also often lead to human-pigeon conflicts. In Hong Kong, one of the major reasons for the congregation of feral pigeons is the public feeding activities.
To educate the public not to feed feral pigeons and raise the awareness of animal welfare, the AFCD has been setting up “Mission P.” educational booths at different venues since 2021.
To enhance public understanding of the habits of feral pigeons, the AFCD has designed an interactive mini-game.
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Let's play and learn more from the mini-game!
Details of the educational booths:
| Date | Venue |
|---|---|
| Year 2024 | |
| 6 January 2024 (Sat) - 7 January 2024 (Sun) | Wah Kwai Estate, Pok Fu Lam |
| 9 January 2024 (Tue) - 10 January 2024 (Wed) | Footbridge over Che Kung Miu Road and Hung Mui Kuk Road, Tai Wai (Near Tin Sam Village and Sun Chui Estate) |
| 13 January 2024 (Sat) - 14 January 2024 (Sun) | Exit F of MTR Siu Hong Station (Near Tuen Fu Road) |
| 16 January 2024 (Tue) - 17 January 2024 (Wed) | Cheung Fat Estate, Tsing Yi |
| 23 January 2024 (Tue) - 24 January 2024 (Wed) | Exit B1 of MTR Sheung Shui Station (Near Choi Yuen Estate and Tai Ping Estate) |
| 27 January 2024 (Sat) - 28 January 2024 (Sun) | Hutchison Park, Hung Hom |
| 3 February 2024 (Sat) - 4 February 2024 (Sun) | Sai Sha Road (Near Ma On Shan Plaza) |
| 6 February 2024 (Tue) - 7 February 2024 (Wed) | Exit C of MTR Siu Hong Station (Near Siu Hong Court) |
| 17 February 2024 (Sat) - 18 February 2024 (Sun) | Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre |
| 19 February 2024 (Mon) - 20 February 2024 (Tue) | Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Tsing |
| 24 February 2024 (Sat) | Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O (Near TKO Gateway, Hau Tak Estate) |
| 25 February 2024 (Sun) | Exit B of MTR Hang Hau Station |
| 2 March 2024 (Sat) - 3 March 2024 (Sun) | Fung Yau Street North Sitting-out Area, Yuen Long |
| 5 March 2024 (Tue) - 6 March 2024 (Wed) | Fung Tak Shopping Centre, Fung Tak Estate |
| 9 March 2024 (Sat) - 10 March 2024 (Sun) | Exit C of MTR Sha Tin Wai Station (Near Sha Kok Estate) |
| 6 April 2024 (Sat) - 7 April 2024 (Sun) | Tong Shui Road, North Point (Near Fulham Court) |
| 20 April 2024 (Sat) - 21 April 2024 (Sun) | Sai Yeung Choi Street South (Near Nullah Road Sitting-Out Area), Prince Edward |
| 27 April 2024 (Sat) - 28 April 2024 (Sun) | Chung Sing Path near Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long (Near Yu Wing Path) |
| 6 July 2024 (Sat) - 7 July 2024 (Sun) | Exit A of MTR Kennedy Town Station (Near Smithfield Municipal Services Building) |
| 13 July 2024 (Sat) - 14 July 2024 (Sun) | Hoi Wang Road, Mong Kok (Near Hoi Fu Court) |
| 20 July 2024 (Sat) - 21 July 2024 (Sun) | Lam Tei Main Street, Tuen Mun (Near Lam Tei LRT Stop) |
| 27 July 2024 (Sat) - 28 July 2024 (Sun) | Tsui Ping (North) Estate, Kwun Tong |
| 1 August 2024 (Thur) | Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O (Near TKO GATEWAY) |
| 2 August 2024 (Fri) - 3 August 2024 (Sat) | The Belcher Bay Promenade, Kennedy Town |
| 10 August 2024 (Sat) - 11 August 2024 (Sun) | Victoria Park, Causeway Bay |
| 17 August 2024 (Sat) - 18 August 2024 (Sun) | Kwong Fuk Estate, Tai Po |
| 24 August 2024 (Sat) - 25 August 2024 (Sun) | Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate |
| 26 August 2024 (Mon) | Hoi Fu Court, Mong Kok |
| 29 August 2024 (Thur) | Oi Man Estate, Ho Man Tin |
| 31 August 2024 (Sat) | Ma Tau Wai Road/Ma Hang Chung Road Rest Garden |
| 6 September 2024 (Fri) | Chung Sing Path near Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long |
| 8 September 2024 (Sun) | Exit E of MTR Yuen Long Station |
| 13 September 2024 (Fri) | Shun Lee Estate, Kwun Tong |
