ACTiviTy CAlENdAr CONTENTS Pg - Nature Society · Mingle with Butterflies at Changi Airport T3 Come and experience the world's first butterfly garden in an airport. Located at the

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NATURE NEWS MAY-JUN 2010

TRIPS ABROAD LED BY NSS MEMBERS

Activities & Trips 2NSS 56th Annual General Meet ing – 2nd Not ice & Agenda

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Thought s f rom the NSS President

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Rewarding Bird Romp through Bukit Batok Nature Park

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N e w s f r o m t h e N S S Secretariat

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NSS Kids’ Fun with Migratory Birds & Wildlife in Ubin

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Birdwatching at Semakau Landfill

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NSS supports Earth Hour 2010

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Launch of “Birds in a Garden City”

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B i rd w a t c h i n g H o t s p o t s Highlighted on OneMap.sg R a r e B i r d s A p p e a r a t the Kranj i Marshes after Restoration

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Rivet ing R iver Sa far i s at Kinabatangan

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Announcements 11NSS Directory / Subgroups 11All Purpose Form 12

Talk on Raptor Migration in Singapore May 7 NSS AGM at Dairy Farm May 15Birdwatching at Springleaf May 16 Biodiversity Walk at The Sensory Trail in Ubin May 22Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research May 22Butterfly Spotting at Mount Faber Park May 29NSS Kids’ Visit to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre Jun 5 Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin Jun 13Mangrove Walk at Pasir Ris Park Jun 20

Kampong Chantek Ramble Jun 26

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Jul 18

Mingle with Butterflies at Changi Airport T3 Jul 25

8th Flora Malesiana Symposium Aug 23 to 27 Call for Site Leaders/Site Buddies at ICCS 2010 Sep 25

1D Trekking at Gunung Lambak in Kluang, Johore

May 29

7D/6N Flores & Komodo National Park Culture & Nature Exploration

May 31 to Jun 6

5D/4N Trip to Kinabatangan River in Sabah Jun 19 to 23

6D/5N Trekking Trip to Mount Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park

Oct 9 to 14

Birdwatching & Nature

Hotspots on OneMap.sg

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NSS 56th AGM

on 15 May Join Us!

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NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE)

MICA (P) 106/08/2007

May-Jun 2010

www.nss.org.sg

Nature NewsCONTENTS PgACTiviTy CAlENdAr

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Friday 7

Talk on Raptor Migration in Singapore Raptor migration is one of the world's greatest avian spectacles. At some migration sites, thousands of hawks and eagles fly through hourly. Although Singapore does not bear witness to such numbers, a few thousand raptors still past through our ridges annually, familiar favourites being the Oriental Honey Buzzard. The Bird Group has been regularly monitoring raptor migration island wide for more than three years. We have collected a large body of data with many new and interesting findings. Raptor enthusiasts and those new to the phenomenon are welcome to attend this lecture by Yong Ding Li, which summarises our findings and more. Meet at 8 pm at The Sunflower. For details, contact Ding Li at [email protected].

Saturday 15

NSS AGM at Dairy FarmWe warmly welcome all members to the NSS 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 2 pm. This will be held at the MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Centre. Please see page 4 for details, including the AGM agenda and instructions on how to get to the venue.

Sunday 16

Birdwatching at Springleaf Meet at the junction of Sembawang Road and Nee Soon Road at 7.30 am. Lim Kim Keang will lead us on a bird finding mission around this almost forgotten part of Singapore which still has plenty of rural charm. The numerous tall trees and thick woods at Springleaf are home to parakeets, woodpeckers, bee-eaters, trillers and many other countryside birds.

Saturday 22

Biodiversity Walk at The Sensory Trail in Ubin Join the Plant Group in celebration of International Day

for Biological Diversity as well as the UN International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The Sensory Trail in Pulau Ubin is designed to engage all our senses in a journey of discovery! Meet at 9 am at the NSS Green Hub @ Ubin located at No 34 Ubin Village. Turn left at the Ubin jetty and walk straight for less than 5 minutes until you come to a colourfully painted house (with a hornbill) on your right.

Saturday 22

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Please register with Lesley Cartwright-Taylor at [email protected], stating your name, if you are a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (HSC). We have started an ongoing HSC Training & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to become a qualified HSC R&Rer. Meet at the extension of Kranji Road near the junction with Kranji Loop at 11.30 am. Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). We recommend that you bring a cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities available.

Saturday 29

Butterfly Spotting at Mount Faber Park Meet at 9.30 am at the start of the Marang Trail along Marang Road (Exit D of Harbourfront MRT station). From here, we take a leisurely walk up towards the top of Mount Faber Park. Species that can be encountered include the Chocolate Grass Yellow, King Crow, Plain Nawab, Yamfly, Common Imperial, Fluffy Tit and Acacia Blue. Remember to bring along your NSS Butterfly Guide! Led by Gan Cheong Weei (HP: 9754-4174), this walk will last for about three hours.

Activities May

Saturday 15

Saturday 22

Sunday 16

Activities June

Friday 7

Saturday 22

Saturday 29

Saturday 5

NSS Kids’ Visit to ACRES Wildlife Rescue CentreACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society) Wildlife Rescue Centre is dedicated to rescuing animals from the cruel illegal wildlife trade in Singapore. Join us in a meaningful visit to this facility to learn more. There will be exciting talks, videos and interactive activities for children aged 4 to 12 years old that will explain the centre’s wildlife rescue work as well as touch on animal protection issues. In an outdoor conservation classroom, children will also learn about Singapore’s native wildlife, their plights and

how to help them. Time: 9 am to 11 am. Please register your kids with Gloria at [email protected], stating their names and ages, if you are a NSS member or not, and let us have your mobile number. A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents are encouraged to come along at no charge. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.

