Hawk no match for pesky Orchard Road mynahs

Orchard Road's hawk patrols have failed. It turns out that the bird of prey is no match for the pesky, noisy mynahs plaguing the shopping strip.

It is the latest attempt to fix the bird nuisance that has failed, and for business owners there it is back to the drawing board. Mynahs have been bothering retailers and shoppers since 2008, after the Somerset carpark was redeveloped and the trees felled.

The birds moved from that roosting spot to the area near Cathay Cineleisure Orchard and The Heeren, and an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 descend at dusk, especially between 6.45pm and 7pm.

People have complained about noise and droppings that strike pedestrians, cars and walkways. So far this year, the authorities have received 13 reports about the bird nuisance.