Bird Man Of Bangkok

A man in Bangkok who has been feeding pigeons for more than 20 years has come under fire from his neighbours. Not because he feeds some 200 birds but more so, due to the smell of their droppings, which residents claim is unbearable at times.

His neighbours took to social media to vent their anger at Weerasak Sunthonjamorn, 61, also known as Uncle Pui.

Uncle Pui believes he is doing good by feeding the pigeons but those living close by, disagree and have branded him the "crazy bird man".

The Bangkok Post visited the man at his home. They discovered a dilapidated house, situated between those of other residents.

The reporter said "the first thing you notice are the hundreds of pigeons. They are everywhere in his house, at the front, on the roof, on the electricity wires, and some were around the neighbours' houses. They come for one thing, food."

One of his neighbours complained that they had put up with the smell for years and that talking to him results in him swearing and shouting saying "sue me" or go complain to the police".

Weerasak began feeding pigeons in 1995 but back then, he travelled to feed the birds. As he aged, getting around was not so easy so he decided to turn his home into a restaurant for birds.

He rugularly spends in the region of 5,000 baht per month on food for his feathered friends. He funds his passion by collecting and selling garbage, much of which is unsold and left lying around his home.

The bird man is a former member of an animal support group but has been inactive since 2005.

Not surprisingly, he lives alone after his wife and children left him.

Now the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have become involved, resulting in officials paying Weerasak a visit. They carried out cleansing of the yard around his home, took away much of the rotting garbage and dealt with a cockroach and fly infestation.

A medical team checked on the man's health and he is due to go to hospital for a lung examination as pigeon droppings are notorious for causing "bird fancier's lung", a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Let us hope a solution is found for all concerned.

Source: Bangkok Post