Sunday 13

Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin Meet Ali Jaffa at Changi Jetty at 7.30 am. We will take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, an island that never fails to surprise, with many new sights to discover. Here, we

Saturday 05

Sunday 13

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will look for specialties of this island including the Red Junglefowl, Oriental Pied Hornbill and globally-endangered Straw-headed Bulbul.

Sunday 20

Mangrove Walk at Pasir Ris Park Join the Plant Group for a stroll amongst the mangroves at Pasir Ris Park. Singapore has half of all known mangrove species in the world. How many of these 36 species can we find here? A mangrove identification key will be given out. Meet at Pasir Ris Park’s Carpark C at 9 am.

Saturday 26

Kampong Chantek RambleLed by Rehan Yusoff of The Nature Ramblers, we will stroll through old kampong trails where local fruits like the durian, rambai, chempedak, jackfruit and mango grow wild. If we are lucky, we might even get to pick and taste some of these. The second part of the trip will see us ambling through the countryside on the way to Zhenghua Park. Bring along your binoculars and camera for a spot of birdwatching and wildflower photography. Meet at 7.30 am at the carpark of Bukit Timah Hawker Centre. This 8km/4hour ramble ends at Zhenghua HDB estate.

July 18

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Please register with Lesley Cartwright-Taylor at [email protected], stating your name, if you are a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (HSC). We have started an ongoing HSC Training & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to become a qualified HSC R&Rer. Meet at the extension of Kranji Road near the junction with Kranji Loop at 9.30 am. Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). We recommend that you bring a cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities available.

July 25

Mingle with Butterflies at Changi Airport T3 Come and experience the world's first butterfly garden in

an airport. Located at the Transit Mall of Changi Airport Terminal 3, this sanctuary is home to about 50 butterfly species native to Singapore and Malaysia, with more than 1,000 free-flying beauties. In addition, visitors can observe the breeding and feeding of butterflies. If you are lucky, you might even witness butterflies leaving their pupae! Time: 9.30 am to 12 pm. Particulars needed by Changi Airport: a) Full Name and NRIC/FIN number, b) Gender, c) Race, d) Nationality, e) Country of Birth, f) Date of Birth (DD/MM/YY), g) Home/Company Address, h) Handphone Number, i) NSS membership number. Please email registration details to Simon at [email protected]. Closing date: 8 July 2010. Limited to 18 places (NSS members only) including babies and toddlers. Parents are advised to accompany their young children into the garden. A fee of $5 per person (including babies and toddlers) will be collected on the spot. Note that the date for this walk can only be confirmed after SATS police approve of the participant list. We will email you to confirm this, and to provide further details. Trip leaders: Simon (HP: 97485465) and Gan (HP: 9754-4174).

August 23 to 27

8th Flora Malesiana Symposium Since 1989, the Flora Malesiana Symposium has been an important forum for the exchange of taxonomic and systematic ideas and new research findings on the flora of the Malesian region. Today, it has become an international gathering of botanists and post-graduate students who study the diversity, ecology, biogeography, evolution and conservation of plants from the region, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Papua New Guinea, as well as bordering countries. This year’s symposium will be held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Enjoy an early bird discount if you register by 15 May 2010. Check out its website www.sbg.org.sg/fm8 or email [email protected] for details.

September 25

Call for Site Leaders/Site Buddies at ICCS 2010 The annual NSS International Coastal Cleanup (ICCS) 2010 will be held at the Mandai mudflats from 4 pm to 7 pm. Volunteers are required. Those keen to be trained as Site Leaders and Site Buddies by ICCS Singapore organisers in July and August can register with Dr Hsu Chia Chi at [email protected].

Sunday 20

July 18

September 25

August 23 to 27

July 25

Saturday 26

Date: 29 May 2010Cost: S$80 per pax including meals, insurance and transportMinimum: 6 pax to go Closing Date: 21 May 2010At 510 m , Gunung Lambak i s cons i de red a neighbourhood mountain of Kluang and is regularly

used by its residents for an invigorating workout. The place is still pretty much a primary rainforest where Pig-tailed Macaques and Dusky Leaf Monkeys are often seen. We start with breakfast at the famous kaya toast at Kluang railway station, stopping for a lunch snack at the summit, and ending off with a sumptuous dinner at a local restaurant. Register with Chew Leong Hai at [email protected] or HP: 9689-3074.

TRIPS ABROAD LED BY NSS MEMBERS

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NSS 56th Annual General Meeting – 2nd Notice & Agenda By Margie Hall, Honorary Secretary

Nature Society (Singapore) warmly welcomes all members to the 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15 May

2010 (Saturday) at 2 pm. This will be held at the MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Centre located at 30 Dairy Farm Road.

