Transcript

Nature News

NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE) MAY–JUN 2007

MICA (P) 216/08/2006 www.nss.org.sg

Printed on Cyclus Offset 100% recycled paper

ACTIVITY CALENDAR

Harapan Rainforest Initative Talk 4 May

Conservation Chat 9 May

Birdwatching at Rifle Range Forest 13 May

Changi Coast Ramble 20 May

Butterfly Walk at Pasir Ris Nature Park 26 May

Nature Walk at Alexandra Hill 27 May

Horseshoe Crab Watch 02 Jun

Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin 03 Jun

Fun at Sentosa’s Coastal Forest 05 Jun

World Environment Day Picnic at Sentosa 06 Jun

Butterfly Walk at Singapore Botanic Gardens 23 Jun

Pulau Ubin Durian Ramble 24 Jun

Butanding! Whale Shark Presentation 27 Jun

QUICK FIND Pg

Activities 2

Trips 5

Special Report 6

Reports 8

News 16

Announcements 21

Directory 23

All Purpose Form 24

NEW BOOKS!

On

page

21

Kids’

Kids’

Unexpected adventure in high

grass country— this issue’s photo-comic report, pg 15

TRIPS:!Silk Road Through the Celestial Mountains,

Kyrgyzstan

In this issue:! Goodbye Khatib

Bongsu! pg 6

!"President’s Chat Details, pg 8

!"NEW! NSS Committee & Council Roundup, pg 9

! at Upper Seletar! pg 12

! Nesting Tales, pg 14

!"Conservation News, pg 18

!"Speaking up for Sentosa’s Forest, pg 21

Kids’

Kids’

! Singapore’s Splendid Shorelife

" 2007 Checklist on the Birds of Singapore

Activities MayORGANISED BY NSS

Friday 4 Harapan Rainforest Initative: New

Hope for the Indonesian Forests A talk by Dr. Marco Lambertini, Director of Network and Programme, Birdlife International, and Sukianto Lusli, CEO of Burung Indonesia. Hear all about the exciting conservation and restoration project that has just got the go-ahead to manage Harapan Forest for 100 years.!Covering an area of 1,000!sq km of high canopy and degraded!lowland rainforest!in Sumatra, Harapan Forest is a treasure trove of bio-diversity, including large mammals such as elephants and tigers.!A discussion with!Dr. Lambertini and Mr. Lusli follows the talk, on possibilities for early NSS involvement in the project — perhaps on surveys, restoration work, education work with local people, ecotrips, etc. Member or non-member, if you are interested in being involved, do come to this talk at 7.30pm at the NSS Office.

Wednesday!9 Conservation Chat This is an informal gathering for members concerned about nature conservation in Singapore. The objectives are: 1) To keep members in touch with the Conservation Committee’s latest conservation efforts; 2) to obtain feedback on what the Committee is doing or plans to do; 3) to obtain information on existing or impending!problems in nature reserves and areas that are unknown to the Committee; and 4) to obtain ideas!and suggestions for conservation efforts. This session also aims to foster camaraderie for nature conservation. This session’s agenda is on the PUB’s ABC Waters Programme and any other conser-vation issues you may like to raise. Call or e-mail Ho Hua Chew ([email protected]) if you have any suggestions. Conservation Chat starts at 7.30pm at the NSS Office.

Sunday 13 Birdwatching at Rifle Range

Central Catchment Forest After waving goodbye to our winter visitors and passage migrants, this is

the time to get re-acquainted with our forest birds again. We will explore this part of the forest with experienced birder Lim Kim Chuah. The little-visited Rifle Range Catchment Forest yields avian inhabitants

like babblers, woodpeckers, sunbirds, spiderhunters, leafbirds, Asian Fairy Bluebirds etc. Meet at the junction of Dunearn and Rifle Range Roads at 7.30am. Car-pooling will be required.

Sunday 20 Changi Coast Ramble with the Nature Ramblers led by Dr Ho Hua Chew. This 9km/4hr ramble will take us from Tanah Merah to Changi Village. We will follow tracks in the reclaimed land, stroll through casuarinas trees and coconut groves at Changi Beach Park, and along the sandy beach. There is good chance of spotting interesting birds along the coast and in the park. The ramble will end at Changi Village hawker centre where we can have lunch. Please bring water, rainwear and a hat or cap. Binoculars and a camera are optional. Meet at 8am, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal bus shelter. (Take SBS Service 35 from Bedok Bus Interchange). Booking is not required but participants must be NSS members. Due to the length of this walk, it is not suitable for children under 12 years.

Saturday 26 Urban Butterfly Walk at Pasir Ris

Nature Park with Gan Cheong Weei (9754-4174). Butterflies at Pasir Ris include mangrove species like the rare and gigantic, yet graceful King Crow; the common Blue Glassy Tiger, its close

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Photo: Kim Lee

Time to get re-acquainted with our forest birds

More on the Harapan Rainforest Initiative by BirdLife and its affliate, Burung Indonesia, at http://www.birdlife.org/action/ground/sumatra/index.html

Discover why butterflies love Pasir Ris

Photo: Kim Lee

relative, the Dark Glassy Tiger; the seldom seen Plain Banded Awl Skipper; and many others. As it is near town, urban species like the Lime Butterfly and Striped Albatross can occasionally be seen. Please bring enough water to last three hours. Insect repellent will help make this walk more comfortable. Meet at Pasir Ris MRT station at 9am.

Sunday 27 Nature Walk at Alexandra Hill with Goh Si Guim. Alexandra Hill’s winding roads, lush greenery and colonial buildings make for a relaxing stroll down memory lane, a time trip into a pre-war yesteryear. Come and discover what this off-the-beaten path oasis holds in its quiet embrace. Meet at 8am at the junction of Hyderabad and Alexandra Roads.

Activities JuneSaturday 2 Horseshoe Crab Watch with Hsu Chia Chi (93817653) and Conservation Volunteers. Spend an afternoon at the Mandai mangroves and help rescue and study horseshoe crabs trapped in discarded nets. Recommended footwear: shoes or boots. Meet at the nameless track extending from Kranji Road at junction with Kranji Loop at 2.30pm. Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT, alight at Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the beginning of the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd, 251 Kranji Road. If transport is needed, meet at Kranji MRT station taxi stand at 2.15pm.

Sunday 3 Birdwatching at

Pulau Ubin This is one of our last vestiges of countryside where birders and nature lovers can still freely roam. Join Wong Chung Cheong to seek out Oriental Pied Hornbills, Abbott’s Babblers, Crested Goshawk and other birds that reside on this idyllic island. Meet at 7.30am at the Changi Point jetty.

Saturday 23 Butterfly Walk at the Singapore

Botanic Gardens with Simon Chan (9748-5465). We will be taking a leisurely stroll in the garden, which includes a small patch of primary forest. Butterflies seen here include the rare and endangered Common Birdwing and the Common Rose. Other denizens of this wonderful place are the Painted Jezebel, Striped Albatross, Common Grass Yellow, Common Mormon, Lime Butterfly and many more. Please bring enough water to last the entire walk of 3 hours. Meet at the Botanic Gardens’ main entrance at the junction of Cluny Road and Napier Road at 9.30am.

Sunday 24 Pulau Ubin Durian Ramble with the Nature Ramblers led by Yap Chung Kui. We will

explore the numerous trials and savour the rustic charm of the island, which will take in Malay kampongs, fish ponds, coconut groves and fruit orchards. If the season is right, we might get to taste some kampong

durians. Please bring water, rainwear and a hat or cap. Binoculars and a camera are optional. Meet at 7.45am at the new Changi Point Jetty to board the

boat to Pulau Ubin. Boat fare (return) is to be borne by participants. Booking is not required but

participants must be NSS members. Due to the

length of this walk, it is not suitable for children under 12 years.

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DISCLAIMER: Whether trips are organised by NSS or by individual members of the society, neither the Nature Society (Singapore) or its leaders are in any way whatsoever responsible for any injury or damage to any person or property during a trip. For trips by individual members, please check on liability with the trip organisers.

Explore Pulau Ubin through a birding trip or a ramble this June!

