A woman in her 60s who repeatedly fed wild pigeons with white rice and bread in an HDB estate despite warnings has been taken to court again and fined $3,500. Her actions drew flocks of birds into her flat, while the droppings they left behind disrupted her neighbours’ lives.
The accused, Chen Qingzhu, 68, whose name is transliterated from Chinese, faced seven charges under the Wildlife Act. She pleaded guilty to three, with the remaining charges taken into consideration for sentencing.
The court heard that Chen was a repeat offender who had ignored repeated warnings. She was first warned by the authorities on 25 September 2017 for repeatedly feeding wild pigeons illegally. In June and September the following year, she paid composition fines of $200 and $400 respectively for reoffending.
In October 2019, she committed two further offences. Even after being fined $400, she continued to flout the rules, receiving stern warnings from the authorities on 31 March 2021, and on 8 and 21 January 2022.
Her actions caused inconvenience to her neighbours. Residents living above and below her complained to the authorities that wild birds kept flying into her flat, disrupting their lives. A town council cleaner also reported seeing her feed wild pigeons on several occasions.
On 3 August 2025, an enforcement officer conducting surveillance near Block 755 Yishun Street 22 spotted Chen scattering rice on the ground to feed pigeons. The officer immediately approached her and told her to stop.
But Chen ignored the warning entirely. Between 23 January and 30 June this year, she was caught feeding wild pigeons with rice or bread on six more occasions.
Seven days in jail after failing to pay fine
Chen was fined $3,500 on Wednesday (4 November). According to the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS), she did not pay the fine and served seven days in jail instead.
