bidadari hillock to be conserved as a bird sanctuary pg 9

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NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2016

Jul-Aug 2016

MCI (P) 022/08/2015 ISSN: 2010-4308

Talk: Habitat Use of the Mainland Clouded Leopard in Peninsular Malaysia

Jul 8

Bee Walk at Pasir Ris Park Jul 9

17th Mid-Year Bird Census Jul 16 & 17

Ubin Coastal Clean-Up Jul 23

NSS Kids’ Fun with Intertidal Marine Life at Sentosa Jul 24

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Programme Jul 24

Talk: Marine Life in Singapore and the Threats of Marine Thrash Jul 29

Nature & Landscape Sketching at Bukit Batok Nature Park Aug 6

Telok Blangah-Labrador-Sentosa Ramble Aug 6

Butterfly Walk from Rifle Range to Jelutong Tower Aug 6

Birdwatching for Beginners at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park Aug 14

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Programme Aug 21

Forest Clean-Up @ Pulau Ubin Aug 27

Kayaking Sungei Simpang Aug 28

Festival of Biodiversity Sep 3 & 4

IUCN World Conservation Congress Sep 1 to 10

International Coastal Clean-Up Singapore Sep 17

Pelagic Birdwatching Sep 18

Activities 2Fruitful Plant Walk at Venus Drive Forest 5

6th Annual Parrot Count 2016 662nd Annual General Meeting on 28 May 2016 7

31 stAnnua l B i rd Census Report 8

Bidadari Hillock to be Conserved as a Bird Sanctuary 9

Fun with Food Gardening at Bollywood Veggies Farm 10

Announcements 11

NSS Directory 11

NSS All Purpose Form 12

4D/3N Lombok & Bali Shark Conservation Trip Aug 26 to 29

Trip Led by Members

NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURE SOCIETY (SINGAPORE)

ACTIVITY CALENDAR CONTENTS Pg

Bidadari

Hillock to be Conserved

as a Bird Sanctuary

Pg 9

62nd AGM Highlights

Pg 7

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Friday 8 JulTalk: Habitat Use of the Mainland Clouded Leopard in Peninsular MalaysiaOngoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and the reduction of optimal habitat for the mainland Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Join Dr Cedric Tan as he shares his research on the use of Clouded Leopard habitat on a regional scale across Peninsular Malaysia. He will reveal how the results allow the mapping of predicted Clouded Leopard habitat use across Peninsular Malaysia. This in turn enables the identification of suitable sites and provides valuable information for land use planning and management. In particular, it determines the suitability of forest remnants in supporting populations of Clouded Leopards. It also predicts how this species will respond to increasing threats such as human development and changing landscapes. Venue: NSS office. Time: 7 pm to 8 pm. Open to the public.

Saturday 9 JulBee Walk at Pasir Ris ParkFind out about the world of beneficial bee pollinators and wasps (order Hymenoptera) on an educational walk at Pasir Ris Park. At the park’s Kitchen Garden and mangrove boardwalk, we will learn about the different types of bees and wasps in Singapore and their fascinating natural history from Eunice Soh, Zestin Soh, John Lee and Shao Xiong. In the event of prolonged rain, the walk will be cancelled as bees and wasps do not actively forage when there is rain. Time: 9 am to 11 am. Meet at the Kitchen Garden near Carpark C. Open to the public.

Weekend 16 & 17 Jul17th Mid-Year Bird CensusThis is the time of the year when resident birds are completing their breeding season. Some early migrants have started arriving. The count is designed to monitor these two bird groups. We are well into the second decade of this census. Such counts have assisted us in formulating conservation proposals to government agencies substantiated with hard data. Some birdwatching experience is required. Time: 7.30 am to 10.30 am on either Saturday or Sunday. Details on sites and their leaders will be provided nearer to the event dates. Please register with Wing Chong [email protected] or Lee Ee Ling [email protected] before 9 July. Only those who sign up before the closing date will be assigned to a site. Open to the public.

Saturday 23 JulUbin Coastal Clean-Up Pulau Ubin is designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). In line with the Restore Ubin Mangroves (RUM) initiative, join

us as we carry out coastal clean-ups to remove abandoned drift nets and marine debris that choke up the coastline. This will help prepare selected sites for scientific surveys and restoration works by the RUM project team. Moreover, it will ensure that our wildlife continue to have the proper environment to thrive. Time: 9 am to 12 pm. You will need to make your own way to Pulau Ubin. Kindly register at http://tinyurl.com/23jul2016ubincc. Details will be emailed upon successful registration. Max: 25 volunteers. For enquiries, please contact Lisa at [email protected]. Open to the public.

