Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that there are no laws to protect the feeding of wild birds. S4 Purposes of Act (Biosecurity Act 2014) has scope for amendment. Many people get great pleasure out of feeding birds.  People may feed lorikeets, brush-turkeys, crows, pidgeons, magpies, kookaburras, myna birds and ibis, irresponsibly. For example, between 100-200 birds are fed water soaked white bread X3-6/day from dawn to about 8am and 3-5:30pm, all year. The noise is similar to the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary for 4-6 hours/day. Decibel recordings peak 99.4; Max 90.7; Min 46.0; Avg 64.7. 

Irresponsible feeding of birds poses several threats:

• represents animal cruelty
  
• can increase aggression, stress, spreading disease through a concentration as birds feeding
  
• poses a health and safety risk (may cause dermatitis and asthma due to the mites carried)
  
• small risk of Avian Flu outbreak
  
• people cannot enjoy the peace, lifestyle and pleasure of their own home and land due to excessive screeching bird noises
  
• poses a threat to natural biodiversity (Indian mynas), competition with native animals
  
• encourages birds to become dependent on humans
  
• can cause sickness and deformities in young birds as high quantities of salt and fat present in bread and processed foods
  

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to conduct a review into the impacts of ‘irresponsible’ feeding of birds on humans, birds and the environment and to amend the Biosecurity Act 2014 to include ‘responsible’ bird feeding.