Photo: Kim Lee

Wednesday 27 Butanding! The Gentle Giants

of Donsol "Butanding!" our spotter screamed. "Get ready", our Filipino guide advised. At his prompt — "Go, go, go!" — everyone leapt into the water and

swam towards the dark, approaching shape. Soon we were close enough to see that the giant form was a whale shark or "butanding". This plankton-eating shark, Rhincodon typus, is found in the world’s tropical seas

The largest specimens are 15m (50ft) long, making them the biggest fish in the world. The migratory whale shark feeds largely on plankton, as well as on small fish and crustaceans. It is the only large shark with its mouth at the front of its head rather than underneath, but the creature is docile and harmless to humans. The Marine Conservation Group presents a multimedia talk by Stephen Lau, Victor Tan and Dominique Low, who will share their unforgettable interactions with whale sharks encountered at Donsol, the Philippines, at 7.30pm at the NSS Office.

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Photo: Stephen Lau

"

World Environment Day falls on 5 June every year. It is used by the United Nations to foster worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action. Kids, celebrate World Environment Day in Singapore with these activities by the Nature Society’s Education Group!

Tuesday 5 Fun at Sentosa’s Coastal Forest with Joseph Lai and the Education Group. Come celebrate World Environment Day at Sentosa’s northern coastal forest, one of the last of its kind in Singapore! Stroll with us in the cool shade of its enormous trees, like the rare Dracaena maingayi. And if you have never seen a seashore mango-steen tree or mousedeer plant, you’ll find them here! If you’re lucky, you may even spot a Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu), the rarest of resident owls in Singapore. Other attractive birds that call this forest home are the Blue-winged Leafbird, Stork-billed Kingfisher and Hill Myna. Sad to say, this forest may have to make way for the develop-ment of the Sentosa Integrated Resort. Come explore it and help us convince Singapore that this forest should live!

This event is suitable for kids aged 5 to 9. Meet at Imbiah Station on Sentosa at 10.30am. (Tip: Park at Vivocity and take the train to Imbiah

Station.) You will need good walking shoes, light cotton clothing, water, a snack, and herbal insect repellent. Registration is required. E-mail Vilma at [email protected] and Zaki at [email protected] by 25 May 2007.

Wednesday 6 World Environment Day Picnic at Sentosa Come have fun and picnic under an awesome heritage fig tree! Learn all about fig trees and animals that make these trees home. Find out how figs grow, what’s inside a fig, who eats figs, etc. Suitable for kids aged 5 to 9. Meet at Sentosa’s Ficus Station at 10.30am (Tip: Park at Vivocity and take the train to Ficus Station.) You will need a picnic mat, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, light cotton clothing, water, your picnic meal and snacks, and herbal insect repellent. Registration is required. To register, e-mail Vilma at [email protected] and Zaki at [email protected] by 25 May 2007.

More World Environment Day Activities and Fun For Kids in June with NSS member Adeline Foo, who has written two children’s

books on three commonly seen creatures in Singapore’s parks and gardens. See page 13 for details!

Growing to more than 12m, the whale shark is the biggest fish in the world, but is also a gentle giant.

Celebrate World Environment Day!

For the Buffy Fish Owl, the rarest of owls living in Singapore, home includes Sentosa, More on it at http://besgroup.talfrynature.com/?

cat=28

Photo: Angie Ng

Kids’

Tr ips Abroad ORGANISED BY NSS MEMBERS

KYRGYZSTAN: SILK ROAD THROUGH THE CELESTIAL MOUNTAINS 16D/15N (Sat–Sun) 15–30 September 2007 with Kelvin Chen

Kyrgyzstan has been described as “the most accessible and welcoming of the Central Asian republics” with “incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions”. The dramatic Tien Shan mountains are the setting for spectacular alpine meadows, lakes and gorges.

Kyrgyzstan has 400 endemic species of plants (notably tulips and wild onions), more than 10,000 species of insects and 360 species of birds (black vultures and imperial eagles among the highlights). Mammals include marmots, goitred gazelle and ibex (a favourite prey of the elusive snow leopard).

Highlights of the tour include:•" Bishkek — the capital of Kyrgysztan and its surrounding area, including the famous Burana Tower and field of petroglyphs•" Karakol — the “fertile garden town” and base for trekking in Central Asia, with colourful bazaars, livestock market and several good museums•" Issyk-Kul Lake — the second largest mountain lake in the world

•" Tash Rabat — the 15th century caravanserai along the Great Silk Road•" 4-day camping trek through mountain passes and scenic gorges•" Horse riding and yurt camping in scenic meadows.

Cost: $3975—$4400 (depending on group size: 8 to 15 people). Includes flights and taxes, accommodation, most meals, sightseeing, guide, porters during trek, horse riding.

For trip details please contact Kelvin Chen at [email protected] or 90050829.

Take Only Photos, Leave Only FootprintsTo minimise our impact on Nature’s fragile ecosystems wherever we may wander, The Nature Society (Singapore) adheres to this simple code: “Take only photographs and leave only footprints”. What this boils down to when we are out exploring nature are the following guidelines for how we should behave:

•" We will not touch any wild animals.•" We will take care not to upset any animals.•" We will not remove any plant or animal from its environment. •" We will not leave any litter.•" We will seek to understand the natural environment we are # exploring.•" We will act responsibly to leave the area as we found it, # if not in a better natural condition.

NATURE NEWS May–Jun 2007 TRIPS

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Trek in the Tien Shan mountains of Central Asia

Camp like nomads in traditional yurts

Ride across mountain meadows

Goodbye, Khatib Bongsu!One man’s personal account of what he will miss of Khatib Bongsu’s quiet wilderness.

Part 1: Losing a piece of Nature’s real estate is like losing an old, dear friend. Soon, Khatib Bongsu (KB) will be closed to nature lovers, bird watchers, crab catchers, pond fishermen, poachers and casual strollers. The kampung folk have long gone, their houses demolished. The few residents still there are being evicted. MINDEF has taken over. Future access to KB will only be allowed by written request and not every request will necessarily be granted.

This is a picture-essay of some fond memories of a tranquil place, loved by simple people who enjoyed simple things.

Part 2: Are Singapore’s mangroves worth

conserving? Even if everything else at Khatib Bongsu had to make way for progress and development, I would still say, “YES! Save the mangroves.”

A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore (Singapore Science Centre publication, revised 2002) tells me that during the founding of colonial Singapore in 1819, mangroves covered 13 per cent of Singapore’s total land area of

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Story and photos: KF Yap, NSS member

Ruins of old Xia Chi Temple, moved to Tuas a few years ago

The rustic wooden bridge that spans the lovely mangroves. Fallen leaves cruise the sluggish water, which ebbs and flows with the lazy tide. Mangrove crabs and mudskippers frolic in the oozy mud. The cacophony of strident cicadas fills the humid air. It is a place to pause for a moment and forget the troubles of the world.

The tidal mangroves at Khatib Bongsu during a rising tide.

Little Egrets resting in the mangrove trees, waiting for low tide to feed on the exposed mud banks.

The last fishing pond will soon be closed. This picture shows its homemade aeration equipment in action.

647.5 sq km. This works out to 84.175 sq km. Today, we have less than 1 per cent of it left — under 0.842 sq km, a tremendous loss of Singapore’s mangrove real estate!

Why save the mangroves? In Part 1, I spoke about the importance of the mangrove’s contribution to the bio-diversity of Singapore. But there’s more. The mangrove environment is of great scientific and educational value, distinguished by its own characteristic temperature, available moisture and dominant vegetation. This is a very special habitat; with a community of plants and many animals here highly-adapted to living only in this kind of tropical intertidal ecosystem and nowhere else. Destroying this ecological niche will kill these specialised inhabitants!

Let’s take a look at a few of the more visible mangrove plants.