Sunday 24 JulNSS Kids’ Fun with Intertidal Marine Life at SentosaSurprise yourself with the marine offerings of Sentosa. Join veteran tide chaser Marcus Ng in exploring its rocky shoreline exposed during the short intertidal timespan. Marvel at the diversity of corals, crabs, shellfish and more thriving here. Time: 6.45 am to 9 am. A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in at no charge. Please register your children (4 to 12 years old) at http://tinyurl.com/intertidalfun by 15 July. Confirmation details will be emailed after registration closes. For enquiries, contact Gloria Seow at [email protected]. Open to the public.

Sunday 24 JulHorseshoe Crab Rescue & Research ProgrammeHorseshoe crabs (HSC) are in decline globally due to habitat loss, poaching and overfishing. They get trapped in abandoned nets and need our help to free them. NSS aims to continually monitor our local HSC population to ensure that they stay around for generations to come. If you want to be part of this mission to rescue and study the HSC at Mandai Mudflats, please register at http://tinyurl.com/nsshscreg. For enquiries, contact Vanitha at [email protected]. Bring along cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutters for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities are available. Details will be emailed upon registration. Time: 8.30 am to 12 pm. Open to the public.

Friday 29 JulTalk: Marine Life in Singapore and the Threats of Marine ThrashIn conjunction with International Coastal Clean-up Singapore (ICCS), Joys Tan will give a talk on our local marine biodiversity, the threats of marine trash, how participating in ICCS will make a difference and what we can do in our daily lives to reduce our environmental impact. Venue: NSS office. Time: 7 pm to 8 pm. Open to the public.

Activities July

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Saturday 6 AugNature & Landscape Sketching at Bukit Batok Nature ParkJoin artist Alpana Ahuja and Van Wangye for a fun and casual site drawing session at Bukit Batok Nature Park. Meet fellow nature art lovers to observe and sketch the park's beautiful landscape and biodiversity. No drawing experience is necessary. Please register at http://tinyurl.com/sketchbbnp. Details will be emailed to participants one week before the activity. Max: 30 pax. Time: 8.30 am to 10.30 am. For enquiries, contact Kerry at [email protected]. Open to the public.

Saturday 6 AugTelok Blangah-Labrador-Sentosa RambleThis 10-km ramble led by Pandian and Sutari will see us exploring the rediscovered Keppel Hill Reservoir off Telok Blangah Road. We will then troop over to Labrador Park, enjoying the morning air, birds, insects, plant life and little known trails, with scenic views of Dragon's Tooth and Keppel Creek. The ramble will continue to Sentosa’s Mt Imbiah forest before returning to Harbour Front MRT. Wear suitable footwear, and bring raincoat, water and snacks. Not suitable for children below 12 years old. Meet at Seah Im Road carpark near Harbour Front MRT station at 8.30 am. Members only.

Saturday 6 Aug Butterfly Walk from Rifle Range to Jelutong The secondary forest stretch from Rifle Range to Jelutong Tower promises tantalising sightings of many forest butterflies on a good day. We have seen less common butterflies such as the Black Tipped Archduke, Lesser Harlequin, Dark Posy, Chocolate Royal, Banded Yeoman, Five Bar Swordtail, Studded Sergeant and Silver Royal. More frequent encounters have been with equally fascinating butterflies including the Cruiser, Commander, Common Bluebottle, Blue Jay, Spotted Black Crow, Elbowed Pierrot, Rustic, Purple Duke, Fluffy Tit, Branded Imperial, and Yellow Veined Lancer. Bring along a hat, water and wear good walking shoes. Meet at 9.30 am in the carpark at the end of Rifle Range Road. Members should arrange for their own transport or car pool. For queries, please contact Amy Tsang (HP: 9817-5549). Members only.

Sunday 14 AugBirdwatching for Beginners at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio ParkBishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is a pleasant green space of open lawns, trees and shrubs, with a river (ie. de-concretised former canal) meandering through it. This urban park in central Singapore is home to interesting and easily-seen bird species including the White-breasted Waterhen, Collared and White-throated Kingfishers, Yellow-vented Bulbul

and Pink-necked Green Pigeon. It provides a great introduction to birdwatching for newcomers. Please bring along a pair of binoculars if you have them. Meet Lee Ee Ling (HP: 9693-5870) at 7.30 am, at Carpark B opposite the SPC station. The carpark is located off Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 in between the junctions with Upper Thomson Road and Marymount Road. Members only.

Sunday 21 AugHorseshoe Crab Rescue & Research ProgrammeHorseshoe crabs (HSC) are in decline globally due to habitat loss, poaching and overfishing. They get trapped in abandoned nets and need our help to free them. NSS aims to continually monitor our local HSC population to ensure that they stay around for generations to come. If you want to be part of this mission to rescue and study the HSC at Mandai Mudflats, please register at http://tinyurl.com/nsshscreg. For enquiries, contact Vanitha at [email protected]. Bring along cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities are available. Details will be emailed upon registration. Time: 8.30 am to 12 pm. Open to the public.

