Muscat Municipality: feeding birds in public squares poses a risk to the health and the environment
Muscat Municipality is constantly working to address issues which harmfully affect the public health, environment and the urban aesthetic appearance of modern cities. However, some phenomena are still seen and practiced in vibrant neighborhoods of the governorate, including feeding birds in public squares.
Feeding birds in public squares leaves behind grains and food residues which over time emits bad odors after it gets rotten and mixed with birds’ waste. Furthermore, dumping grain and food remains on walkways and street sidewalks - for the purpose of feeding birds - is an attractive environment for the reproduction of insects, worms and parasites, which, in turn, causes an extra burden for waste sector personnel to remove.
When birds get used to gather in areas where they are being fed, they come to nest in nearby buildings, particularly in balconies and external lobbies, air conditioners and communications devices. The bird dropping has uric acid which could destroy almost any material including steel, iron or wood.