Agenda Minutes of the 55th Annual General Meeting held on 11

23 May 2009 – Amendments & ApprovalPresident’s Report (on behalf of the NSS Executive 21

Committee) for NSS year 2009 to 2010Special Interest Group and Committee Reports for 31

NSS year 2009 to 2010, in alphabetical orderTreasurer’s Report for 2009, including presentation 41

and adoption of the Audited Accounts for 2009Election of the 2010-2011 Executive Committee Members 51 Election of the 2010-2011 Finance Advisory Group 61

MembersAppointment of an Auditor or Auditors for 2010 71 Any Other Business81

Refreshments & Quorum MattersRefreshments will be available shortly before 2 pm. Should there not be a quorum at 2 pm, refreshments can be enjoyed

until 2.30 pm. The quorum for the AGM is now 60 members excluding the outgoing Executive Committee members. If we do not reach this quorum at 2.30 pm, we can then start with any number of members present. Please come early if you can. If not, please try to arrive before 2.30 pm. Refreshments will also be available at the end of the AGM.

ParkingAmple parking is available at the small road immediately outside the Adventure Centre and at the car park next to the junction of Dairy Farm Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road.Public Transport to the MOE Dairy Farm Adventure CentreBy Bus: Take TIBS 171 from Orchard Road or SBS 170 from Newton Circus. Alight at the bus stop after Railway Mall, outside Hillview Avenue and opposite the Salvation Army building. Walk in the direction of the traffic lights and cross over to Dairy Farm Road. Walk up Dairy Farm Road and turn into the first small road on the right to reach the Adventure Centre. Alternatively, you can walk across the car park next to the road junction. There is a small path signposted for the Singapore Quarry that leads to the Adventure Centre.

7D/6N Flores & Komodo National Park Culture & Nature Exploration Dates: 31 May to 6 June 2010Cost: S$1,350.00 per pax ex-BaliS$500.00 deposit required upon booking. Package includes domestic flights, airport transfers, full board land tour and transport, 2 nights full board live-aboard cruise, 4 nights hotel stay, guides and park ranger fees. For details, please email Lisa at [email protected]: 10 pax to goClosing Date: 7 May 2010

Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Man and Biosphere Reserve in East

Nusa Tenggara Province. Home to the famous Komodo

dragon, the Park encompasses 1,817 sq km of spectacular land and marine wilderness including the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar and Gili Motang. It is regarded as one of the best nature destinations on the planet. Cruise its waters on a live-aboard and experience one of the world's richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts and semi-enclosed bays that harbour more than 1,000 species of fishes and 385 species of corals. With more than 50 amazing dive sites, there is so much to explore. There is a range of soft adventure activities on land too. You will have the chance to meet local villagers who will be happy to accompany visitors to canyons, pools, caves, cascades and local sites of interest.

Dates: 19 to 23 June 2010Cost: S$1,280 per pax inclusive of flights, meals and

accommodation at a river lodge Minimum: 8 pax to go Closing Date: 19 May 2010 The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is made up of 26,000 hectares of flood plains with a variety of natural habitats such as ox bow lakes, riverine forests and lowland dipterocarp forests. As Sabah’s longest river, Kinabatangan is one of the most exciting and accessible places to explore the rich biodiversity of Borneo. From Kampung Abai near the river mouth, to the major village of Sukau further upriver, there will be opportunities to view wildlife such as the unique Proboscis Monkey, Orangutan, Bornean Pygmy Elephant, crocodiles, otters, wild cats and beautiful birds including hornbills. To register, please contact Chew Leong Hai at [email protected] or HP: 9689-3074.

5D/4N Trip to Kinabatangan River in Sabah 6D/5N Trekk ing Tr ip to Mount Kinabalu Dates: 9 to 14 October 2010Cost: S$1200 per pax Group Size: Minimum 8 pax to maximum 13 paxClosing Date: 18 June 2010 We will be trekking up to the summit of Mount Kinabalu (4095m), the fourth highest mountain in Southeast Asia. EJH Corner in 1961 declared that this mountain has “the richest and most remarkable assemblage of plants in the world.” The six days trip will include visits to Poring Hot Springs, Langanan Waterfall and Bat Caves; an exciting one day rafting experience at Padas River; a hunt for the Nepenthes rajah (the largest pitcher plant in the world); and an exploration of Kota Kinabalu. Reasonable fitness is a must. At least three training sessions will be arranged before the trip. For details and to book, please contact Chew Leong Hai at HP: 9689-3074 or [email protected].

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Best wishes,

Dr Shawn Lum [email protected]

Dear Fellow NSS Members,

We have jus t exper ienced the dr ies t February in Singapore since records

were first collected in 1869. Besides the physical discomforts brought about by the dry weather, it was also interesting in that it demonstrated to me the gulf that continues to exist between nature enthusiasts and the general public. This gap is in terms of ecological understanding, and the work that lies ahead in bringing Singapore’s ecological literacy i n l i ne w i th i t s deeper economic one.

Singapore experienced a dry January 2009 in addition to this February’s unusually low rainfall. Dry spells during what might otherwise be a wet period, especially in January and February, can sometimes trigger a large flowering event. This happened last year. During such events, known as “mast flowering”, the forest may be festooned with blossoms of all shapes and sizes. As mast flowering and fruiting does not take place every year, these episodes are crucial for forest regeneration and renewal, and may be associated with higher reproduction rates in some forest animals as well.

If dry periods become too intense or last too long, plants and animals may be tested to their physiological limits. Those plants that are less capable of withstanding periods of limited moisture availability may wither, affecting in turn the seedling composition of a forest. This can lead to a shift in forest tree abundance and the gradual loss of certain species. This is particularly serious for forest fragments, which are much more vulnerable to dry conditions than larger, more intact and less isolated forest areas.