Saturday 27 AugForest Clean-Up @ Pulau UbinPulau Ubin is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) with various healthy habitats rich in animals and plants. Make a difference by helping to clean up its forest. Learn about the negative effects of litter and how you can become a better steward of nature. Time: 9 am to 12.30 pm. Max: 25 pax. Please register at http://tinyurl.com/forestcleanupubin. Details will be emailed closer to the activity date. For enquiries, contact Kerry at [email protected]. Open to the public.

Sunday 28 AugKayaking Sungei SimpangEmbark on a leisurely paddle in one of the last riverine mangroves on our shores. If you have never kayaked before, this would be a good introduction. Participants will learn about the giant fig, snails, Rubik cubes, lobsters, and why there are plenty of babies in the mangroves. Be inspired by the beauty and brains of this riverine system. Time: 7.45 am to 11.15 am. Member/Non-member: $90/$115. Children between 8 to 12 years old must be accompanied by one parent (no guardians) in the same kayak, and they are entitled to a 50% discount. Min/Max: 18/28 pax. Please register at http://tinyurl.com/kayaksimpang by 14 August. Members will be given priority. Cheques should be made out to ‘Nature Society (Singapore)’. For enquiries, contact Kerry at [email protected]. Details will be emailed upon successful registration and payment. Open to the public

Activities August

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Weekend 3 & 4 Sep Festival of Biodiversity This year’s festival will be held at Raffles City where there will be exhibits put up by many nature groups including NSS. Please check our website for details closer to the event date. Open to the public.

1 to 10 Sep IUCN World Conservation Congress T h e I U C N ( I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i o n f o r Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. NSS, including the Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research Programme, will be represented by a delegation of members. Look out for updates, news and articles from this event in the next issues of Nature News and Nature Watch.

Saturday 17 SepInternational Coastal Clean-Up SingaporeJo i n u s i n c l e an i n g up Manda i Mud f l a t s to benef i t the wi ld l i fe that thr ives here . D e s i g n a t e d a s a n I m p o r t a n t B i r d a n d Biodiversity Area (IBA), this coastline is a key habitat for horseshoe crabs and an important feeding site for wading birds. Time: 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Dinner and refreshments wil l be provided. Please register at http://tinyurl.com/iccsnss. Detai ls wi l l be emai led upon registration. For enquiries, contact Say Chong at [email protected]. Open to the public.

Sunday 18 SepPelagic BirdwatchingThis is the f irst t ime we are organis ing a pelagic birdwatching trip for members. Due to vessel restrictions, the trip is limited to eight members only. Meet Lim Kim Keang at 5.30 am sharp at One Degree 15 Marina Club in Sentosa Cove. This is a good time for viewing seabirds undertaking their autumn migration. We will survey the Singapore Strait, and turn around between the end of Changi and north of Batam. Expect Bridled and Aleutian Terns, Swinhoe’s Storm Petrels, as well as Swift and Lesser Crested Terns. We should arrive back at the marina by 2.30 pm. Bring along breakfast and lunch, sunblock, hat, and wear a long-sleeved shirt. A valid passport is needed to clear immigration at sea. Chilled bottled water and canned drinks will be provided. For registration on a first-come-first-served basis, submit your name as it appears in your passport, passport number, issue and expiry dates, date of birth and nationality to Lee Ee Ling (HP: 9693-5870) at [email protected] by 21 August. Children are not allowed for safety reasons. Those prone to sea-sickness are strongly advised not to participate. A fee of $125 per person to cover the cost of the boat is payable. No refunds will be made if confirmed participants do not turn up for any reason. If there are less than eight enrollments, the trip will be cancelled and all fees refunded. Members only.

Join Kathy Xu on a marine conservat ion responsible holiday. Activities include snorkelling

in pristine waters, beach hopping, mini cliff trekking, as well as nature trail and waterfall trekking. You will visit a shark sanctuary for an educational tour and have the chance to snorkel with sharks. Your participation will aid in shark conservation by providing an alternative income to shark fishermen. Cost includes accommodation with WiFi and

breakfast, land transfers, full-day beach hopping and snorkelling boat trip with a visit to Pink Beach's pink sand and dramatic cliffs, full-day waterfall trek, snacks, drinks, packed lunch and snorkelling gear. Cost excludes flights, insurance and dinners. For registration or enquiries, email Kathy at [email protected]. Read Kathy's article 'Reality Bites – A View to Lessen the Kill' in Nature Watch Jan-Mar 2014 for more information. Open to the public.

The private trips here are the initiative of members who wish to travel to nature locations with other members or like-minded people. Arrangements will be made through a travel agency.

Activities September

Trips Led by Members

Dates : 26 to 29 August 2016 (Friday to Monday) Closing Date : 12 August 2016Cost : $550/$650 per member/non-member Minimum : 4 pax

4D/3N Lombok & Bali Shark Conservation Trip

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The

N S S p l a n t w a l k

on 23 April 2016 saw more than 60 participants spending their Saturday morning at the Venus Drive forest loop. We came to appreciate the chequered history of the place and relish the sights offered by the forest. The Venus Drive area comprised gambier plantations in the 19th century. It then laid fallow for several decades before

being planted with rubber in the early 20th century. These rubber trees were d amaged du r i n g the war and were rep lanted in the 1950s. The disused r u b b e r t r e e s remain today, with secondary forest p ioneer spec i e s growing amongst them. Indeed, plants lead very interesting lives, existing on a different timescale compared to us.

