\n<\/p>\n
Lions Befrienders\u2019 Ms Wee attributed it to several factors, including force of habit, social isolation, spiritual beliefs and possible mild cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n
Some seniors form a habit of feeding birds to make up for the loss of routine and structure in their lives, which they might have got from going to work when they were younger.<\/p>\n
Loneliness might motivate them to look for companionship among birds and other animals, said Ms Wee.<\/p>\n
Spiritual beliefs around kindness and karma, which in Buddhist practice can take the form of \u201clife release\u201d or freeing captive animals into the wild, may be an influence, she added.<\/p>\n
Mild cognitive impairment may also explain why some seniors cannot understand how feeding harms animals even after it has been repeatedly explained to them, she said.<\/p>\n
Unable to rationalise these explanations, they may continue to base their actions on positive childhood experiences with feeding animals and childhood lessons around reducing food waste, said Ms Wee.<\/p>\n
Ms So Man Shan, manager at AWWA Active Ageing Centre, agreed that seniors may gain a sense of routine and connection to their surroundings by feeding birds.<\/p>\n
This is especially so for those who feel socially isolated or have limited opportunities for purposeful engagement.<\/p>\n
They may also not be aware of the environmental and public health implications, she said, stressing the importance of outreach and education.<\/p>\n
Feeding wild animals can lead to unsustainable growth of their populations and harm their health if they are fed foods that do not meet their nutritional requirements.<\/p>\n
When it comes to wild birds, pigeons, crows and Javan mynas are considered invasive species that can out-compete native birds. Their droppings also dirty the environment.<\/p>\n
NParks is set to resume crow shooting in March, as reports of crow attacks increased fourfold from 2020 to over 2,000 cases in 2025.<\/p>\n
Reducing human sources of food was one of the crow population control measures taken, along with trapping and removing crows and their nests, before resorting to culling.<\/p>\n
NParks raises seniors\u2019 awareness about the negative effects of bird-feeding through outreach talks under an initiative called \u201cOur Avian Neighbours\u201d, said Mr How.<\/p>\n
It also works with town councils, the Municipal Services Office, the People\u2019s Association and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to better understand the motivations behind illegal bird-feeding and find solutions to discourage it.<\/p>\n
AIC may link seniors to befriending services or active ageing centres to help keep them engaged in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany seniors are looking for routine, connection, and a sense of purpose,\u201d said AWWA\u2019s Ms So.<\/p>\n
She said it is important for community initiatives to go beyond one-off activities, and to create regular, accessible touchpoints where seniors feel valued and able to contribute.<\/p>\n
For example, interest-based groups, intergenerational activities, animal-assisted sessions and volunteering roles at AWWA Active Ageing Centre help seniors to nurture interests while building friendships and social networks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n