I was contacted a number of times during the recent dry period by people who were interested in its impact on local vegetation, or at least the sort that grows in our parks and along our streets. Interestingly, I received no questions about the effects the dry weather might have on our forests (although there were concerns raised about

bush fires). No one asked what the longer-term implications of these short-term weather events on biodiversity might be. Perhaps not surprisingly, when the rains returned in March, interest in the weather cooled considerably.

I was not very concerned i n F e b r u a r y a b o u t roadside trees, knowing that these species are p lanted for the ver y reason that they are hardy and are known to have some degree of drought tolerance. My concerns every morning, as I contemplated yet another cloudless sky, dr i f ted to the p lants a t B u k i t T i m a h a n d MacRitchie that I have studied for years, many

of them belonging to species that are not drought-adapted.

Although my observations were anecdotal, it seemed to emphasise the assertion made that people care about what they are familiar with. If we hope that nature conservation will enjoy a groundswell of public support in future, and for Singapore to have a more thoughtful, ecologically literate society, this episode suggests that we still have a long way to go. If many do not make the association between the unusually dry weather and the consequent impact on the forests in our neighbourhood, then the ability to associate our actions with their impacts on ecosystems much farther away is even less likely. We need more than ever to create opportunities for people to develop an awareness and a feeling for our natural world. Nature outreach clearly has to start with sharing the beauty and wonder of nature with others. Nature appreciation then has to blossom into something deeper and more insightful, with benefits both to incipient nature enthusiasts as well as to nature itself.

Caring for what is FamiliarThoughts from the NSS President…

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Rewarding Bird Romp through Bukit Batok Nature Park

By Wing Chong

News from the NSS SecretariatBy Justin Wong, Executive Officer

June Soft Launch for the Butterfly Trail Project

The Butterfly Trail Project (BTP) near Orchard Road has a soft launch tentatively scheduled

for 20 June 2010 at its Nassim Road site. NParks, together with all volunteers and stakeholders including NSS, will launch the butterfly trail by carrying out tree planting activities to kick off this site. The BTP supports NParks’ greening efforts and is at the same time a community-driven initiative. One o f BTP ' s ma jo r s pon sor s , F a r E a s t Organization, is planning to organise an evening event at its Orchard Central rooftop garden. Invited guests will get to enjoy food and drinks and the opportunity to network in a great outdoor garden atmosphere. Date confirmation of the Nassim Road soft launch and other launch details will be announced on the NSS website and on our e-loops (email forums). For those not on any of our e-loops, please get in touch with the NSS Office for further news. Likewise, we

will try to disseminate invitations to the Orchard Central rooftop event as widely as possible. Sentosa Biodiversity Survey Updates The first phase of the Sentosa Biodiversity Survey commenced in January 2010 and is scheduled for completion in June 2010. Sentosa Development Corporat ion (SDC) plans to announce i ts partnership with NSS for this survey at a media event sometime in July/August 2010. This survey has produced a number of new and noteworthy sightings in Sentosa. Compared to official Sentosa surveys done in the 1990s, four new bird species were recorded for the first time by the Bird Group. These are the Banded Woodpecker, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Siberian Thrush and Tiger Shrike. Notable butterfly sightings by the Butterfly Interest Group include the Chocolate Albatross, Black Veined Tiger, Yellow Palm Dart, Malayan Plum Judy, Common Imperial, Scarce Silverstreak and Striped Black Crow.

A Sunday morning b i r d i n g f o r ay

to Bukit Batok Nature Park led by Yong Ding Li garnered 31 NSS members on 28 March 2010. As we walked towards the park’s lake, we said hello to foraging monkeys. Near the exercise area, five uncommon Red-eyed Bulbuls showed up on a Wild Cinnamon tree. We lingered for a while at the edge of the scenic lake where there were waves of excitement as birds came and went. A couple of Blue-throated Bee-eaters used a bare tree as their launch pad for their aerial assaults to acrobatically grab at insects, returning to the exact take-off point. Banded Woodpeckers were checking out a nesting hole. We also saw birds like the Laced Woodpecker and Asian Brown Flycatcher. A thumb-sized Purple-throated Sunbird paraded itself brilliantly for one whole minute. Its luminous purple feathers, bathed in the droplets of dew collected from Simpoh Ayer leaves, left many gushing about its beauty. A Greater Racket-tailed Drongo was observed feasting on its mega breakfast of a huge grasshopper. At the first look-out point, a male Pink-necked Green Pigeon sat quietly at close quarters. Many members took the opportunity to snap

photographs of this handsome bird while Andrew Chow pulled out his painting materials and started an on-the-spot portrait! Soon after, a White-bellied Fish Eagle held our gazes skyward as it soared on rising thermals. Ding Li was quick to point out a small flock of uncommon Grey-rumped Treeswifts sallying back and forth. At the second look-out point, our group spotted a pair of newly fledged Pink-necked Green Pigeons camped on a Blue Mahang tree. Olive-winged Bulbuls were actively foraging in the vicinity. We were unable to locate an Asian Fairy Bluebird that was heard calling from across the lake. However, the presence of a male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker made up for this, as it hopped about in a nearby tree, finally departing with its signature clicking calls.We continued our birding romp to the place around the ex-Japanese shrine, moving later to the tranquil Hume Heights area. Under a huge Rain Tree, Ding Li shared with us his immense knowledge of local birds and issues related to environmental conservation. Here, we heard the calls of a Rufous-tailed Tailorbird and Arctic Warblers. We retraced our path back to the lake area where satisfied members said their goodbyes.