| 14 September 2024 (Sat) | Hing Tin Estate, Lam Tin |
| 20 September 2024 (Fri) | Main Street, Ap Lei Chau (Near Ap Lei Chau Municipal Services Building) |
| 21 September 2024 (Sat) | Exit A of MTRSouth Horizons Station (Near Marina Square East Centre) |
| 26 September 2024 (Thur) | Un Chau Estate, Cheung Sha Wan |
| 28 September 2024 (Sat) | Nam Cheong District Community Centre, Sham Shui Po (Near Tung Chau Street Park) |
| 4 October 2024 (Fri) | Tin Ping Estate, Sheung Shui |
| 5 October 2024 (Sat) | Union Plaza, Luen Wo Market, Fanling (Near Wo Tai Street) |
| 11 October 2024 (Fri) | Exit A3 of MTR Wan Chai Station |
| 12 October 2024 (Sat) | Lau Sin Street Temporary Sitting-out Area, Tin Hau |
| 18 October 2024 (Fri) | Siu Hong MTR Station Exit C (Near Siu Wai House) |
| 19 October 2024 (Sat) | South Horizons |
| 25 October 2024 (Fri) | Exit A of MTR Whampoa Station |
| 26 October 2024 (Sat) | Junction of To Kwa Wan Road/ Kwei Chow Street (Near Wyler Gardens) |
| 1 November 2024 (Fri) | Po Fung Road, Tseung Kwan O (Near Po Lam Cultural Activities Hall) |
| 2 November 2024 (Sat) | Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O (Near TKO GATEWAY) |
| 8 November 2024 (Fri) | Exit C of MTR Sha Tin Wai Station |
| 9 November 2024 (Sat) | Footbridge over Che Kung Miu Road and Hung Mui Kuk Road, Tai Wai |
| 15 November 2024 (Fri) | Exit C of MTR Chai Wan Station |
| 16 November 2024 (Sat) | Tsui Wan Street (Near Chai Wan Park Entrance) |
| 22 November 2024 (Fri) | Cheung Fat Estate, Tsing Yi (Outside Cheung Fat Plaza) |
| 23 November 2024 (Sat) | Tsing Yi Estate (Near Yee Kui House) |
| 29 November 2024 (Fri) - 30 November 2024 (Sat) | Fu Tung Estate (Near Tung Ma House) |
| 6 December 2024 (Fri) | Fung Tak Shopping Centre, Wong Tai Sin |
| 7 December 2024 (Sat) | Fu Shan Estate, Wong Tai Sin (Near Fu Yan House) |
| 13 December 2024 (Fri) | Kin Ming Street, Tsuen Wan (Near Footbridge) |
| 14 December 2024 (Sat) | Belvedere Garden, Tsuen Wan (Near Tower 4 of Belvedere Garden Phase 2) |
| 20 December 2024 (Fri) | Junction of Ferry Street and Man Wui Street, Yau Tsim Mong |
| 21 December 2024 (Sat) | Exit C of MTR Yau Ma Tei Station |
| 27 December 2024 (Fri) | Telford Gardens (Near Cinema) |
| 28 December 2024 (Sat) | Kwun Tong Road Rest Garden (Near Lai Yue Building) |
| 3 January 2025 (Fri) | Castle Peak Road - San Hui, Tuen Mun (Near Subway) |
| 4 January 2025 (Sat) | Junction of Castle Peak Road - Lam Tei and Lam Tei Main Street, Tuen Mun |
| 10 January 2025 (Fri) | Exit C2 of MTR HKU Station |
| 11 January 2025 (Sat) | Third Street, Sai Ying Pun (Near Sai Ying Pun Market) |
| 17 January 2025 (Fri) | Amphitheatre of Tai Wo Estate (Near On Wo House) , Tai Po |
| 18 January 2025 (Sat) | Junction of Plover Clove Road and Po Wu Lane, Tai Po |
| 24 January 2025 (Fri) - 25 January 2025 (Sat) | Exit E of MTR Yuen LongStation |
| 31 January 2025 (Fri) | Wah Fu (I) Shopping Centre, Pok Fu Lam |
| 1 February 2025 (Sat) | Nam Ning Street outside Aberdeen Centre (near Hoi Chun Court), Aberdeen |
| 7 February 2025 (Fri) | Star Ferry Pier (near 5 flag poles), Tsim Sha Tsui |
| 8 February 2025 (Sat) | Junction of Prince Edward Road and Nullah Road (nearNullah Road Sitting-Out Area), Mong Kok |
| 14 February 2025 (Fri) | Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre (near 3/F outdoor space) |
| 15 February 2025 (Sat) (Pending) | Lok Fu Place (Pending) |
| 21 February 2025 (Fri) | Mei Foo Sun Chuen (near the Lai Wan Mei Foo Social Centre for the Elderly) |
| 22 February 2025 (Sat) | Po On Road Municipal Services Building (near Shun Ning Road), Sham Shui Po |
| 28 February 2025 (Fri) | Junction of Wan Chai Road and Johnston Road (near Prime Mansion), Wan Chai |