There are many more inhabitants of our fragmented mangroves dependant on this harsh and forbidding habitat. Is it necessary to destroy their homes? Have they not the right to live beside the descendants of Singapore’s potpourri of early human migrants who largely came, saw, worked, took possession of the land and proceeded to destroy Nature? Let us not forget our humble roots. Wild NATURE is the true bumiputra of our island. — 2 April, 2007

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One of the most common back-mangrove bushes, Acanthus ilicifolius (Family: Acanthaceae, Malay = Jeruju putih) is one of the 3 species found in Singapore. Holly-like leaves, flowers and young fruits are shown here

Another common back-mangrove (growing closer to land) plant is the Api-api putih (Avicennia alba, Family: Avicenniaceae), shown here with fruits. There are 4 species, of which 3 are quite rare.

A fruiting Excoecaria agallocha (Malay = Buta-buta). The tree is the host for the nymphs of this strikingly-coloured adult Shield bug (Calliphara nobilis). The female bug will lay her eggs on the tree. The hatchlings (nymphs) will feed on its sap.

Closer to sea is this beautiful mangrove tree, Sonneratia alba, with an open flower and a honey bee collecting pollen. Why is this bee harvesting pollen at night? It is known that bees navigate by using the sun. How will this bee find its way home at night? It’s a question begging research. There are three Sonneratia species in Singapore. The other two are rare and endangered.

Note: This is two parts of a three-part series by KF Yap.

More on the President’s ChatFriday 9 February: As outlined in the initial report on the President’s Chat in the previous edition of

Nature News, issues old and new came up in the

discussion at the President’s Chat.

Restoration: After Dr Geh’s opening remarks, the first topic was on restoration projects, raised by

Betty Khoo. Shawn Lum’s response told members of recent proposals to find a stretch of waterway

to take over under the PUB’s ABC waterways scheme, and engage in restoration of natural banks

and waterside habitat. Specifically, Betty Khoo

raised the need for restoration of habitats in Pulau Ubin, and for greater security for its nature areas,

none of which are gazetted as nature reserves.

Hua Chew commented that restoration should maintain the present mosaic of habitats, as this would

lead to greater biodiversity than a total return to just forest and mangrove habitat. It was agreed by all

that a forum should be initiated, including the fullest

possible range of interested parties, from artists to URA, in order to discuss the possibilities of habitat

maintenance, traditional agriculture and similar activities, and to prevent undesirable developments.

Links for Climate Change: Ching Chabo raised

issues of links with international organisations or

national organisations of other countries in order to act more meaningfully on climate change. Dr Geh

responded on the importance of such linkages.

As a country partner of BirdLife International, who were in the final stages of taking on the restoration

concession for 1,000 sq km of forested and degraded land (Harapan Forest) lying across the borders of the

provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra, the Society has

the opportunity to develop good working relations with Indonesian organisations. Since the Singapore

government had signed an ASEAN agreement to help with fire prevention in Jambi, there are chances that

we could get government support for forest restor-ation and other related work at Harapan Forest.

Dr Geh encouraged members to look for other

projects in which the Society could get involved.

Green Standards: A discussion on what the Society

or Singaporeans could or should do for reduction

of energy use, proper green labeling and green benchmarking was kicked off by Khoo Meng Kuan.

Owners and developers in Singapore were nowhere

near green enough and definite measurements and benchmarks were necessary to document the

actual extent of energy efficiency, etc in all buildings.

As Betty Khoo added, certain prominent buildings widely touted as “green” were lamentably limited in

this respect. Other routine activities like the use of chemicals in pest management were taken for

granted as a necessity. Dr Geh noted that moving

into this area of environmental concerns would broaden the agenda of the Society, but that this was

not undesirable, whilst Tan Hang Chong referred to times when, via Jalan Hijau, such issues had been

amongst the Society’s concerns.

Recruiting Younger Members: Mention of Jalan Hijau also brought discussion of the necessity to

engage those who are younger — Hang Chong

himself seemed to be one of the youngest at the gathering! It was recognised that both in terms of

energy and resource-use issues and in terms of attracting younger members, the Society needs to

finds its specific niche and angle. Goh Si Guim outlined one particular upcoming activity — the

video competition that the Society was hoping to

organise this year. Information on this competition would be disseminated through secondary schools

and it would give students a way to engage with global warming and nature conservation issues.

Stepping Forward: Throughout the discussion,

Dr Geh encouraged members to speak out as individuals on important issues — in the press, in

blogs, wherever — as well as coming forward to

help the Society. A lead was taken with Betty Khoo promising to develop certain proposals for the

Society as soon as she had completed her present commitments. On these forward-looking notes, the

meeting ended as a whole, whilst small groups continued to exchange ideas.

As a postscript, Society members have subsequently

done the President proud in being individually

outspoken in relation to the proposed deforestation at Sentosa for resort development.

NATURE NEWS May–Jun 2007 REPORTS

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Story: Margie Hall, Honorary Secretary

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Online Minutes Replaced: One of Exco’s goals over the last two years has been to raise the level of communication and information in the Society. Regular Conservation Chats since mid-2005, and President’s Chats since mid-2006, have been useful forms of direct communication. Reports on these have been disseminated widely through the Society. There have also been increased reports of all types of activities and meetings in Nature News.

Since mid-2006, the Minutes of Exco/Council Meetings have been posted on the NSS website. But this has meant deciding which items to delete each month. Much of the Minutes are also repetitive, touching on activities advertised in Nature News that are sub-sequently reported on. Also, mundane administrative matters need not be communicated.

So we have decided to discontinue posting the Minutes online. Replacing it is this regular Round-up for Nature News covering items not reported elsewhere.

Environmentally-friendly sponsors: One concern in recent Meetings has been to ensure that NSS projects are sponsored by those with good local and regional environmental records. It is always difficult to turn away money for projects, but we have felt the need to do so in at least one case, and we hope that our actions, explained to the would-be sponsors, will contribute to environmental awareness in the future.

Conservation Projects: We continue to hope that we can develop Conservation Management or Res-toration projects that our members can be involved in. A new possibility lies in managing a waterway under the PUB’s River Watchers programme which, for us,

Round-up:

NSS Executive Committee and Council News, January to April 2007would probably involve restoring natural banks and vegetation, possibly with other interested partner organisations.

Education Group Joins Roots & Shoots: Furthering the Society’s connections with international conservation groups, Exco has supported the Education Group’s proposal to join the Singapore branch of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots organisation.

Alternatives for CITES Info Sought: The long-standing project for an Exhibition at Changi Airport on the CITES regulations on wildlife trading has unfor-tunately fallen through, but the Council is looking for other ways to use the material developed so far and also to have a project to raise awareness about global warming in connection with World Environment Day celebrations in June. The Marine Conservation adver-tisements that members may have noticed in the latest issues of Nature Watch arose from projects by SMU Mass Communications students, to whom Leong Kwok Peng had given a talk on Marine Conservation.

Reports on Meetings Margie Hall reported on a closed door meeting with the Singapore Tourism Board in relation to certain tourism proposals which she had attended with Dr. Geh. Leong Kwok Peng reported on the two-day Roundtable Discussion on Marine Conservation which he had attended with Dr Geh and Stephen Lau.

Revised Constitution: Our Legal Advisers are final-ising the Revised Constitution, ironing out the many problems with terminology and bringing it in line with ROS requirements. One change made by Council was a lower age limit for Junior Membership — 12 years.

RatscueSaturday 24 February: One thing about kids is that they will get into a lot of trouble. This one was no exception.

It was the morning of the Education Group's Fun With Nature programme at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park and one of the young participants had gone to use the toilet. When she flushed, she got a shock: a young rat got flushed into the toilet bowl with the water!

That's when someone started calling "Animal Rescue!" Si Guim answered

the call. Using a plastic bag, he tried to fish it out of the squat toilet. However, it eluded him and ran up into the flush inlet instead! Well, it was a simple matter to flush it out of hiding — literally!

After that second flush, the kid was a bit more docile. Si Guim deftly fished it out by its tail. After patting the bedraggled imp down to dry it a bit, we left it by the big old Upper Seletar Park kapok tree where it quickly vanished into the leaf litter.

Good luck, kid! And stay out of trouble!

