NSS AGM 2007 Chek Jawa Boardwalk Opens!
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NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE) SEP-OCT 2007 Nature News MICA (P) 106/08/2007 www.nss.org.sg ACTIVITY CALENDAR QUICK FIND Pg 4th Fall Migration Bird Census Sept 2 Activities 2 Countryside Twilight Ramble Sept 8 Trips Abroad 3 International Coastal Cleanup, Singapore Sept 15 AGM 2007 Report 4 Fun with Snakes Sept 15 Sub-group Reports 9 Exploring the Kallang River, Part I Sept 22 Society Reports 14 Weekend getaway to Tanjung Sutera/Sedili Besar, Johor Sept 29-30 News & Announcements 20 Birdwatching and Farm Tour at Sungei Tengah Oct 7 Directory 23 Horseshoe Crab Watch Oct 13 All Purpose Form 24 Nature walk at Telok Blangah Hill Oct 14 Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West Walk Oct 21 NSS AGM 2007 Society members share the past Birdwatching at Semakau Oct 21 year’s activities and happenings Mount Faber Ramble Oct 21 and also spell out plans for the Colours of Birding, 24th Singapore Bird Race Oct 27-28 future. Read the AGM 2007 Report on Page 4 Chek Jawa Boardwalk Opens! Also in this Issue: Photo: Timothy Pwee Photo: Gan Cheong Weei The Bounty of Butterflies ~ A fascinating look at our beautiful winged friends Page 16 Launch of “Trees of Bukit Timah Campus” This brand new boardwalk welcomed visitors to the precious mangrove and Page 18 mudflats site on 7 July 2007. The old tudor style No. 1 Ubin house has been refurbished to serve as the new Visitor Centre. The opening saw a sizeable Rambling from number of Singaproeans trotting down to Pulau Ubin to see the new Visitor Macritchie to Peirce Reservoir Centre and sample the views from the boardwalk. Check it out on Page 15. Page 19 NATURE NEWS Sep–Oct 2007 ACTIVITIES are lucky, we will spot nocturnal dog-faced water snakes Activities September in the mangroves. (Tip: Take the MRT to Pasir Ris and walk across the road to Pasir Ris Park). To register, email Vilma ORGANISED BY NSS at [email protected] and Zaki at [email protected] by 8 September 2007. Bring along a picnic mat, water bottle Sunday 2 4th Fall Migration Bird Census. In September and snacks, comfortable walking shoes, light cotton clothing, 2004, we conducted our first bird census covering the torchlight and herbal insect repellent. To get there, take the autumn migration period, something we have never done MRT to Pasir Ris and walk across the road to Pasir Ris before. Called the Fall Migration Bird Census (FMBC), 55 Park. people were involved in the country-wide effort counting a total of 25 sites. In 2006, we recorded 7,386 birds from Saturday 22 Exploring the Kallang River, Part I, with 142 species. This year, the census will be held on Sunday, Shawn Lum and the Plant Group. The Kallang River is one of 2nd September 2007. Will we see a decline or upsurge of Singapore’s best known water courses. Join us in exploring species and numbers of wild birds in 2007? Join us for this part of this fascinating river system and follow its course important census and help find out the trends affecting the through Bishan Park. Plant life may be minimal today, but wild birds of Singapore. All birdwatchers are welcome. The what did this area look like before and what could it look census will start at 7.30am and end at about 10am. like in the future? How are we influencing the face of our river systems? These and other questions will be explored Saturday 8 Countryside Twilight Ramble with the at this walk. Meet at 9.30am at the Lower Peirce Reservoir Nature Ramblers led by Benjamin Ho. Explore the western Park Carpark. countryside of Singapore at dusk when the day creatures retire and nocturnal ones come alive. On a clear night sky, you can look out for stars and other intriguing celestial beings as you make your way around. This is an 8km/4hr Activities October ramble geared for robust walkers and not suitable for children below 12 yrs. A torch is necessary. Do bring some snacks and Sunday 7 Birdwatching and Farm Tour at Sungei drinks. Booking is not required. Meet at 5pm at the bus-stop Tengah with Alan OwYong. This is our first outing to this at the Civil Defence Academy, Jalan Bahar. (Take bus service neck of the woods. We meet at the Farmart Center at no. 172 from either Boon Lay or Chua Chu Kang) Sungei Tengah Road (KJE Exit 5) at 7.30am and walk around the hillock to look for migrant Flycatchers and Warblers Saturday 15 International Coastal Cleanup, S’pore as well as the resident Cuckoos and Hawk-eagles. When it 2007. On this day, thousands of volunteers in almost 