Many plant experts, including Dr Shawn Lum, Lim Cheng Puay, Tony O’Dempsey, and Yap Von Bing who led the walk, shared beautiful stories which made the plants come alive. Rubber trees and their seeds brought back fond childhood memories to many. Vigorously rubbing these seeds reminded us of how painful heat could be. We learnt about the fig, called ‘wuhuaguo’ in Chinese which translated as the ‘no flower fruit’. This was a misnomer as the fig actually has flowers growing inside it, which can be seen when broken apart, garnering many surprised looks. We marvelled at the symbiotic relationship between the Macaranga plant and the ants that reside in the hollow stems of its sapling. Each organism provides mutual benefit(s) to the other, of food and shelter (for the ants) as well as protection (for the Macaranga against other animals).During the walk, we were treated to a number of other sightings. A freshwater turtle and many fishes greeted us in the stream running along the path. We saw not one, but two Malayan Colugos on the same tree, a male and a female. What a loving pair! At one point, we heard persistent and loud alarm calls made by a squirrel. We felt lucky

to witness how it risked its life to chase away a mighty Reticulated Python. We guessed that the squirrel’s brave behaviour was possibly to protect its nearby nest. This ‘live’ National Geographic moment captured everybody’s heart and attention – no animal is too small to defend its brood!This less-travelled path has such amazing richness, a good reminder of the importance of having a buffer zone around the nature reserve. With the splendour of the forest, coupled with the insights and wonderful stories gleaned from our plant experts, we thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Our plant sightings can be found in Table 1. Some of these trees and shrubs are important for establishing a mature forest.We observed that more than half the participants were not NSS members, and hope that some would join us as members after this fruitful walk. “I was surprised that there was so much beauty and wildlife in a small patch of nature so close to the built-up areas of Thomson. We must preserve these bits of nature for future generations to enjoy,” enthused participant Toh Kim Huat.Table 1: Plants Seen at Venus Drive Forest

1. Aporosa benthamiana 2. Aporosa frutescens 3. Calophyllum wallichianum 4. Carallia brachiata 5. Elaeocarpus ferrugineus 6. Elaeocarpus mastersii 7. Elaeocarpus petiolatus8. Garcinia griffithii 9. Gironniera nervosa10. Knema latericia 11. Ixonanthes reticulata 12. Ixora congesta 13. Pellacalyx axillaris 14. Plectocomia elongate 15. Scaphium macropodum 16. Strombosia javanica 17. Timonius wallichianus 18. Uncaria longiflora var. pteropoda19. Xanthophyllum vitellinum [Minyak Berok]

Children were keen observers and learners too

By Albert Liu

Fruitful Plant Walk at Venus Drive Forest

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Th e World

P a r r o t Count was i n i t i a t ed s ix years a g o b y M i c h a e l Braun and R o e l a n t J o n k e r from the p a r r o t r e s e a r - c h e r s ’ g r o u p o f t h e

International Ornithological Union (IOU). A key objective is to document the status and abundance of feral and non-native parrots, in urban environments globally where populations are established. Being part of this study also provides an excellent opportunity for us to monitor native parrot abundance and diversity beyond our nature reserves. Given that some species such as the non-native Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) have increased in abundance across Singapore, it is timely to identify areas where they are concentrated and their roost sites.

Coordinated annually by the Bird Group since 2011, this year’s Parrot Count took place on 27 February 2016. Sixteen sites across mainland Singapore were covered by 33 surveyors. This year’s total of 2,483 parrots of eight identifiable species was slightly lower than the 2,725 parrots of seven species recorded last year. As was the case in the past two years, well-wooded Mount Rosie was the most species-rich with seven species recorded. Bottle Tree Park in Yishun, a site first surveyed in 2015, was once again the top location for total abundance with 892 individuals from two species seen.

The Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda) was the most numerous parrot counted with 1,837 individuals seen. It constituted 73.6% of the total number of parrots recorded, a drop from the 2,059 individuals observed last year. The bulk of the remaining parrots recorded (21.1%) comprised 526 Red-breasted Parakeets. Other species seen included small numbers of Tanimbar Corellas (Cacatua goffiniana), Coconut Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus), Rose-ringed Parakeets (Psittacula krameri), Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots

(Loriculus galgulus) and Yellow-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea).

Parrot numbers peaked between 7 pm and 7.30 pm with 1,683 birds counted. Consistent with recent counts, the largest parakeet flocks were mainly observed at last light. Counters at many sites witnessed the noisy spectacle of parakeet flocks returning to their roosting trees just before complete darkness.

