Imagine being attacked by aggressive crows not once, but three times.
For Madam Li, 67, a terrifying encounter with a crow near Roxy Square on East Coast Road last November didn't just leave her shaken - it resulted in a painful fall, a fractured hand and an injury that still prevents her from fully bending three fingers five months later.
Madam Li, who works in cybersecurity, recounted the harrowing incident, explaining that the bird problem near Roxy Square along East Coast Road is severe, plagued by numerous crows, causing hygiene, noise and aggression issues.
She herself had been pecked twice before in that area over the last two years.
The latest, most serious attack happened in the early hours of the morning.
"The most recent incident happened on Nov 11 last year around 5am. I was heading to the bus stop when a crow chased and pecked me once," Madam Li told Shin Min Daily News.
"I glared fiercely at the crow, but unexpectedly, it attacked again, pecking the back of my head. While trying to dodge, I inadvertently fell and injured myself."
She managed to get up and went home to tend to her wounds before heading to work, enduring the pain.
"However, the pain became unbearable, especially in my right hand, which was bruised and severely swollen, so I went to the hospital's A&E for treatment," she said.
Doctors diagnosed her with a scraped right knee and a fracture in her right little finger.
The road to recovery has been long and frustrating.
"My right middle, ring, and little fingers were bandaged for two months. Despite undergoing physiotherapy multiple times and also taking Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to reduce the swelling, I still cannot bend them normally," Madam Li shared.
Being right-handed, the injury has thrown her life into disarray. She struggles to lift heavy objects, write, or use a computer. The fear of another attack constantly looms, especially during her commute.
"If I bring bread to work, I carefully hide it in my backpack, otherwise those birds will follow me," she said.
"That flock of crows is always active in the morning and evening, exactly when I commute, so I am terrified."
The crow menace is well-known in the area. An employee at a pastry shop pointed out a grim sight - what looked like the dried carcass of a crow hanging upside down from a large tree opposite the shop.
"It might be a trap set by the authorities to control the bird population," the employee speculated to Shin Min Daily News.
However, another resident chimed in, stating that the bird numbers haven't noticeably decreased despite any potential trapping efforts.
Madam Li believes the root cause is easily accessible food. She reported frequently seeing nearby restaurants piling kitchen waste and leftover food in back alleys, creating a buffet for crows, pigeons, and other birds.
Another resident added that people are often seen scattering rice in open areas, feeding the birds directly.
When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited the area on April 20, they confirmed the severe bird problem, noting crows, pigeons and even wild chickens.
The pastry shop employee, who preferred not to be named, mentioned the bird nuisance has persisted throughout her five years working there.
"These birds are smart," she said.
"They watch the staff. If we're not paying attention for a moment, they'll sneak into the shop to steal food."
The owner of a Malay mixed rice stall shared similar frustrations, saying: "If we don't clear the plates immediately, these birds will fly straight over to feed, creating a huge mess."