100 gets too hot, we get back to our cars and drive along the countries gather for the world’s largest volunteer effort main Sg.Tengah Road skirting Sg. Peng Siang stopping at a for the marine environment. This year, NSS will be spear- few promising sites to check out the birdlife. We will drive heading the clean-up at Chek Jawa from 8am to 11am. Join around and bird along Lorong Semangka stopping to admire NSS volunteers on this worthy event. Meet at the new the scenic view of Kranji Reservoir. In between we will visit Changi Point Jetty at 7am for the boat to take the group a Vegetable Farm for some fresh greens and an Orchid to Pulau Ubin. Recommended attire include hat and shoes/ Nursery at Jln Lekar before returning to Farmart for lunch boots and a change of clothes. Recommended equipment at a rustic Zi Char stall and shop for some interesting farm include gloves, pen-knife, sunblock, insect repellant and produce. Please car pool. poncho. Have a picnic lunch by the sea and explore P. Ubin in the afternoon. Besides the attractions at Chek Jawa look Saturday 13 Horseshoe Crab Watch with Hsu Chia out for Singapore’s only wild population of Oriental Pied Chi (93817653) and Conservation Volunteers. Spend an Hornbills, the elusive Wild Pigs, the rare Red Junglefowl and afternoon at the Mandai mangroves and help rescue and the Nipis kulit, a rare seashore tree, hopefully, in bloom. study horseshoe crabs trapped in discarded nets. Meet Contact Tan Hang Chong: [email protected] or at the nameless track extending from Kranji Road at the Hsu Chia Chi: [email protected] for details and junction with Kranji Loop at 2.30pm. For public transport, transport arrangements by 10/09/07. take bus 925 from Kranji MRT, alight at the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the beginning Saturday 15 Fun with Snakes with Chim Chee Kong of the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte and the NSS Education Group. Wonder how many types Ltd, 251 Kranji Road. If transport is needed, meet at Kranji of snakes we have in Singapore and whether we should be MRT station taxi stand at 2.15pm. Recommended footwear: afraid of them? Or where they live and what we should Shoes and boots. do if we come across them? Come find out more about the amazing world of snakes from Chee Kong, who studies Sunday 14 Nature walk at Telok Blangah Hill with snakes! Suitable for kids 5 to 9 years old. Meet at Pasir Ris Goh Si Guim. This hill is part of the Southern Ridges that Park, Car Park C at 5pm and expect to stay till 8pm. If we include Kent Ridge to the west and Mount Faber to the 2 NATURE NEWS Sep–Oct 2007 ACTIVITIES east. Work is in progress to link these hills with sky bridges Semakau for migratory birds and migrant surprises. Resident that also act as nature corridors. These are parks with both attractions are: Great-billed Heron. Pacific Reef Egret, natural and ‘manicured’ elements. As is the case with hills, Malaysian Plover, etc. Possible sighting of rare migrants such there are also opportunities to spot raptors and other as Chinese Egret, Oriental Pratincole, etc. We will return to unique bird-life. Come along to discover these hidden mainland by 2pm. Free parking at Carpark 2 off the West treasures on the hill. Meet at 8am at the junction of Telok Coast Highway. Please come with a non-refundable $25 Blangah Green and Henderson Road. fee for boat & administration. Send your cheque to NSS office by 12 October with the AP Form. Number of persons Sunday 21 Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West – an for trip: 11 or 22 or 33. For booking, please contact Willie old walk with a new twist, with Shawn Lum and the Plant Foo at: [email protected]. Please note: Identity card or Group. The Plant Group has made a number of walks to this Passport mandatory for boarding. Strictly for members only lovely park in the past, most recently a little more than a – 1st come 1st served basis. Children under 12 not allowed year ago. This time however, we’ll take a detailed look at the (NEA regulation). trees in the park, and see how this little park might fit into the overall scheme of plant (and animal) conservation in Sunday 21 Mount Faber Ramble with the Nature Singapore. We’ll cover topics such as plant dispersal, forest Ramblers led by Rehan Yusoff. Explore the maze of pathways succession, and conservation “corridors”. This picturesque at this popular park before it is redeveloped. You may park may give us insights into some very basic conservation discover some historical sites and landmarks, while spotting issues.