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Some 20 kids and their parents enjoyed a balmy morning of

bird and wildlife watching on the idyllic island of Pulau Ubin on 20 February 2010. From the get-go, sightings materialised at a fast and furious pace. At the Ubin jetty itself, we got to peer closely at the blue-and-rufous plumage of the Pacific Swallow, the azure feathers of the Collared Kingfisher, the bobbing tail of the Common Sandpiper and the waving red pincers of tiny fiddler crabs. Just off the jetty, Auntie Gloria spied the distinctive profile of a Peregrine Falcon soaring above. This migrant raptor then landed high up on a radio tower where it perched for many long minutes, affording us good views through the scope. Kids learnt that the Peregrine is the fastest bird alive, diving at speeds of up to 390 km/h into one of the wings of prey flying below. The broken wing sends the injured bird tumbling out of the sky, making a delicious meal for the peerless Peregrine.

E v e n w h i l e taking a toilet b r e a k , t w o Oriental Pied Hornbills flew in to join the falcon on the s a m e r a d i o tower, sending e v e r y b o d y

into an excited frenzy. We were to encounter these charismatic hornbills many more times during our walk. Oriental Pied Hornbills are uncommon residents on mainland Singapore. However, there is a thriving population of about 30 birds living and breeding in Ubin and Changi Village. Strolling along, we pointed out a kampong house made of wood and zinc. Later in the tour, somebody spotted a well where people still draw water from. The children saw for themselves the simplicity of life on Ubin, where amenities we take for granted, such as tap water and electricity, are considered luxuries here. The sweet song of the Straw-headed Bulbul, Singapore’s famed avian songster, serenaded us as we

wended forward through the countryside. Kids were wowed by the humongous Golden Orb Web Spider that sat on a giant web above our heads. Pink-necked Green Pigeons, White-vented Mynas, Common Mynas and As i an G los s y Starlings feasted at a fruiting tree. The little ones giggled

at the antics of the numerous mudskippers littering the mangrove mudflats. Here, we witnessed a Little Heron catch and swallow a wriggling fish. Other swimmers like the Halfbeak and Archer Fish added to the list of sightings. Suddenly, Auntie Gloria caught sight of three hornbills winging towards us. Most fortuitously, two of these giant black-and-white birds landed on a ‘botak’ tree right in front of us, giving all jaw-dropping views. Two Long - t a i l ed M a c a q u e s ( a l s o known a s Cr ab -eat ing Macaques) were seen foraging at the mangroves, possibly for crabs. Towards the end of our walk, we felt lucky to encounter two Peaceful Doves (also known as Zebra Doves), sitting peaceably on the dirt path just five meters ahead of us. Kids watched inquisitively as Scaly-breasted Munias explored for grass seeds, while Yellow-vented Bulbuls flitted from tree to tree. The trip concluded at the colourful NSS Green Hub @ Ubin located in the middle of Ubin town, which has paintings of hornbills, fruits and Ubin wildlife decorating its façade. Here, we held a quiz on the v a r i o u s s i g h t i n g s en coun te red , w i t h doggy prizes handed out for correct answers. We would like to thank Uncle Timothy, Uncle Benjamin, Auntie Lena and Auntie Mabel for assisting in wildl i fe spotting.

NSS Kids’ Fun with Migratory Birds & Wildlife in Ubin

By Gloria Seow, Education Group Chairperson Photos by Lena Chow

Adorable mudskippers littered the mangrove mudflats.

The Orienta l P ied Hornbi l l was undoubtedly the star bird of our trip.

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Although drizzly, our 21 March 2010 bird outing

to Semakau Landfill attracted 68 participants from Sembawang Corporation Design and Construction led by three NSS guides. The 72-seater ferry took 40 minutes to take us from Marina South Pier to the island. At the jetty, the group was given a background briefing on the current status of Semakau Landfill. Thereafter, participants split into three groups. As we explored various points of the landfill, guides explained their functions. Singapore’s largest bird, the Great-billed Heron, was observed in shallow waters off the west shore. A few Grey Herons were seen flying around. Due to poor weather conditions, birdlife was scarce other than some swiftlets and swallows circling the skies.NEA vans ferried us to the southwestern corner of Semakau where we spotted an Osprey feeding on a rocky outcrop, while Paddyfield Pipits foraged amongst the short grass. We stayed briefly under

a shelter chitchatting on conservation issues. The group then trekked through the former Semakau Island to have a feel of its kampong past. Here, there were many abandoned cultivated plants like the Mango tree, Rambutan tree, Coconut Palm, Pinang Palm, as well as varieties of bamboo. We lingered a little on the narrow beach, observing tiny Fiddler Crabs scurrying about and Tape Seagrass that had been washed ashore. The vans then brought us back to the jetty area, saving us a 2 km walk. We toured the Visitor C e n t e r w h i c h s h ow c a s e d exhibits on the landfill’s past, present and future, in the form of static displays of photographs and posters. A video on the landfill provided insights to Semakau’s conservation goal towards zero landfill. We left the place with a better understanding of the mission and evolving role of this remarkable landfill and how it can continue to coexist with nature.