NATURE NEWS May–Jun 2007 REPORTS

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Story: Margie Hall, Honorary Secretary

Story and photo: Timothy Pwee, Editorial Committee

Urban River RambleSunday 11 February: It was a very fine morning when a record 37 participants and five committee members met on the iron bridge at the beginning of the Kallang River — an excellent start to the ramble.

As we headed for and through Bishan Park, we met a troop of foraging Long-tailed Macaques and saw a flock of Long-tailed Parakeets shrieking in an African tulip tree. At the end of the park, we found a dead, metre-long black spitting cobra lying half in the river. We followed the banks of the Kallang River into Bishan Park 2, which is actually a canal that NParks plans to convert into a recreational waterway with facilities for outdoor activities.

From there, a park connector from Bishan Road took us to Braddell Road, where four Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were swooping in an aerial feeding. On the dry concrete river-bed, three Little Egrets and a lone Sandpiper were hunting. A Brown Shrike called from its barbed-wire perch.

A long detour to cross the PIE brought us back to the Kallang River at Serangoon Road. The water was high here due to the incoming tide. We crossed a tributary of the river and stopped at the Chwee Kang Beo Temple where a few of us offered prayers.

There were few trees along the hot, final stretch of the park connector. We walked quickly to get to the Kallang MRT station. Many found it convenient to end their ramble here. The remaining determined lot continued into the home stretch, taking another long detour to reach Kallang Riverside Park, our final destination. We had covered nearly 10km in four hours, encountered 28 bird species, crossed six pedestrian crossings, four overhead bridges, two bridges and two underpasses — it certainly was an urban ramble!

Of Mud & BabiesSaturday 17 March: It seems that the mudflats at Mandai are a romantic rendezvous for horseshoe crabs — and a thriving nursery for their little ones. Within minutes of our latest venture into the mud, we stumbled onto a nursery site. Coin-sized horseshoe crabs (hsc) were found, gathered, categorised, measured and recorded with conveyor-belt efficiency.

After 45 minutes, hsc trapped in nets were discovered on the western mudflats. An hour of strenuous net hauling, delicate hsc extrication, meticulous measuring

and recording, including further investigations into the lower inter-tidal zones as the tide receded, proved rewarding — we found seven pairs of mating hsc partially buried in the soft mud.

At the end of our watch, we had catalogued 131 live hsc: 94 were juveniles, others being 17 adult males, five adult females, the seven mating pairs and one live, freshly moulted specimen waiting for its carapace to harden. We liberated 20 of these, mainly gatherings of adult males and females (no guessing why!), from two nets.

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Story: Ho Wah Loong, Nature RamblersPhotos: Rehan Yusoff, Nature Ramblers

Kallang River is actually a canal

A breather, and a prayer break for some

Story: Hsu Chia Chi, Conservation Volunteer

Phot

o: L

im P

oh B

ee

A Decent ShowingSunday 18 March: The Butterfly Interest Group’s first show-and-tell session in January was a hit, so we began with another at the MacRitchie Trail Butterfly Walk. From the trunk of his car, Gan brought out a plastic fish tank filled with tiny Malayan Egg Fly (Hypolimnas anomala anomala) caterpillars on Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus) leaves. Stored in another box were the pupae. That got everyone talking!

I explained that forest species differ from their urban cousins in that they are more sensitive to bright objects. Wearing bright clothes in a forest is like switching on the spotlights in a lighthouse. These butterflies are going to see and avoid you.

Our first species of the day was spotted at the car park. With shapely wings and striking colours, the alluring Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete) is a mesmerizing sight. Many males were flitting above the canopy searching for mates. A lone female glided nonchalantly by, her darker colours betraying her sex. Hot on her heels, three males jostled in pursuit of her.

On the footpath to the reservoir, many tiny light blue butterflies fluttered around a bush. They were Lesser Grass Blues (Zizina otis lampa), urban dwellers commonly found around grasses. The Greater Clover-leaved Desmodium (Desmodium heterophyllum) that grew here was attracting females, which in turn enticed the males.

Along MacRitchie’s Prunus Trail there were three small, shimmering light-blue butterflies. Were they

the Common Caeruleans (Jamides celeno aelianus)? As if on cue, one obliged for a closer look by settling on a dangling creeper — and we were right!

There were also some small yellow butterflies. There are six species of such butterflies, genus Eurema, recorded in Singapore. All look so similar that it is difficult to identify them in flight. These were probably Common Grass Yellows (Eurema hecabe contubernalis), the commonest of the lot. After a disappointing forest trek, we returned to Prunus Trail, back to the boardwalk and open country. Immediately, things livened up with a glimpse of the rare and brilliant purple Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia). Then came an unidentified dark brown skipper, probably from the genus Baoris sitting comfortably on a Soapbush (Clidemia hirta) leaf, and a Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis distanti) so fresh its long tails were still intact. It likely just emerged from its pupal case on its host plant, Smilax bracteata.

Next came a lone Common Mormon (Papilio polytes romulus) from the forest, a medium-sized swallowtail that briefly flashed its contrasting black and white wings before flying away. Its unruly flight was observed by a territorial Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia ida), which wasted no time in pursuit. A Malay Viscount (Tanaecia pelea pelea) came to check us out before diving back into the underbrush. The latter two species belong to the family Nymphalidae and they have a habit of investigating any intrusion into their territory.

On the way back, two butterflies from the Hesperiidae family played hide and seek among the canopy with two pairs of Painted Jezebels. One Hesperiidae was a Palm Bob (Suastus gremius gremius) and the other, a Yellow Veined Lancer (Pyroneura latoia latoia). The former used to be scarce in Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore, but with the growing popularity of palm trees for landscaping, humans have inadvertently made this species common.

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Story: Simon Chan, Chairperson, Butterfly Interest Group

More butterfly action than expected for an overcast day!

Photo: Gan Cheong Wei

Fun With Nature At Upper Seletar!

Fun With Nature at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park — an 8-year-old’s view on things!

“Dear Readers, I am Balram, and I think I am very fortunate to be a member of the Nature Society (Singapore). I would like to tell you about my trip to Upper Seletar Reservoir on Saturday, February 24, 2007.

When I reached the Park, Aunty Vilma told me that there was a baby rat stuck in the ladies’ toilet! Aunty Vilma, Uncle Si Guim, Uncle Tim, I and a few others ran to the rescue. When we reached the toilet, I asked Aunty Vilma whether I could go in since it was a ladies’ toilet and I am a boy. Aunty Vilma said this rescue mission was an exception… Once inside, I saw the poor little rat struggling in the toilet. This was a squat-

type toilet, and the poor animal was almost about to be flushed away! The poor thing had fallen in while trying to have a drink. Luckily, it was spotted by Chavelle (a girl who had come to attend the event), but that was before I got to the Park. Uncle Si Guim rescued the rat (see page 9).

After this excitement, we gathered on mats spread on the grass. Uncle Si Guim told us a little about the forest near the park and its residents. We then split into two groups — Green and Blue. With Uncle Si Guim leading the Green group and Uncle Tim leading the Blue group, we went for a nature walk off the road! We were lucky enough to see a Singapore Tarantula, which is very rare. It was hiding in its web under a fallen log. Under the log there was also a millipede and termites. At many places along the walk, we saw fungi growing on decaying logs. We saw dragonflies kissing (!) and another laying eggs. Further down the drain, there was a red-eared terrapin and lots of tadpoles. Uncle Si Guim also showed us granite chunks and even a piece of rusty iron ore.

We then returned to the mats where we did some art work. We

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Story: Balram, NSS member Photos: Celine Low

Kids’

Left to right: Nurul Qisti’s conservation message: “Take care of the animals and plants of the forest.” !"Balram and Firdaus help Uncle Si Guim hold up pictures of a White-throated Kingfisher and a Slender Squirrel !"Timea’s lovely Civet Cat card

Uncle Si Guim tells us about figs

made a card using colored paper and stuck pictures of either a civet cat or a pangolin on it. We colored the pictures and wrote a short message about the forest on the card.

After finishing my card, I spotted pieces of a wasp hive and a baby jackfruit on the grass. Unfortunately, many children had left by then and did not see it.

