Common Aussie act inflicting 'strange' $30,000 fine in two states: 'Neighbours take photos often'
Two Australian states believe pigeon feeding is worthy of whopping $20,000 to $30,000 fines, a prominent lawyer tells Yahoo.
You might think you're doing some good if you've ever torn off a portion of your sandwich and fed it to a local bird. But in two Australian states, that simple act could see you facing a staggering $30,000 fine if the species in question is a pigeon.
It is not uncommon for local councils in Western Australia or South Australia to issue infringements for feeding pigeons, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh told Yahoo News Australia. "This is particularly the case when a complaint is made — quite often neighbours will take videos and photos of the number of pigeons and the person feeding them," he warned.
In these cases the council will issue a fine and sometimes, they may even issue a court attendance notice if the behaviour is repeated, Singh added.
Explaining that the SA legislation "was enacted to protect communities from local nuisance", as well as preventing littering, Avinash said elsewhere in the country, most other states leave these issues to the local national parks and wildlife services. In WA, the fine offenders can expect isn't as much as in SA, but it is still an incredible $20,000.
"There is an emphasis by the South Australian parliament on protecting property values and this legislation is one of the tools they can use to prevent behaviour that can negatively affect this," he said.
Why is it bad to feed pigeons?
Feeding pigeons in Australia is considered problematic for several reasons. First, it poses health risks, as pigeons can carry diseases that may be transmitted to humans and other animals, such as respiratory infections and parasites.
Feeding them encourages larger congregations of birds, increasing the likelihood of disease spread. Additionally, pigeons are not native to Australia, and their overpopulation can disrupt local ecosystems by competing with native bird species for resources.
This imbalance can harm biodiversity, with feeding also causing the birds to become reliant on human-provided food.
Large flocks can create a public nuisance by causing noise, dirt, and property damage, particularly through their corrosive droppings, which can damage buildings and infrastructure. For these reasons, many local councils in Australia have implemented fines or laws prohibiting the feeding of pigeons.
"It's definitely one of Australia's strangest laws, and one that while it may be annoying for other people passing by or trying to relax, it's not something people think they can get in trouble with the law for," Singh said.
Adelaide's problem with pigeons
Last month, a pigeon culler caused panic among Adelaide locals after he fired a suspected air rifle at the roof of a residential home without warning as children played, just metres away in a busy playground.
The incident occurred near the Brighton Esplanade, with a resident telling Yahoo he spotted a man in hi-vis arrive in a ute and "loiter" for over an hour before taking the shots.
"I was suspicious because he seemed to be hanging around the area restlessly without actually doing anything," the man said, explaining he had been sitting in the park reading a book at the time. "He was watching one particular house for an hour before firing shots from a large air rifle... I saw him take two shots. He shot one bird."
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