Birdwatching at Semakau Landfill By Wing Chong, Trip Leader

NSS supports Earth Hour 2010 By Ng Zhi Kai

This attractive coffee table book “Birds in a Garden City” commemorates The Photographic Society of

Singapore’s 60th anniversary. Sales of this book will raise money for the SMRT Silver Tribute fund, which goes towards helping the less fortunate and aged folks in our society. Al l 156 bird species depicted in the book were photographed in Singapore by myself. The book aims to promote an appreciation for a greener living environment through the art of photography, and to broaden the creative horizon of nature photographers. It also serves to raise awareness that our Garden City is home to many

species of birds l iving in diverse habitats.I would like to appreciate the help received from Lim Kim Seng, Lim Kim Chuah, Yong Ding Li and Low Bing Wen. They were instrumental in penning the text that accompanies each picture, and in sharing their field observations and wealth of knowledge. I would also like to thank Goh Yue Yun for her many hours spent editing this book.“Birds in a Garden City” is available at all major book stores for S$50. All proceeds go into the SMRT Silver Tribute fund.

The theme for Ear th Hour 2010 was “Earth Hour, Every

Hour”. Organised by the World Wildlife Fund Singapore, the event on 27 March 2010 at Esplanade Park attracted many members of the public as well as groups hailing from the people, private and public sectors. These include the Singapore Scouts Association, National Environment Agency and Nokia. On our part, NSS had a booth where we displayed photos of Singapore’s nocturnal wildlife. Throughout

the evening, NSS volunteers talked to about 200 members of the public on our nature appreciation and conservation mission. Lights-out started promptly at 8.30 pm, where many buildings along the Singapore skyline willingly plunged into semi-darkness for an hour to show their support for action against climate change. Performances were put up by many different groups, entertaining the crowd. We hope that all NSS members will heed the environmental message of Earth Hour by embracing eco-living every hour.

Launch of “Birds in a Garden City”By Lee Tiah Khee, the book’s photographer

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How can local nature lovers, overseas visitors and eco-

tourists locate birdwatching sites in Singapore? How can they find out more about the habitats, birds and wildlife in these places? Such information is now easily available at the click of a mouse. Simply go to www.onemap.sg/home and click on “Gallery”. Or just go direct to the Bird Group’s website at www.wildbirdsingapore.nss.org.sg and locate the “Birdwatching Hotspots in Singapore” link. The NSS Bird Group was selected by the Singapore Land Authority as one of 16 pioneer public, private and NGO sectors to provide online information on a range of topics covering public services, land query, entertainment, family and culture as well as nature, with the provision of precise location maps. This is a great opportunity for the Society to reach out to the public in promoting nature appreciation and birdwatching. Eco-tourists will find it a breeze to get to some of these nature sites and to also know the kind of habitats and wildlife to expect there.Local birdwatching hotspots are grouped under these habitats: forest, woodland, parkland, scrubland, grassland,

freshwater marshland, mangrove and tidal mudflats. A click on the selected habitat will open up a list of hotspots to choose from. Clicking on a particular hotspot like Bukit Brown will bring you to a zoom map of the site and the roads leading up to it. Another click on the map’s bird logo will open up a page with write-ups and photos of the habitats found there, their conservation statuses, and access points. A second page lists the locale’s key bird species, accompanied by photos and biodata; together with a list of the common, uncommon and rare birds recorded at the site. As these birding hotspots are also rich in other forms of wildlife such as butterflies, mammals and reptiles, this portal can also serve as a guide to where such wildlife can be found.In the past decades, rapid development in Singapore has taken away many nature areas, leading to a decline in local biodiversity. This project helps highlight important nature areas and the rich and interesting wildlife that can still be found there despite relentless urbanization. We hope that by knowing about and visiting these places, Singaporeans and the wider community will begin to care for and take action to protect our remaining nature areas.

Birdwatching Hotspots Highlighted on OneMap.sgBy Alan Owyong, Bird Group Chairperson

Exciting Bird Sightings

After much restoration work to Kranji Marshes, as part of NSS’

adopt ion programme for Kran j i Reservoir, the uncommon Common Moorhen was spotted at the marshy pond on two occasions. Three birds were seen by Leslie Fung on 9 March 2010 and one bird was recorded by myself on 18 March 2010. Leslie even observed that one of the moorhens was a juvenile. This is good news as the Common Moorhen, which was supposedly common at one time, is hard to come by nowadays. Bird species that were previously not recorded before the restoration are also making a comeback. These include the Yellow-billed or Intermediate Egret, Yellow Wagtail and Von Schrenck’s Bittern. The best sighting to date is of two Cotton Pygmy Geese seen by Lim Kim Seng on 29 January 2010. The one-off appearance of this rare and critically endangered bird is highly significant as it has not been seen for many years. As one of only two wild duck species in Singapore, the Cotton Pygmy Goose may sadly be headed for local extinction. The challenge is to make the Kranji Marshes attractive to them so that they will continue to survive and make regular appearances. We also await the return of the Lesser Whistling Duck.