We are into our second year of data collection from pre-roost staging areas throughout central and northern Singapore. This annual parrot count has now proven useful in monitoring the large flocks of Long-tailed Parakeets that travel along the eastern boundary of the Central Nature Reserve, to roost sites in Yishun, via staging sites in Springleaf. While numbers were slightly down from 2015, the continued presence of these large flocks for a second year running suggest that Singapore’s only native parakeet species is able to co-exist with the introduced Red-breasted Parakeet. While the latter is widespread throughout Singapore, it is noteworthy that they are conspicuously absent at staging sites used by the Long-tailed Parakeet. These findings have important conservation implications for the globally near-threatened Long-tailed Parakeet. They go some way towards alleviating fears that the recent expansion of the introduced Red-breasted Parakeet in Singapore would lead to the potential extirpation of the native Long-tailed Parakeet.

Two new sites in central Singapore (Bishan Park and Bukit Brown) were surveyed this year. They were revealed as roosting areas for the introduced Coconut (formerly Rainbow) Lorikeet. This species is slowly expanding across Singapore. We hope that annual surveys like the Parrot Count would provide a platform for monitoring trends relating to other introduced parrots, in addition to the more numerous parakeets.

Last but not least, we would like to reach out to volunteers who might be aware of Red-breasted Parakeet roosts in their neighbourhood, and are willing to survey them. Anecdotal observations show that while the Red-breasted Parakeet is common and widespread in urban Singapore, many of its roost sites have not been located or are not being counted. We hope that with an increased pool of surveyors counting at more sites, we can obtain a more complete picture of the local Red-breasted Parakeet population.

By Albert Low & Alan OwyongPhotos by Francis Yap

6th Annual Parrot Count 2016

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The weather was kind. The rain held off. More than 30 volunteers enjoyed an al

fresco thank you lunch at Tanglin International Centre together with some of the 45 members who attended the NSS AGM. The local Oriental Pied Hornbills did not put in an appearance, but those who stayed to the very end were treated to a solo concert from a melodious Hill Myna. Lunch was concluded with a move indoors for the thank you cake, specially made to express gratitude to all volunteers and volunteering members during the past year. It was cut symbolically by the two youngest people present, and by KC Tsang representing the oldest.

As the advertised speaker was unable to attend, Leong Kwok Peng and Dr Ho Hua Chew presented a talk with slides on the conservation status of Lentor Forest, Boon Lay Forest and Bidadari. Much discussion ensued, moving to other key conservation areas. Tony O’Dempsey

then provided an update on the Cross Island Line (MRT) issues. The AGM proper started at 3.15 pm and was concluded by 5.15 pm. Members received reports from the President, Treasurer, as well as Special Interest Group and Committee Chairs. The 2015 Annual Report and Financial Statements can be found on our website (www.nss.org.sg) under the ‘About’ tab. Minutes of the AGM will be posted to all members in due time.

For myself, the highlight of the AGM was handing over the reins of the Honorary Secretary position to an extremely able successor, Peter Connell. Peter was the Honorary Assistant Treasurer in the previous year and steered the development of our Strategic Plan. This has left the Honorary Assistant Treasurer post vacant as at the time of the AGM. The Exco is hopeful of filling this position shortly. For future Exco updates, over to Peter!

62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 28 May 2016By Margie Hall, Co-opted Council Member Photo by Leong Kwok Peng

On behalf of the Bird Group, we thank the following volunteers for carrying out parrot monitoring on a weekend evening – Site Leaders: Albert Low, Lim Kim Chuah, Doreen Ang, Alan Owyong, Lim Kim Keang, Cheryl Lao, Debra Yeo, Lee Ee Ling, Nessie Khoo, Marcel Finlay, Shirley Ng, Wing Chong, Ng Bee Choo, Morten Strange and Angus Lamont; Assisting Counters: Peng Ah Huay, Jervis Goh, Martin Barry, Woo Lai Choo, See Swee Leng, Jitendra Putcha, Pranab Das, Mac Ng, Lee Phua, Jeyabalaji, Akanksha Bhagat, Yong Jun Zer, Cheong Shu Min, Lee Wen Qi, Shanmugam Kumaraguru, Florence Ipert, Elliot Ong and Ming Wei. Finally, we also thank Roelant and Michael for inviting us to be part of this study.

Table 1: Summary of count data across all sitesBottle Tree Park

Springleaf Park Site BSpringleaf Park Site A

Neo Tiew Windsor Park

Bukit Brown Nount Posie

Gymkhana AveDakota CrescentTampines Ave 4

Changi PointPortsdown

Ling Albert Park Eng NeoClementi

0 200 400 600 800

Long-tailed Parakeet

Red-breasted Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Blue-crowned Hanging ParrotRainbow (Coconut)Lorikeet

NSS President Dr Shawn Lum appreciating all volunteers with the thank you cake while incoming Honorary Secretary Peter Connell (on the extreme left) looks on.

