2 hornbills fly into Bidadari flat, 1 of them poops all over while trying to get out

Two hornbills managed to fly into the living room of a flat in Bidadari on May 23 at around 10am.

One of them proceeded to defecate all over the unit as it got agitated while trying to get out of the apartment.

Agitated

The incident was posted on TikTok on May 24 by user @3peasinapod, a mother of three.

@3peasina_pod I guess it’s not everyday a hornbill (or 2 hornbills) decide to visit your house? Heard sounds and went out to the sight of 2 hornbills in my living room! 1 flew out and 1 didn’t know how to leave. We were concerned if it will attack if it feels threatened. Left poop and pee everywhere. Anyone knows if it’s a concern in terms of catching virus especially for the kids? We intend to wash everything and also sanitize the area as much as we can. Is hornbill entering houses a common sight? Share with us your thoughts. We will love to hear them. #sgfamily #sgcontentcreator #hornbill ♬ Funny funny weird - MrM

The clip showed a hornbill perched on the children's furniture in the living room.

The same hornbill was also seen flapping its wings by the window in an attempt to escape.

The woman's husband pulled the furniture away from the bird, which sent it scurrying even more.

Both adults were working from home that day.

The TikTok, which has since garnered more than 28,000 views, also showed the aftermath of the unexpected intrusion, with faeces and urine stains left behind by the hornbills on the floor, couch and on various furniture.

Heard sounds initially

The TikTok user wrote in the caption that she had heard sounds in the living room and found two hornbills in the home.

One was able to escape, while the other failed to do so.

The couple tried to open the door and chase the hornbill out, but the remaining bird refused to fly out, Shin Min Daily News reported.

She said: "We have iron grilles on our windows. I don't know how they flew in, and then one couldn't fly out."

After about eight minutes, the remaining hornbill managed to fly out of the living room window.

She added: "We placed a banana in the kitchen, and I suspect the hornbill was attracted by the fruit and flew in through the kitchen window."

The couple have since put reflective CDs at the window to deter the birds.

Hornbills in estate

On May 27, she posted another TikTok of the morning before the incident.

It showed a hornbill, believed to be the same one that later entered the home, seen perched on a grille outside her window before flying away.

She said the family was worried about the hornbills retaliating when they felt threatened.

She also asked viewers if the hornbills' excrement could potentially transmit viruses to her children, stating that they intended to "wash everything".

Responses

Some viewers left comments on the TikTok offering suggestions and shared similar experiences.

One commenter wrote that they had also witnessed two hornbills flying around their block the previous week, saying that they were worried about the hornbills attacking their dog.

Another suggested putting nets and mesh around the window grilles to prevent future incidents, while another commenter recommended not startling the birds that entered the home.

Many commenters also claimed that the hornbills' presence in the home is a sign of good luck.

"Birds fly into house is good fortune. Don't chase it away", one user wrote.

"Buy 4D", another suggested.

What to do if hornbill shows up

An Animal Concerns Research and Education Society Singapore (Acres) spokesperson said people should keep a distance from hornbills if they fly into the home, or else the birds may get nervous.

People should not catch or handle the hornbill by themselves.

They should take a video and send it to the Acres hotline at 97837782.

Hornbills will not actively attack humans, unless they are frightened, the spokesperson added.

Hornbills are omnivorous.

They eat fruits and meat.

Top images by 3peasinapod/TikTok