If I had not gone for this event, I would have missed out on the exciting rat rescue and nature walk, and the fun of making an animal card! So, if you see any event in the Nature News, please attend it — who knows what fun you might have!”

NSS member Adeline Foo has written two

books that offer a peek at three commonly seen creatures in Singapore’s parks and gardens. These are the Changeable Lizard (not to be confused with the chameleon), the Long-tailed Macaque and the Plantain Squirrel. The books are cheerfully illustrated by Miel from the Straits Times,

Adeline, Head of Corporate Affairs in a statutory board, started writing to amuse her three kids. Her first book, Ben’s Friends from the Rainforest, won the First-Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative Award given by the Media Development Authority of Singapore and the National Book Development Council of Singapore in 2006.

If you’re keen to introduce your kids to our native wildlife through books, join Adeline on these book promotion tours this June!

Kooky Art Contest with the “Secret Hoarder”

(For 5 to 7 year-olds) Join us at this Kooky Art Contest where kids get to decorate their favourite cookies, inspired by beautiful images from the book. Learn about Singapore's native squirrels — common ones in our parks and "flying" ones in the rainforests. "Best Decorated" cookies will win autographed books by Adeline and Miel! For registration details, please refer to www.kookyart.com.sg! Saturday, 2 June 2007, 2 to 3pm, World Book Fair, Suntec City (MarketAsia Distributors Booth)

Meet Our Rainforest Friends! (For 5 to 7 year-

olds) Learn about native creatures commonly seen in our parks and gardens, and how you can protect their habitats in support of our environment. Join us for an afternoon of story-telling and art and craft in celebration of World Environment Day!! Sunday, 3 June 2007, 2.30 to 3.30pm, Bishan Community Library

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Two Fun Books And Activities On

Our Native Wildlife!Story: Vilma D'Rozario, Chairperson, Education Group

Kids’

Young naturalists captivated by a specimen of a Flying Lizard (Draco sumatranus)

What Happens In A Nest?Saturday, 31 March: The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve indoor classroom was jam-packed with 40 kids and their parents, excited to learn about nesting birds.

It started with Gloria Seow sharing her story of nesting pigeons, spanning 12 days in the lives of baby birds and their doting parents,!from new hatchlings to fledged youngsters.

This was accompanied by lovely photos by Meng and Melinda Chan.

After Gloria’s lesson, plans to find nesting birds and identify nesting material in the mangrove habitat were foiled by a heavy downpour. But Luan Keng saved the day by bringing some awesome egg and nest specimens from the Raffles Museum of

Biodiversity Research. Under guidance from Luan, Si Guim, Angie and Andrew, kids and their parents examined eggs as small as a tailorbird's to as large as an ostrich’s, and the nests of munias, baya weavers, white-eyes, sunbirds and bulbuls.

The finale saw the kids and their parents attempting to make nests out of simpoh air leaves and

other typical nesting materials.

Many thanks to SBWR for their support in this activity, especially Shila Kumari and her team, and to our dedicated volunteers Gloria, Natalie, Yoon Li, Huiping, Qi Yue, Yimin, Faustina, Jasmine, Ying Ling, Jing Li, Luan Keng, Angie, Si Guim and Andrew.

Pink-necked Green Pigeons (Treron vernans) are abundant in Singapore’s suburbs. However, Gloria Seow found a pair nesting in a rather unlikely spot, on a leafy stretch of trees smack in the middle of the MacPherson industrial area. Her observations of their nesting ecology can be read on her blog at http://gloriousbirds.blogspot.com/. It details the fascinating drama of two babies morphing from blind, helpless, constantly-hungry creatures to competent flying birds in just 12 days!

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Anti-clockwise from top left: Mama takes over from Papa on the night shift !"Mama regurgitates crop milk to feed two very hungry babies at the same time !"Babies exercise their wings in preparation for flight. They also take strolls outside the nest. !"Fly baby fly! Mama watches nearby.

Kids’

Gloria’s Story Story: Vilma D'Rozario, Chairperson, Education GroupPhotos: Chan Yoke Meng

Baby

Mama

Photo: Wang Luan Keng

Photo: Goh Si Guim,

Gloria shares her story about nesting pigeons

Kids making tailorbird nests

Kids’

Story: Vilma D'Rozario, Chairperson, Education Group

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Trip Leader Ali Jaafar

Metal railing creates a see-thru bridge!

Grasslands can get very hot!

Cast net fishing

Dots ‘r’ us

Brand new Tawny Coaster!

Photo:Rehan Yusoff

Farrer Park Nature and Heritage TrailIn 2005, 120 Primary Five students, with the help of the NSS Education Group and their teachers, started research on the flora and fauna found around their school as part of their Integrated Project Work — a multi-disciplinary learning of Science, English, Social Studies and Information Technology. The work continued in 2006 with a new batch of Primary Five students extending their research to include the social heritage of Farrer Park, and designing a nature trail and brochure.

Getting familiar with nature and history were benefits experienced by the kids. The trail is now part of the school’s Community Involvement Programme (CIP) where trained student and parent volunteers bring residents, cluster students and visitors on the trail.

This school project was a collabora-tion between Farrer Park Primary School and the NSS, supported by Central Singapore Community Development Council, Moulmein Farrer Park Residents' Committee, Moulmein Kentville Residents' Committee, Moulmein Owen Residents' Committee and the National Heritage Board.

A self-guiding trail brochure created by the kids is included with Nature News courtesy of Central Singapore CDC and Farrer Park Primary School. We encourage you to explore the trail and get to know Farrer Park’s rich history and nature!

BESGroup’s Panel of Scientific Experts“No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”— John Donne, Devotions XVII.

The Bird Ecology Study Group’s stated aim is the study of birds in relation to other organisms and the habitat as a whole. This means that many faunal groups are involved. For example, birds are closely related to many vertebrate groups in host-prey relationships and the food chain in general. Birds are also closely associated with invertebrates, be they insects, arachnids or other lower life forms. And bird-plant relationship involves food source, pollination, seed dispersal as well as nesting materials and sites.

Even in birds, which are our major interest, we are keenly aware of our limited “recreational” knowledge. After all, we are mainly amateur field observers studying birds in our spare time in their natural habitats, and recording what we see. Beyond this, we need the assistance of professional ornithologists who are actually researching birds.

Our knowledge of the other faunal groups is just as limited, if not more so. We may know the broad faunal groups but our knowledge is superficial, to say the least. We may even know the names of some of the larger and commoner organisms, but still, we are only amateurs.

BESG does not wish to always remain a recreational group run by amateurs with minimum scientific

knowledge. We thus see the necessity of appointing a panel of experts in the various faunal groups that have close association with birds. Each expert is an acknowledged authority in his or her own field of interest. These experts will be there for advice when needed.

BESG is proud to announce the following people who have graciously agreed to be included in our panel of experts. Most are practicing scientists and prominent naturalists who are acknowledged experts in their own fields of expertise. Many are authors of scientific papers and/or popular books and articles. We will add others as and when we identify them so that the panel will be as comprehensive as possible.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Leong Tze Ming, Raffles Museum of Biodivsrsity Research, NUS.Birds: Dr Geoffrey Davison, ornithologist, field researcher and author; National Parks Board.Butterflies and Moths: Khew Sin Khoon, creator of the Butterfly of Singapore webpage and volunteer researcher on butterfly biodiversity to National Parks Board.Crustaceans: Prof. Peter Ng, Head of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, NUS. Fish: Mr Kelvin PK Lim, author and researcher; Raffles Museum of Biodivsrsity Research, NUS.Insects: Prof. Cheong Loong Fah, Faculty of Engineering, NUS. Spiders: Mr Joseph KH Koh, diplomat, naturalist, author and Singapore’s very own ‘spiderman’.

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Students designed Farrer Park’s nature trail

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Photo: Andrew Tay

A Most Uncommon Common RoseMore sightings of the totally black Common

Rose follow the report in the March–April 2007 issue of Nature News, where Simon Chan mentioned spotting two totally black Common Rose butterflies (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris). Subsequent sightings have been reported at various places, including a solitary male seen loitering near a track next to Dairy Farm Road leading to the Adventure Centre.