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Th e 3 1 s t Annual Bird

Census (ABC) was conducted b y t h e B i r d G r o u p o n 2 7 March 2016. The w e a t h e r w a s g o o d a n d t h e

count largely went well for the 24 sites surveyed. The number of sites this year was a drop from the 26 locations in 2015, probably due to the Good Friday weekend. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Poyan, Serangoon and Pulau Ubin West were left out due to the lack of volunteers. In all, 44 observers participated in the count compared to 48 people last year.

In terms of birds recorded, we saw a significant drop in both number of species and number of birds counted this year. We had 6,738 birds from 134 species in 2016, versus 7,804 birds from 152 species in 2015. These figures were lower than the 31-year mean of 8,570 birds and 149 species, based on census data between 1986 and 2016. The sites with the best diversity included Ubin Central with 55 species, followed by Khatib Bongsu (51 species) and Kranji Marshes (49 species). In contrast, the lowest bird diversity came from Lower Seletar (20 species), Telok Blangah Hill Park (24 species) and Dairy Farm Nature Park (24 species). In terms of abundance, the sites returning the highest numbers were the water bird haven of Sungei Mandai with 1,133 birds, followed by Pasir Ris Park (487 birds) and Ubin Central (393 birds). The lowest counts were

at Telok Blangah Hill Park (87 birds), Nee Soon (115 birds) and Sime Track (132 birds).

Singapore’s most abundant bird title went to the ubiquitous Javan Myna with 900 birds counted, down slightly from 911 birds last year. In second place for both 2016 and 2015 was the Asian Glossy Starling with 797 birds, while the third position went to the Pink-necked Green Pigeon with 581 birds. See Table 1 for the top 20 birds by

abundance in the 2016 census, with comparative totals and rankings from 2015.

Table 1: Top 20 Birds by Abundance in the Annual Bird Census 2016

2016 RANK SPECIES 2016

TOTAL2015

TOTAL2015

RANK

1 Javan Myna 900 911 1 2 Asian Glossy Starling 797 567 2

3 Pink-necked Green Pigeon

581 464 3

4 Pacific Golden Plover* 522 274 6 5 Yellow-vented Bulbul 284 361 4 6 Little Egret* 214 230 10 7 Black-naped Oriole 213 240 9 8 Spotted Dove 190 159 13 9 Whimbrel* 172 345 5 10 Common Redshank* 155 246 7 11 House Crow 138 103 19 12 Common Iora 129 137 14 13 Pacific Swallow 109 137 15 14 Collared Kingfisher 103 118 17 15 Olive-backed Sunbird 102 128 16 16 Grey Heron 101 187 12 17 Rock Dove 98 240 6 18 Long-tailed Parakeet 94 98 21

19 P i n - s t r i p e d T i t -Babbler

81 104 18

20 E u r a s i a n T r e e Sparrow

62 73 25

* Denotes migrants

Of the 134 species counted, we had 103 residents (76.9%), 28 migrants (20.9%) and two non-breeding visitors (1.5%). Of the 57 nationally threatened species in Singapore, 21 species (36.8%) were recorded. The most numerous nationally threatened species was the Grey Heron at 101 birds. It made the top 20 abundance list, but dropped to 16th place from 12th position in 2015. The only globally threatened species logged in this census was the Straw-headed Bulbul with 34 birds (38th spot), down drastically from the 60 individuals observed last year. We had nine species of raptors, the most abundant being the Brahminy Kite (27 birds), White-bellied Sea Eagle (24 birds) and Japanese Sparrowhawk (9 birds). Over at the parrot tribe, the native Long-tailed Parakeet retained its superiority in numbers compared to the introduced Red-breasted Parakeet with a 94-47 margin. It remains to be seen if this situation will

Text & Photos by Lim Kim Seng31st Annual Bird Census Report

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The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has agreed to leave a key hillock at the former

Bidadari Muslim Cemetery largely untouched as a natural bird sanctuary. This conserved plot will be part of the main 10-hectare park that will form the green lungs of the future public housing estate.

Members of the Conservation Committee and Bird Group met up with HDB’s planners, architects, engineers and landscape contractors, as well as staff from the National Parks Board (NParks) for a joint site visit in June 2016. We were there to mark out the boundaries of the hillock where most migrant bird species have been found year after year. This hillock is centred around the affectionately-nicknamed ‘Bida Studio’ at the western end of Bidadari, a favourite haunt of birders and the bird paparazzi.

We showed and expla ined to the various government officials present the importance of keeping the different clusters and clumps of vegetation intact, as these are frequented by migrant flycatchers, pittas and kingfishers. The Bird Group had earlier conducted GPS mapping surveys that pinpointed the concentration of bird migrants in the core area. The trees here will be retained for mid-level species such as cuckoos, shrikes and paradise flycatchers to forage. A few fringing Albizias will be cut down for safety reasons. Conservation Committee Vice-Chairperson Dr Ho Hua Chew highlighted the importance of keeping some Albizias for foraging Black Bazas, as well as for nesting Changeable Hawk Eagles and other passerines. At the ground level, weeds and grasses that surround the bush clusters and tree clumps will be allowed to grow as buffers, with

trimmings done only to the open areas. All these measures will hopefully preserve much of the original character of the core area, for the many winter visitors and passage migrants that stopover during the bird migration season.

