“Pest Bird” Amendment Act Tabled In House

February 17, 2015

The Protection of Birds Amendment Act was tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday [Feb 13], which seeks to amend the Act to define “pest bird” and expand the powers of the Minister to authorize any person to control or destroy any bird in certain cases.

The Act, as tabled in the House, lists the common crow, starling, kiskadee, house sparrow, feral pigeon and feral chickens as pest birds.

In 2012, Government estimated that there are over 30,000 feral chickens roaming the island, a number which they said was continuing to grow.

And in 2013, the Department of Conservation Services said they have culled over 7,250 feral chickens to date, saying: “While difficult, the management of feral chickens is absolutely necessary. Feral chickens are causing significant damage to farmers’ crops and threatened habitats.”

Map, provided by the Department in 2013, showing the area that feral chickens were culled:

Feral Chickens Culled feb 2013 (2)

Clause 2 of the Act repeals the definition of conservation officer and inserts the definition of authorized officer which includes any person authorized by the Minister, while Clause 9 makes related amendments to clarify that a firearm may be used and that an ammunition licence may be issued in connection with Government approved and supervised pest control.

The Protection of Birds Act 2015 follows below [PDF here]:

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Category: All, Environment, News, Politics

Comments (20)

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  1. donna ventura says:

    Protection of birds : what about protection of children

  2. Common Sense says:

    This is a timely, sensible and much needed piece of legislation. I would very sincerely hope that it will be passed unanimously by both side of the House, and that even more important, both of our political parties get fully behind its enforcement. The more we delay taking action the worse the situation will become and the more expensive to alleviate.

  3. Joey-Bag-O'Doughnuts says:

    Funny, the politically correct terminology in the States for feral chickens is “free range” chickens. Bermuda is in the forefront. Who knew? At least KFC has a lot of these “organic” chickens to cull if they want.

  4. mixitup says:

    I wonder what act the chickens passed to deal with us humans. Lol

  5. Skeptic says:

    I question on a island the size of Bermuda if public input on this is really necessary. How can you ensure that these chickens will be killed in a humanely manner by someone untrained to do so?

  6. Pay attention folks! smarten up! says:

    since when are there too many birds?

    is this world going insane?

    now you are going to let people fire guns off? don’t you know that a bullet does not stop for miles?

    sounds like this is a set-up, a plan.

    they are going to let guns and ammo in so there can be a war, using chickens as an excuse!?!?!?

    starlings and kisskadees?

    did someone put crack in the water fountain?

  7. Non-ferral? says:

    What about people who keep cockerels that start screeching at 5:30am and don’t stop all day. They drive all neighbours nuts. Can there be a provision for dealing with these selfish people PLEASE? They refuse to do anything as a good neighbour because, “There is nothing in the law that stops us keeping cockerels”.
    PLEASE help us. Fed up with sleeping with the windows closed and earplugs in.

  8. Dee Dee says:

    Kiskadees? I thought they were Bermuda birds.

  9. Charlly X says:

    Smh in this dry economic crisis we are facing ud think they’d catch n kill them n feed those that would want the fresh meat ! I’d take a few pounds of them . The not so fresh meat in certain shops and the price !! Ouch !! There’s nothing wrong with them birds . People are so spoiled and have been duped into buying everything from the supermarket they’ll have all sorts of dumb reasons not to eat them . They might be small , but I’m sure there is less chemical additives in them !!
    My freezer is open to them !!! Hot grease !! And d oven is ready !! Just like d lion fish let’s eat them too ! Oh do u know what fish eat ? So what excuse do u have not to ????????

  10. Are you kidding me? says:

    @CharllyX it’s obvious you know nothing about eating these birds…..have you or anyone you know ever try to eat any of these birds? And if so how many cylinders of gas did I you go through?

  11. cole says:

    Crows are native and were recorded in the early 1600s. They should not be on the list.

  12. Shawn says:

    i dont see why these cant be farmed and culled and prepped in the industry standard and used to feed bermudians. no westerners wont like natural chicken,i did some internet research on that,,,,,aaaand ive tasted it—-horrible.
    wouldnt mind if they brought in an expert for this,it could lead to jobs…and food

  13. Ella says:

    If you can convince some peoples that these tastess betta than KFC then you’d have no probs at all.

    • Ella says:

      Oh, and you’d also sort out the double parking problem on Queen Street.

  14. SSWhite says:

    This is madness. I am going to say it here and now. A year from know we are going to need all the help we can to feed ourselves. This government knows what is coming but will continue to keep you in the dark – you think that recent trip was to discuss re-insurance do you? You think having a foreign born man lead the regiment and head up the prosecution office is a matter of coincidence?. I wish you all the very best of luck over the next years – they will be full of trying times. For those that make it through you will be better for it even if it doesn’t seem so at the time.

    I pray to god for all our well being.

    Lets kill the things that could help to sustain us…sure…this post might not make sense to you know but I’ll re-post it in due time…so that smirk and the doubt can both be removed from you.

    Do you think those shelves in the grocery stores will be stocked like this forever? We will all be extremely fortunate if they looked the same come June. Laugh at me if you must…the laughter won’t last long.