The uncharacteristically black butterfly was initially thought to be either a male Common Batwing (Parides varuna varuna) or Malayan Batwing (Parides nox erebus). Both species have males with wings that are jet black with a tinge of blue, and a red abdomen.

The atypical black Common Rose first came to my attention in March when I saw one near the Botanic Gardens car park. This lead me to their focus of attention near the entrance and along the gate to SBG HQ, where its host plant, Aristolochia tagala, was found.

Filming this ‘aberration’ was a nightmare, let alone photograph-ing it! It was very alert. Every time I thought I was close enough for a shot, it flew off again. This cat-and-mouse game went on for a few frustrating and exhausting days. But that made me all the more determined.

Before long, reward came for my perseverance. One butterfly appeared and flew overhead rather swiftly. But this time, it sensed a female at the other end of the fence and slowed down to have a look. Vegetation on my side of the fence blocked any possibility of filming this once-in-a-lifetime event. Quickly, I dashed to the other side of the fence and managed to get three short videos clips, after which I took several still shots — shown here in sequence.

The pictures show the persistence of an all black male trying to impress a normal coloured female by shower-ing her with his pheromones while hovering above her. She seemed to try to sneak away, only to slow down later to rest, apparently tired from his insistent harassment. This gave the male the mistaken impression that she was willing to mate.

I mentioned this phenomenon to Simon and also offered my theory that perhaps she was just tired carrying all her eggs and needed to rest once in a while. Simon however proposed an alternative based on a well-documented study. That study indicates that

female Pieridae butterflies, when already impregnated or uninterested in a suitor, would settle with wings opened flat and abdomen raised skywards. As humans, we would think of this as a sign of her consent and not of her disinterest.

Once mated and freed from the clutches of her mate, her life’s work starts immediately. In her lifetime, if she is lucky not to be eaten, she will lay hundreds of eggs on the host plant. However, most of its young will fall prey to parasitic flies and wasps, birds, geckoes and even fungi.

I have now seen seven Common Rose butterflies with at least two totally black males. Hope-fully, this will soon mean there will be many uncommon all black Common Rose butterflies flying around.

NSS member Steven Chong is an intrepid adventurer and avid butterfly enthusiast.

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Top to bottom: All black Male Common Rose discovers regular coloured female; Male pursues and descends on female; Mating attempt; Male pursues and tries to mate with female again.

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CONSERVATION COMMITTEE NEWS

1) Sentosa’s Integrated Resort Development

& its Northern Coastal ForestSentosa’s Northern Coastal Forest (about 2.9ha in size) stretches from Underwater World west of the island to the Musical Fountain in the east. It

lies between Siloso Road and the reclaimed land just behind the present coastline. A large portion of this coastal forest has been awarded by Sentosa

Development (SDC) to Resorts World (RW) for the Integrated Resort (IR). This has alarmed many botanists and conservationists.

According to botanist Shawn Lum, the forest is a remnant of the original coastal forest on Sentosa, and may be the best surviving example of its

kind. With the exception of a very small and highly disturbed patch at

Labrador Park, there is no equivalent forest that we know of that exists anywhere else on

Singapore.

The forest at Sentosa has

a number of enormous specimens of several locally threatened plant species, in particular,

Dracaena maingayi. The presence of the Buffy Fish Owl and other forest bird

species such as the Blue-winged Leafbird shows that this forest ecosystem is in good health.

The destruction of the forest here will also further reduce the remaining little forest cover around Mount Imbiah, which will

cause further degradation by edge effects.

On 17 March, Shawn, Angie Ng and I attended the

walk-cum-discussion with RW, organised by SDC. Mr Henry Seed, RW’s landscape architect, and Mr Michael Chin, Head of the RW project were present, together

with representatives from various green organisations (NParks, Singapore Environmental Council, National Environment Agency, etc.) and some concerned

individuals.

We learnt that the IR’s lease allows for new

reclamation from the coast on both sides of the cable-car tower to increase the Resort’s land area. An Environmental Impact Assessment is required by URA, but it is not clear how it will be relevant to the

decision-making, given that permission is already granted for the reclamation.

What we do know is that

the small island on which the cable-car tower stands will be left

untouched. The Resort hotels and also a large covered car park will be built directly downhill

from the edge of the Coastal Forest. This is another cause for concern

during construction if work is sited close to the forest edge.

During the discussion, chaired by Associate Professor Simon Tay

(Chairman of the National Environment Agency), RW emphasised that they are aware of the

characteristics and special importance of the coastal

forest and will take the proffered feedback into account in their planning. What we can be assured of

so far is that there will be no plan for a roller-coaster project in the area. But access to the forest from the hotels is part of the plan.

After the discussion, copies of our report was submitted by hand to the relevant representatives and officials.

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Plans for an integrated resort development over the forest of northern Sentosa has alarmed nature lovers.

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2) Sg Ulu Pandan Woodland & the HDB Housing SchemeA report to save Sg Ulu Pandan Woodland from an HDB housing development scheme was submitted on 29 March to the HDB and URA.

The scheme will occupy part of the woodland’s eastern sector, an area closer to Buona Vista Road. The whole woodland, about 70ha in size, is flanked by Sg Ulu Pandan, Clementi Road and Commonwealth Avenue West. Thirty-six species of birds have been recorded here, many of which are forest species such as the Banded Woodpecker, the Grey-rumped

Treeswift and the Changeable Hawk Eagle, which is nationally threatened.

The report appeals for re-siting the housing scheme to the compound of the two schools just north of Sg Ulu Pandan, one of which is already defunct. If this is not possible, then to relocate it within the woodland in the western sector, nearer to Clementi Road. It is proposed that the woodland be made a public park with a nature core in the eastern sector, which is more dense and biodiversity rich.

3) Biodiversity Feedback on Marina South and Marina EastA report on the biodiversity highlights of the reclaimed areas of Marina South and Marina East was submitted as feedback to URA and NParks on 9 April. The report is not intended to make a case for these areas to be put into the Singapore Green Plan as Nature

Areas, but rather to provide important information and useful recommendations so that whatever natural values highlighted might be integrated as far as possible into future development plans for the areas.

Of particular note are the marshlands near the new Marina South Pier and in Marina East, beside the road

running to the barge jetty. These marshes are havens for dragonflies. Highlighted for their bird life are Marina City Park and the belt of woodlands on the northern, western and southern edges of Marina East.

The feedback report also poses the challenge of luring the spectacular Oriental Pied Hornbills from

Changi. The species, already established at Pulau Ubin, has gone on to colonise the Changi area. It is likely these birds can also be encouraged to settle in the

mature trees of Marina East, Marina South and the Southern Ridges beyond.

Both Marina South and Marina East are especially rich in birds and dragonflies.

For Marina South, 67 species of birds have been recorded, four of which are rare. Meanwhile, 20 species of dragonflies have recorded, of which one — Indothemis limbata — is rare and listed in the Singapore Red Data Book.Two others, Diplacodes nebulosa and Rhyothemis triangularis, are uncommon.

There were 18 species of butterflies recorded in a rapid survey. One of these, the Psyche is rare. Another, the Common Tiger, is considered very rare.

For Marina East, 92 bird species have been recorded, four of which are rare. Eighteen dragonfly species have been recorded here, including the rare Indothemis

limbata and the uncommon Diplacodes nebulosa and Rhyothemis triangularis. In a rapid survey, 11 butterfly species were recorded, of which the Gram Blue is rare.

4) Revision of the Wild

Animals & Birds Act A report on various proposals and recommendations to

tighten up the WABA, Wild Animals & Birds Act is being

drafted by Vina Dharmarajah in collaboration with Associate

Professor Lye Lin Heng. The document has been circulated to

the NSS Council for feedback. This project is nearing completion

and will be submitted to AVA soon.

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Photo: Kim Lee

Standing Up For Sentosa’s Coastal ForestIf you care enough, stand up for what you believe in. Three people did just that about saving the coastal forest at Sentosa. We feature extracts from their letters written to various media, published or not.