The ‘valley’ parallel to Upper Serangoon Road and a diagonal stretch across the cemetery have been boarded up to facilitate infrastructural and drainage works. The hillock and ‘Bida Studio’ where we do most of our birding will continue to be accessible from Bartley Road. Even when work starts at the lower section along Bartley Road, nature lovers will still be able to explore the hillock sanctuary to indulge in birdwatching and bird photography.

Even though we have not been able to save all of the bird-rich section of Bidadari, at least this core area will be kept wild, to continue to serve as a home for our resident birds and a refuge for our winter visitors to rest and refuel.

Text & Photo by Alan OwYong

Bidadari Hillock to be Conserved as a Bird Sanctuary

The conserved bird-rich hillock in Bidadari is located to the left of this boarded up ‘valley’ section that runs parallel to Upper Serangoon Road.

prevail over the next decade.Noteworthy sightings included the Little Grebe (Halus), Javan Pond Heron (Khatib Orto), Watercock (Kranji), Greater Painted-snipe (Halus), Wood Sandpiper (Kranji), Pied Imperial Pigeon (Buloh 2), Black-capped Kingfisher (Kranji), Blue-rumped Parrot (Nee Soon, Sime) and Siberian Blue Robin (Nee Soon).We thank the following observers at the 31st ABC: Joseph Beh, MY Chan, Andrew Chow, Lena Chow, Margie Hall, Gerard Francis, Jane Heppell,

Terry Heppell, Ho Hua Chew, Kenneth Kee, Nessie Khoo, Susan Knight, Angus Lamont, Lee Ee Ling, Jimmy Lee, Lim Kim Keang, Lim Kim Seng, Yvonne Loh, Joan Low, Ng Chay Tuan, Angela Oh, Alan Owyong, Freda Rickword, Ian Rickword, Kerry Pereira, Mick Price, Rehan Yusof, See Swee Leng, Alvin Seng, Betty Shaw, Steven Shields, Jacky Soh, John Spencer, Sutari Supari, KP Teh, Tan Li Li, Rajesh Varma, Wee Sau Cheng, Wing Chong, Wong Chung Cheong, Woo Lai Choo, Yan Jiejun, Yang Pah Liang and Yong Yik Shih.

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In a departure from our usual walks on the wild side,

the Education Committee organised our f irst food gardening workshop and farm tour at Bollywood Veggies Farm on 16 April 2016. Our participant profile took an interesting turn – we had over 30 adults and only one kid. Nature educator Andrew Tay, who is conversant in both plant and animal ecology, was our knowledgeable guide. In our farm tour, Andrew fed us an intriguing fact when we came across a cluster of papaya trees – they were either male or female, identifiable by their flowers. Male trees have showy inflorescences, while females produce individual blooms that as young buds resemble the shape of the fruit (see photos). Only females can produce yummy papayas. That solved the mystery for a few participants, of why some papaya trees never yield fruits. Former Plant Group Chairperson Angie Ng introduced us to the Jambu Bol or Malay Apple, a rarer and tastier cousin of the Jambu Ayer or Water Apple, which some of us sampled. We saw a compost heap with a Cocoyam growing in the middle of it. Composting is a great way to recycle plant waste material. One can create a balanced heap by adding alternate layers of greens (eg. leafy trimmings) and browns (eg. woody prunings). In time, it will all rot down to

produce a nutrient-rich compost, serving as a natural fertilizer or soil conditioner. B o l l y w o o d c u l t i v a t e s a n astounding diversity o f p l a n t s w i t h

multitudinous uses. We found out that the commonly-seen Moses-in-the-Cradle (aka Oyster Plant), has leaves that can be boiled as herbal tea to relieve heatiness, and treat a range of ailments including fever, cough, bronchitis and rheumatism. The farm grows different banana varieties including the red kind. One participant shared his experience of peeling a wild banana only to discover it filled with huge seeds and little flesh. Many were surprised to learn that only

modern banana cultivars are seedless. We then proceeded to Bollywood’s open-air shed for the workshop. As an avid gardener, Andrew revealed that he has a thriving food garden along the corridor of his flat. We were impressed with the fantastic mix of plants available for us to bring home – Mint, Sawtooth Cor iander, Kang Kong , Rosemary, Lemongrass, Aloe Vera, Basil, trays of cute baby