Pond Maintenance Twenty students from River Valley High School were down at the Marshes on 24 March 2010 to lend their muscles in clearing the overgrown vegetation at the marshy pond. Teacher-in-charge Mr Azmi Mohamed and NSS Vice-President Leong Kwok Peng were there to coordinate the effort. Work began at 3 pm but after

about an hour and a half, it began to pour heavily. Students quickly sought refuge in their nearby school bus, which acted as a rain and lightning shelter. Maintenance work resumed the following week on 31 March 2010 from 3 pm to 6 pm.These helpful students concentrated their efforts in clearing the dry edges of the marshy pond as well as the shallower portions of the water body. The accumulated mass of vegetation was collected by Green Circle Farm’s Evelyn Lim-Eng and her workers for composting. This is the first volunteer effort in maintenance of the restored marshy pond. Students enjoyed the backbreaking work despite getting soaked, caked in mud, and scratched by thorny Giant Mimosa shrubs. Somebody even had a leech bite! A dab of Tiger Balm was enough to dislodge the bloodsucker. The Conservation Committee would like to thank River Valley High students for a job well done.

Text and photo by Dr Ho Hua Chew, Coordinator of Kranji Reservoir Adoption Programme

Rare Birds Appear at the Kranji Marshes after Restoration

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Riveting River Safaris at Kinabatangan By Lena Chow

Or a n g u t a n s , P y g m y

E l e p h a n t s a n d Storm’s Storks – 15 NSS members encountered these fauna and more on our trip to Kinabatangan in Sabah, East Malaysia from 20 to 24 March 2010. After a tedious plane-road-plane-road journey, we arrived at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre near Sandakan, where orphaned Orangutans are trained to survive and are released as soon as they are ready. Orangutans here are fed milk and bananas twice a day. The free food also attracted Pig-tailed and Long-tailed Macaques, and even a Giant Squirrel. From Sim Sim water village, our twin-engine speedboats brought us up the mighty Kinabatangan, the second longest river in Malaysia. As we cruised, we kept our eyes peeled for wildlife. Soon, we spotted our first Proboscis Monkey and an Oriental Darter – a big bird with a snake-like neck. After 90 minutes of winding our way upriver, we arrived at Abai Jungle Lodge where we were welcomed with a lunch spread of homestyle dishes. I was fascinated with the large butterflies flitting around the garden. There were easily more than a dozen Black and White Helens. A shout of excitement alerted us to a wild male Orangutan feasting at a fruiting tree just outside our rooms!That afternoon, we took our first open-boat safari cruise. We were treated to brilliantly-coloured Stork-billed and Blue-eared Kingfishes, as well as a family of Proboscis Monkeys led by a conspicuous alpha male. The frantic cawing of Slender-billed Crows betrayed the presence of what was probably a Wallace’s Hawk Eagle. Our ride back was amidst the splendour of a fiery red and orange sunset, and we re-fuelled with a delicious dinner of chicken, river prawns, fish and vegetables. The blinking phenomenon of fireflies was next, as we witnessed them massing on two riverside trees. Our guide Erik pointed out lantern bugs, dragonflies, stick insects, butterflies and cicadas in a night walk. We also came across an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher fast asleep with eyes wide open and beak pointing upwards.At 6.30 am the next day, we boated towards Pitas Oxbow Lake, stopping to admire a pair of rare White-headed Stilts. Even Erik had never seen them before in his 30 years of guiding. Plenty of wildlife showed up that morning including Little Green Pigeons, Black and Red Broadbills, and a troop of Red-leaf Langurs. Erik said that we were lucky to spot these lanky langurs so easily. Apparently, a National Geographic team had waited for over a week before connecting with them. We also saw several Orangutan nest-beds lining some trees along the river, and caught sight of another wild Orangutan, while being pampered with coffee, tea and biscuits onboard our boat.

Back at the lodge, a mum and baby Orangutan pair showed up during our buffet breakfast, together with a huge Hawkmoth caterpillar. A brief downpour ensued, ending a month-long drought in the area. Birds and butterflies were out in force to dry their wings, including Brown-throated and Crimson Sunbirds; Clipper, Banded Peacock and Great Mormon butterflies; as well as a Brown Barbet. As part of the forest rehabilitation programme, we each paid RM$10 for a Simpoh Air sapling that we planted. A numbered metal tag identified our ‘own’ sapling, which we could use to follow up on its well-being! We then toured the nearby Abai village, and were impressed that its school had a computer lab. Here, we saw birds like the Lesser Adjutant Stork and Oriental Pratincole, as well as a pair of Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots in a homemade cage.On our way to Sukau located further upriver, we were in raptures when a herd of Pygmy Elephants trundled by, trumpeting loudly in the forest trail parallel to the river. We arrived at Kinabatangan Jungle Lodge slightly damp because of another downpour enroute. Instead of an afternoon cruise, we waited out the rains by watching documentaries on Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Proboscis Monkeys, while munching on freshly-fried goreng pisang and sipping hot tea.Before dinner, the birders amongst us prowled the premises and were rewarded with a Buffy Fish Owl. Erik had earlier taught us the delicate art of wearing a sarong. We were told to suck in our tummies before folding the edges down, and to “please wear something underneath as we don’t want any accidents”. That evening, we sashayed to dinner in our sarongs – floral prints for the ladies and checkered ones for the gents! After our meal, we set off on a night cruise down the Menanggul tributary, where BBC and Nat Geo teams had filmed their wildlife documentaries. Our powerful torches spotlighted sleeping beauties like two Stork-billed Kingfishers, a Blue-eared Kingfisher, and two White-chested Babblers. Desperate to find more birds on our last day, we circled the lodge, spotting birds like the White-breasted Waterhen, Greater Coucal and Little Spiderhunter. On our final cruise back to Sandakan, ever-watchful Erik pointed out a prettily-patterned Estuarine Crocodile, a Crested Serpent Eagle, a Wrinkled Hornbill as well as two magnificent S t o r m ’s S t o r k s f l y i n g overhead. Mammal-wise, I saw everything that I had hoped for and truly enjoyed this amazing trip!