Nature in Sentosa’s Integrated Resort by Khoo Meng Kuan, 30 March 2007

“In the increasingly keen global competition for the tourist dollar and foreign investments, Sentosa’s Integrated Resort is one more fun-activity venue offered by Singapore. When you get to the IR, what next? ...What can Singapore offer that Macau cannot offer in four hours of flying time?

Here along Siloso Road in the northern part of Sentosa where the IR will be sited, we have a bit of coastal forest — not just any forest but original primary forest. Now, isn’t that priceless? It offers unique biodiversity typical of a tropical rainforest right on the doorstep of the IR. Wouldn’t that be a treat for visitors from temperate lands and for those of us less aware of our tropical richness?

When I was holidaying at The Datai in Langkawi, the hotel ran morning walks through the!grounds of the resort. We had to walk through trails for the large part of our morning jaunt and I recall the!guide telling us of the immense efforts the hotel architect!made to keep the trees as they were. Likewise for my stays at Pangkor Laut Resort and Tanjong Jara — they were all through forested areas in the hills just behind the resorts, not manicured parkland....

This coastal forest is unique "infrastructure" that Singapore could offer to the new IR owner. I am surprised that in calling for the IR tender, we failed to highlight this!Natural Heritage as a prized feature and did not mandate its preservation as part of the resort plan...

Father Time and Mother Nature have laboured to create this priceless coastal tropical rainforest on Sentosa. Our forefathers have left it largely intact. Let us not be the ones to destroy it....”

Not Just 'A Few Plants' by Joseph Lai, 12 March 2007

“…As a member of the scientific community and a botanist, I would be careful not to make comments that seem to demonize 'conservation' as anti-development. The opposite should be the message: we can conserve nature without losing businesses and jobs, not to mention educational opportunities. Similarly, I would be careful not to compare one forest with another. It is as ludicrous as telling a child that he or she is more stupid than another. Each forest (like each child) has its own uniqueness...So, the 3-hectare forest at stake is not just ‘a few plants’...

...In fact, the forest boasts the richest stand of the rare Dragon Blood Trees (Dracaena maingayi) in Singapore. It is also a roosting place for the Buffy Fish Owl — Singapore's rarest resident owl…

…Together with other forests at Mount Serapong, Mount Imbiah and Siloso, the 3-hectare forest forms an integral whole for both plants and animals to thrive — i.e. separate,

but alive and healthy together. It is just a matter of scale. Seen in the light of island bio-geography, every 'island' is small and vulnerable, but together rich and profound.

…But most of all, we must see this living environment as a great solar-energy system combining both the biotic and abiotic elements. Climate Change is intrinsically tied to our treatment to this solar fabric of life…

…Spare the forest. Do not reduce it to a garden. Three hectares is not much of a land-sacrifice to plea for. The IR can still make money. It is a piece of natural heritage we cannot afford to lose.

…our motto has been: 'Build the 49-hectare IR, but spare the 3-hectare Forest.”

Build the IR, But Spare The Few Plants by Ron, who blogs as The Tide Chaser, 13 March 2007

“I was appalled when I read this in the Straits Times on 11 Mar 2007 — a ‘practical’ comment given by a prominent local zoologist on the Sentosa forest: ‘..there isn't much of the original vegetation left after intense utilisation of the site. Conservation is important, but — to be blunt - I feel this isn't one of the most important nature spots in Singapore. We can't just say, 'Don't build the IR there', because of a few plants. We should work around it.’

Isn't it precisely because there 'isn't much of the original vegetation left', that whatever that's left becomes more valuable, and hence all the more we should try to preserve it?

And since there's not much, doesn't it also mean that it will be easier to preserve, since it will be small?...

Frankly speaking, it's not about what is more important or less important. Every nature spot is unique. It's about preserving whatever miserably few nature spots that we have left....

And seriously, nobody is saying that we should not build the IR in order to keep the forest. Surely there is a way to include the forest in the IR landscape design. Thus, I do appreciate Sentosa's effort to hold a discussion with the various interest groups, so at least the latter can provide some feedback, and hopefully the designer will explore the feasibility of including the forest in the IR landscape design.

Really, conservation is not inversely related to development. It's possible for them to go hand in hand. It's all about proper planning right at the beginning.

Quoting the dodos from the movie Ice Age: ‘If you weren't smart enough to plan ahead, then DOOM ON YOU!’

With global warming and other environmental problems looming, it's really time for us Homo sapiens to stop taking Mother Nature for granted, and start acknowledging conservation as part of development.

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Read all of Joe’s letter at http://www.eart-h.com/text/sentosa1.htm and Ron’s at http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2007/03/build-ir-but-spare-few-plants.html

Saying It All SplendidlySingapore’s Splendour — Life On The Edge does not just describe the wealth of marine biodiversity around Singapore’s shores and reefs, it also speaks of the precarious survival of this precious, and dwindling, natural treasure.

Long-time members of the Nature Society will remember its author, dentist Chua Ee Kiam, from his

first publication on nature in Singapore titled Ours To Protect in 1993.

Deeply passionate about nature’s fragile stance in Singapore, Chua photographically investigates our island republic’s marine treasure trove, which lie mainly around the coasts of Singapore’s outlying islands.

With his pictures, he takes us on an adventure through fragile and little understood ecosystems, and from common anemones and lowly sea slugs to many rare and little known life forms that inhabit the inter-tidal zones of our shores.

Through his writing, he paints us a picture of our shores past and present, and the urgent need for the conser-vation of the specialised habitats here. For those inclined to follow his adventures along the shores, he includes a chapter on preparing yourself for a visit to the highly vulnerable ecosystems that surround our island and what can be done to protect them.

Five years in the making, Singapore’s Splendour — Life On The Edge is Chua’s fourth and latest book on Singa-pore’s remarkable natural diversity. According to Chua, it will also be his last, as it has been an expensive pursuit in terms of both money and time. Life On The Edge is another worthy addition to any nature lover’s bookshelf. The 184-page hardcover book retails for $65 at major bookshops.

Second Edition Bird Checklist LaunchedThe second edition of the

Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore is out!

The checklist was launched by the NSS Bird Group on 25 March at

the Botanic Gardens. This update of the 1999 edition includes new species recorded in Singapore over the past six years. A total of 364

species is now listed for Singapore, with updated names for some of the species as recommended by the International Ornithological

Congress.

As in the first edition, both Malay

and Chinese names are listed for all species. Each species is classified on their status and abundance

locally and how threatened they are in Singapore and in the world.

The 2007 edition of the Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore by Lim Kim Seng is

available at $5.00 per copy at the NSS office and Nature's Niche. Mail orders are accepted for an additional 80 cents to cover local

postage. Please make your cheque out to "Nature Society (Singapore)" and send it to: 510, Geylang Road, #02-05, The Sunflower, Singapore.

The Bird Group thanks Swarovski Optik and its local agents, Cathay Photo

Store!and Boon Hi-Tech Superstore, for sponsoring the cost of printing the Pocket Checklist.

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Or a lizard, or a snake or a frog or any wild vertebrate recently?

We encourage all our members and friends to report sightings of interesting and uncommon vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fish) to the NSS knowledge base of Singapore’s wildlife. This helps us to understand what vertebrates we have and determine the habitats that may need protection!

Log on to www.ecologyasia.com/html-menu/vert-sightings.htm and tell us what you saw!

Bat AlertInformation continues to be gathered on bats by the Vertebrate Study Group (VSG) Bat Roost project. Do keep an eye out for bats at dusk and:

1. Note what they have flown out from — caves, trees, buildings, under bridges or other man-made structures.

2. Note the location of the roost site and, if you can, the species of bat.

If you do spot a bat, then post your sighting online at www.ecologyasia.com/html-menu/vert-sightings.htmThis information can help the NSS seek protection for our many vulnerable native bat species.

Love Birds?If you do and would also love

to share your knowledge about birds and birding skills with fellow members, you might like to step up and be a Birdwatching Trip Leader or Speaker for Bird Chat. Interested? Contact Siew Kwang at [email protected].