Bok Choy (Xiao Bai Cai), and many other greens that came from his own garden, plus cuttings courtesy of Bollywood. Our first topic was about soil. Andrew had ordered for us a customised blend of clay, sand and compost, with no added chemical fertilizer, pesticide or fungicide. For organic fertilizer, we could choose from pellets of sheep dung (baked till near-odourless) or earthworm poop. Angie was quick to share that the best fertilizer is free – our own urine, properly diluted of course.Next, we learnt that plastic pots retain moisture better, while clay ones allow the roots to breathe easier. Participants were encouraged to experiment with what grows best in any combination of pots, locations (outdoors or indoors with morning sun only), watering and fertilizing frequencies. An interesting segment was about plant propagation using cuttings, seeds, rhizomes or clump division. Many vegetables can have their tops cut off with stumps left growing to produce more leafy shoots for multiple harvests. When greens overgrow, transplanting comes in. To ensure success, one should partially trim most leaves to reduce the overall energy burden, and allow the plant to concentrate on forming fresh roots and shoots in the new location.It was then time for us to get our hands in the dirt. We had great fun picking up small stones to cover the drainage holes of our plastic pot, mixing the soil with a teaspoon of earthworm poop, and potting up our plant selections. Many brought home extra plantlets and cuttings wrapped in moist newspaper. Participants were also given a three-page information sheet that outlined the finer details of eco-food gardening. We ended with a scrumptious set lunch at Poison Ivy Cafe, and were entertained by none other than farm owner and stellar storyteller Ivy Singh-Lim herself. We thank her for the use of her farm venue and nature shed for free. We are immensely grateful to Andrew for volunteering his time and effort, and thank Angie Ng, Moira Khaw, Lena Chow, and Timothy Pwee for being great helpers.

Text & Photos by Gloria Seow, Education Committee Chairperson

Fun with Food Gardening at Bollywood Veggies Farm

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Announcements NSS DIRECTORY

PatronPROF TOMMY KOH

PresidentDR SHAWN LUM – Office: 6790-3835

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Co-opted Council Members PROF P N AVADHANI, MR GAN CHEONG WEEI, MR BEN SZETO,

MS MARGIE HALLAdvisory Council Members

MR WARREN KHOO, PROF KOH KHENG LIAN, MR LIM JIM KHOON, MR LIU THAI KER, PROF NG SOON CHYE, MR SIM

WONG HOO, MR MASON TAN, MR RICHARD HALEBirdLife International Coordinator

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MR VINAYAGAN DHARMARAJAH

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Conservation CommitteeActing Chairperson MR LEONG KWOK PENG

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Chairperson MS GLORIA SEOW

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CHAIRPERSONS

Bird GroupChairperson MR LIM KIM CHUAH

Secretary MR WILLIE FOO

Butterfly & Insect Group Chairperson - - -

Jalan HijauChairperson MR TAN HANG CHONG

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

NSS Welcomes Tax-Exempt DonationsIf you believe in the importance of nature appreciation and conservation in Singapore, help us keep our work going with a donation to NSS. In conjunction with SG50, donors qualify for a tax exemption of 300%, an increase from the usual 250%. 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!Paperless Nature News If you wish to opt-out from receiving hard copies of Nature News to save trees, please inform Joe at [email protected]. Please state if you prefer: 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.Wanted: Used Stamps for the NSS Stamp FundThe Stamp Fund is boosted by members and friends who collect and send us used postage stamps. These are then sold to an overseas dealer once or twice a year. Simply cut out the stamps from the envelope without cutting into their edges. No need to soak the stamps off the envelope paper. Keep sending your stamps to the NSS office in an envelope marked "Stamp Fund"! Our grateful thanks to all contributors. The NSS Stamp Fund now stands at $21,276.61.NSS Nature ForumThe NSS Nature Forum, found at http://www.nss.org.sg/forum/, is a virtual gathering place that serves to facilitate discussions on a whole range of nature-related topics. You can share photos and ideas, ask questions and forge friendships with fellow nature lovers. The forum is open to both members and non-members. Register now for a free account! New Members: Join us in our Special Interest Group & Other Activities All members are welcome to participate in any of our listed activities. Most events do not require prior registration. Simply turn up at the appointed time and place, and you will be off to discover and learn about Singapore’s natural offerings. Do not be nervous about your lack of nature knowledge. Just let your trip leader(s) know that you are new and he/she/they will gladly guide you. NSS Membership Benefits Show your NSS membership card to enjoy discounts! Please contact us if your business is interested in offering NSS Membership Benefits. 1) Nature’s Niche 29 Transit Road, #04-13, Singapore 778905 Tel: 6475-2319 www.naturesniche.com * 10% discount at the online store for nature books, gifts and optics (eg. binoculars). Discount applies for self- collection only and not for postal orders. 2) Pharmaplus Tel: 6887-3456. www.pharmaplus.com.sg * Up to 10% discount for online purchases. Contributions for Nature NewsPlease send in your contributions for the Sep/Oct 2016 issue by 5 August 2016. 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

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bidadari hillock to be conserved as a bird sanctuary pg 9

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