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NATURE NEWS MAY-JUN 2010 AnnouncementsSingapore Divers’ Perception SurveyLand scarcity is a major driving force for intensive coastal development and reclamation in Singapore. This has resulted in a loss of up to 60% of our coral reefs. The remaining reefs are exposed to the long term impact of high sedimentation. The “Singapore Divers’ Perception Survey” at http://www.tinyurl.com/diversurvey/ aims to gather divers’ response to key questions like “Does setting up a marine park help in the conservation of reefs in Singapore?”. The data collected will serve as baseline information for effective planning, by incorporating such feedback into the Blue Plan to ultimately conserve our reefs. Do take this survey if you are a diver.

NSS Welcomes Tax-Exempt DonationsI f you believe in the importance of nature appreciation and conservation in Singapore, help us keep our work going with a donation to NSS. All donations are tax-exempt. Please make out your cheques to “Nature Society (Singapore)”. For individual donors, do write your full name, contact number and NRIC/FIN number at the back of your cheque. Giving us your NRIC/FIN means that tax deduction claims are automatically reflected in your tax assessment. We look forward to your financial support!

Go Paperless: Opt-out from Receiving Nature News by Snail MailMembers who are happy to A) Get your copy of Nature News via an emailed PDF file (less than 5MB), or B) Download the same PDF file from the NSS website, and who wish to opt-out from receiving hard copies by snail mail to save trees, please inform Joe at [email protected]. Please state if you prefer Option A or B.

New Members: Do Join Us in Our Subgroup ActivitiesNew members are welcome to join any of our listed activities. Most events do not require prior registration. Simply turn up at the appointed time and place, and you’ll be off to learn more about Singapore’s exciting nature offerings.

Contributions for Nature NewsPlease send in your contributions for the Jul/Aug 2010 issue by 5 June 2010. Email them to [email protected]. All original photos should be in JPEG format with a minimum size of 1 MB. The Editorial Committee reserves the right to select and edit appropriate contributions for use.

NSS DIRECTORY

PatronPROF TOMMY KOH

PresidentDR SHAWN LUM – Office: 6790-3835

Vice PresidentMR LEONG KWOK PENG – Mobile: 9766-7047

TreasurerMR SOON TZE CHIEN

Honorary SecretaryMS MARGIE HALL – Mobile: 9730-5562

Executive Committee MembersMR GOH SI GUIM, DR HO HUA CHEW, DR HSU CHIA CHI

Finance Committee MembersMS CHING CHABO, MS EVELYN NG

Immediate Past PresidentDR GEH MIN

Co-opted Council MembersASSOC PROF PN AVADHANI, MR STEPHEN LAU,

MR TAN HANG CHONG (ASST SECRETARY), MR SOO CHOON KIAT (ASST TREASURER)

Honorary Legal AdvisorMR VINAYAGAN DHARMARAJAH

NSS Advisory Council MembersMR IAIN EWING, MR WARREN KHOO

PROF KOH KHENG LIAN, MR KWEK LENG JOO, MR LIM JIM KHOON, MR LIU THAI KER,

PROF NG SOON CHYE, MR SIM WONG HOO, MR MASON TAN, MR RICHARD HALE

Birdlife International CoordinatorMR WILLIE FOO – Mobile: 9675-1089

NSS SUBGROUPS (in alphabetical order)

Bird Ecology Study GroupChairperson DR WEE YEOW CHIN Home: 6466-0736Bird GroupChairperson MR ALAN OWYONG Secretary MR WILLIE FOO Mobile: 9675-1089Butterfly Interest GroupChairperson MR GAN CHEONG WEEIVice Chairperson MR SIMON CHAN Conservation CommitteeActing Chairperson MR LEONG KWOK PENGAssistant Chairperson DR HO HUA CHEWEducation GroupChairperson MS GLORIA SEOW Marine Conservation GroupChairperson MR EDZRA ISKANDAR Plant GroupChairperson MS CHUA LENG SIM (ANGIE NG)The Nature RamblersChairperson MR REHAN YUSOF Mobile: 9674-8283Vertebrate Study GroupChairperson MR R SUBARAJ Mobile: 9650-5183Secretary MS CELINE LOW Mobile: 9693-2554

Nature News Editorial CommitteeMS GLORIA SEOW - [email protected]

MR TIMOTHY PWEE - Mobile: 9791-8300MR GOH SI GUIM - Mobile: 9758-9125

Executive OfficerMR JUSTIN WONG - Tel: 6741-2036

Accounts & Membership OfficerMR JOSEPH LIM - Tel: 6741-2036

NSS SECRETARIAT510 Geylang Road #02-05 The Sunflower Singapore 389466

Tel: 6741-2036 Fax: 6741-0871 Email: [email protected]

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ACTiviTy CAlENdAr CONTENTS Pg - Nature Society · Mingle with Butterflies at Changi Airport T3 Come and experience the world's first butterfly garden in an airport. Located at the

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