Briskwalk with the ToddycatsAn energetic annual briskwalk for the public is led by N. Sivasothi and the Raffles Museum Toddycats in June! It is a chance to exercise and explore the trail from Mac-Ritchie to Bukit Timah in the company of friendly guides.

The MacRitchie–Bukit Timah Briskwalk happens on Sunday 3 and 17 June, from 7 to 9am.

For details and registration, see: http://briskwalkers.rafflesmuseum.net

Step Forward For Nature!Are you knowledgeable and enthusiastic about nature? Then do step forward to contribute actively to the mission of the Society.

Share your passion and knowledge by leading nature walks or by sharing your adventures and photos through slide talks. These activities add interesting dimensions to the Society by reaching out to members and the public.

Come forward and share your personal experiences with the wonders of nature!

NATURE NEWS May–Jun 2007 ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Did You See A Today?PANGOLIN

Common Tree Shrew

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Bak

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Pacific Reef Egret

Phot

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Mission Of

The Nature

Society

(Singapore)(1) To promote an interest in the flora and fauna of Singapore and the surrounding Southeast Asian region.

(2) To promote an awareness of nature and the environment, and the need for their conservation.

(3) To encourage and promote responsible attitudes towards the conservation of our natural heritage and the environment.

(4) To initiate and support research projects relating to the study and conservation of nature and the environment.

(5) To pursue any or all of these mission objectives and whatever other activities that are relevant to nature and conservation.

Nature MattersWhat would all the money in the world be worth if we can ‘t enjoy a walk in a wooded park, breathe clean air or have access to good water? Where would we draw our inspirations from? What will give us food and medicine? Where will our children play?

Nature is vital to our survival. The Nature Society (Singapore) works to create appreciation, understanding and conservation of Nature in our island nation through our website, publications, nature events, programmes and activities.

As a volunteer-driven non-governmental organisation, a significant source of our funding depends on the generosity of corporations and private individuals like you. If you believe in the importance of Nature, help us keep our work going with a donation to the Society. Financial donations to NSS are tax-exempt.

Please make your cheques out to "Nature Society (Singapore)". Individual donors, please write your full name, telephone number and NRIC/FIN number on the back of your cheque. (Giving us your NRIC/FIN number means tax deduction claims will be done automatically in your tax assessment.)

We look forward to your support!

NATURE NEWS May–Jun 2007 ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTORY

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PatronPROF TOMMY KOH

PresidentDR GEH MIN — Office: 6732-9693

Vice PresidentDR SHAWN LUM — Office: 6790-3835

Honorary SecretaryMS MARGIE HALL — Mobile: 9730-5562

Honorary TreasurerMR JOEL LEONG — Mobile: 9623-3211

Executive Committee MembersMR GOH SI GUIM, DR HO HUA CHEW, MR TIMOTHY PWEE

Finance Committee MembersMS WINNIE CHAN, MR SELVARATNAM THEVASELVAN

Co-opted Council MembersASSOC PROF P N AVADHANI, MR STEPHEN LAU

Legal AdvisorASSOC PROF LYE LIN HENG —- Tel/Fax: 6874-3583/6779-0979

NSS Advisory Council MembersMR IAIN EWING, MR RICHARD HALE, 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

BirdLife International CoordinatorMR WILLIE FOO — Mobile: 9675-1089

NSS SUBGROUPS (in alphabetical order)

Bird Ecology Study Group Chairperson DR WEE YEOW CHIN Home: 6466-0736

Bird Group Chairperson MR LIM KIM KEANGSecretary MR WILLIE FOO

Mobile: 9739-1142Mobile: 9675-1089

Butterfly Interest GroupChairperson MR SIMON CHAN Mobile: 9748-5465

Conservation CommitteeChairperson DR HO HUA CHEW Home: 6457-1196

Education GroupChairperson DR VILMA D'ROZARIO Mobile: 9825-4467

Marine Conservation GroupChairperson MR LEONG KWOK PENG Mobile: 9766-7047

Plant GroupChairperson DR SHAWN LUM Office: 6790-3835

The Nature RamblersChairperson MR REHAN YUSOF Mobile: 9674-8283

Vertebrate Study GroupChairperson MR SUBARAJ RAJATHURAISecretary MS CELINE LOW

Mobile: 9650-5183Mobile: 9693-2554

NSS DIRECTORY

Nature News Editorial CommitteeMR GOH SI GUIM — Pager: 9308-4961

MR TIMOTHY PWEE — Mobile: 9791-8300MS KIM LEE — Mobile: 9819-0718

Video DocumentationMR GOH SI GUIM — Pager: 9308-4961

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

NSS SECRETARIAT510 Geylang Road #02-05 The Sunflower Singapore 389466Tel: 6741-2036 Fax: 6741-0871 E-mail: [email protected]

Nature News Contributors, Take Note!We hope you enjoyed this issue of the newsletter!

• Editorial deadline for Jul-Aug 2007 issue is 29 May 2007

• Digital images sent should be of a minimum size of 500kb if not 2MB each or higher in original quality

• Send your contributions to [email protected]

• We reserve the right to edit and select which contributions to use.

Only for NSS-organised activities, purchases and memberships.

ACTIVITY/TRIP/PURCHASE: _____________________________________________________________

Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms): _______________________________________ Membership number: _____________

Date of birth: ______________ NRIC/Passport number: ______________ Nationality: ____________________

Occupation: _______________________ Company: _____________________________________________

Telephone: (H) _________________________ (O) _______________________ (M) _____________________

E-mail: ________________________________________ Fax: ________________ Pager: ________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________

FOR NSS TRIPS OUTSIDE SINGAPORE: Please tick (!) and circle your answers.

Passport number: __________________ Date of issue: _________________ Date of expiry: _________________

I understand that payment is non-refundable once a place has been booked for me on this trip. I also understand that neither the Nature Society (Singapore) nor its leaders are in any way responsible for any injury or damage to my person or property during this trip, or for any disruption to my work/business, personal inconvenience or extra expenses caused by unforeseeable alterations in travelling arrangements, or other unexpected events, etc .

( ) I am under 18 years old. I will be accompanied by my parents/guardians on this trip.

( ) I am under 18 year old. I have their written consent:

I, ______________________________________ parent/guardian of _____________________________________ give my written permission for him/her to attend the above mentioned trip.

Please Note!• Deposits will only be refunded if a trip is cancelled.• Submission of this form is COMPULSORY for all trips outside Singapore.• For travel insurance purposes, all spaces must be filled up and duly signed.• Please fill up one form per person per trip, and send it to Nature Society (Singapore).

FOR NSS MEMBERSHIP: Please tick (!) your answers.

NEW MEMBER ( ): I wish to join the Nature Society (Singapore). (Please add $10 entrance fee, except for Junior membership.)

RENEWAL ( ): Please extend my membership for _____________ year/s.

GIFT MEMBERSHIP ( ): Please send a gift membership to the person named below.

Gift for Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms: ______________________________ Tel: ____________E-mail: ____________________

Address_________________________________________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP TYPE AND ANNUAL RATE:

ORDINARY" ( ) $40

FAMILY" " ( ) $75

JUNIOR" " ( ) $25

AFFILIATE" " ( ) $200

CORPORATE"( ) $4,000

( ) GIRO FORM REQUEST: Please send me a GIRO form for payment of my membership subscription.

NATURE NEWS Nov–Dec 2006#

19

NSS All Purpose Form

I enclose my cheque/money order (number: _________________) for S$ ______________ made out to

“Nature Society (Singapore)". (Please write clearly your name, NRIC number and address on the back of your cheque.)

" " " " " " " Signature: _______________________ Date: _________________

NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE)510 Geylang Road #02-05 The Sunflower Singapore 389466 Tel: (65) 6741-2036 fax: (65) 6741-0871

To further support your Society in its work, do include a donation if you can!

I would like to add a donation of:

( ) $10" ( ) $20" ( ) $30" ( ) $50" ( ) $80

( ) $100" $_______________ (amount of your choice)

(Do remember to also sign at the bottom of this form!)


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