NOTE
Activities open to the public are specifically indicated as such.
For other events,
you may become a member using the membership form
or register with the Nature Society representative
at any official Nature Society event.
To contact us, email to
contact@nss.org.sg
contact@nss.org.sg
Kranji Nature Walk: Open to both Members & the Public.
Where: Kranji Reservoir Marsh.
Date: Last week-end of the month.
Time: 7:30am.
Maximum Group size : 20pax
Admission: Free, but booking required.
For more information: email kranji@nss.org.sg
Welcome to a nature walk in a remote & beautiful corner of Singapore conducted by the Nature Society under the PUB's ABC Waters Programe. Get away from it all & enjoy the interesting wildlife and the scenic landscape of Kranji Reservoir and the countryside.
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Kalimantan Biodiversity and Conservation Talk by Dr Susan Cheyne
Date: Fri 3 Sep
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
Borneo is one of the world’s treasure troves of tropical biodiversity. However, much of what we know come from Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, while Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo continues to be shrouded in a veil of mystery. Invited speaker Dr Susan Cheyne, scientific director at BRINCC (Busang River Initiative for Nature Conservation and Communities) and an authority on the Bornean clouded leopard and apes, will introduce her biodiversity research and conservation outreach efforts amongst the local communities in remote Kalimantan. She will also share some of her team’s biodiversity findings on birds, primates, small mammals and arthropods in the Barito and Busang river watersheds. Co-presenting with her is expedition leader Marie Hamard. For details on this enriching talk, please contact Yong Ding Li at zoothera@yahoo.com.
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Plant Walk at Lower Peirce Reservoir with Yap Von Bing
Date: Sat 4 Sep
Time: 9 am
Venue: Car Park of Lower Pierce Reservoir
Lower Pierce Reservoir is one of Singapore’s oldest water catchment areas. The site’s original rainforest that was cleared to make way for plantations has since regenerated. Today, it shelters some trees older than 100 years old. We will get to see a mature Brazil Nut tree, a mysterious but magnificent Cratoxylumn, Nibong, Rambai, figs, pitcher plants as well as remnant rubber trees and saplings. We will continue our plant stroll along the boardwalk and exit near Casuarina Road.
Get Up Close and Personal with the Butterflies of Teck Whye
Date: Sun 5 Sep
Time: 9:30am - 12pm
Venue: Meet Simon Chan (HP: 9796-9193) at the Park Connector between Blk 160A and Gracefield Kindergarten off Jalan Teck Whye.
Hidden behind the small backyard of Teck Whye Secondary School is a pretty butterfly garden fronted by a canal with a wooded area on the opposite side. Supported by NParks, this garden boasts no less than 20 species of butterflies including the Common Mime, Painted Jezebel, Striped Albatross, Lemon Emigrant, Common Grass Yellow, Plain Tiger, Leopard Lacewing, Peacock Pansy and more.
Talk on Singapore’s Dragonflies by Cheong Yu Jia
Date: Tue 7 Sep
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
Interested to know more about Singapore’s dragonfly and damselfly species? Yujia will share with us on the different families of the order Odonata, their identification markers, as well as their ecology and life history. This illuminating talk will be followed by a field trip on 11 September.
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Dragonfly Walk at Venus Drive
Date: Sat 11 Sep
Time: 9 am
Meet at: Venus Drive carpark located near the junction of Upper Thomson Road and Venus Drive.
Following our successful inaugural dragonfly trip in July, our second dragonfly walk will take place at the Venus Drive trail, conducted by 16-year old Cheong Yu Jia and supported by her 13-year old brother Cheong Yi Wei. Binoculars will come in useful for this three hour trip.
7th Fall Migration Bird Census & Post-Census Dinner Field Guide Launch
Date: Sun 12 Sep
Time: 7:30 - 10:30 am
Contact: Email coordinator Lim Kim Seng at ibisbill@yahoo.com before 7 September 2010 if you can help.
In September 2004, we conducted our first bird census covering the autumn migration period where we recorded 8,035 birds from 135 species, roughly 35% of Singapore’s avifauna. Last year, we counted 7,381 birds from 119 species. Will we see a decline or upsurge in 2010? Join us for this important census to uncover the trends affecting Singapore’s wild birds. All birdwatchers are welcome. We will also have a post-census dinner that evening and would like to invite all census volunteers to come. At this informal get-together, we will launch the Bird Group’s latest publication “A Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore”. This foldable bird card will feature photos and brief identification notes on 106 common Singapore bird species. Contact Kim Seng for details or watch out for updates on the Wildbirdsingapore E-forum.
Conservation Chat
Date: Wed 15 Sep
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
This chat is an informal gathering of members concerned about nature conservation in Singapore. We would like to have your feedback and suggestions on these topics:
1) NSS’ proposal to retain the KTM Railway land as an eco-heritage site or as a Green Corridor
2) Protection of inter-tidal and marine eco-systems
3) Kranji Marsh and Lorong Halus
4) Any other issues that may crop up before the session
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Night Ramble from Mandai Lake Road to Dairy Farm
Date: Sat 18 Sep
Time: 6pm
Meet: Sutari Supari at Mandai Lake Road bus stop (Mandai Orchid Garden). Bus service no: 138, 926, 927.
Come and experience walking in the dark at Mandai forest under the canopy of the tall trees. The Nature Ramblers will take you through an interesting 6 km ramble. We’ll watch an enchanting sunset as day transforms into night, accompanied by the nocturnal sounds of cicadas and other insects. See Jupiter and Venus at their best and learn about star directional uses. We might even spot nightjars, owls, fireflies and other nocturnal animals. Bring along a good torch or headlamp, some snacks and water. Not suitable for children below 12 years old.
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Birdwatching at Semakau with Dr Ho Hua Chew
Date: Sun 19 Sep
Time: 7:30am
Meet at: West Coast Pier (near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club). Return to mainland by 2 pm. Free parking at Carpark 2 off West Coast Highway.
Registration: Email Dr. Ho Hua Chew at hohc@starhub.net.sg. Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Fees: $28 per pax (non-refundable) for boat and administration. Send your cheque to the NSS office by 13 September with the completed All Purpose Form (on the back page of Nature News).
This is a good time to visit Semakau for resident birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret and Malaysian Plover. Sightings of uncommon migrants such as the Black-capped Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon and Eastern Marsh Harrier are possible.
Resident/PR identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Strictly for members only on a first come first served basis. Under NEA regulations, children below 12 years old are not allowed to come. Please note that your reservation is not automatically confirmed until you hear from your trip leader after the closing date.
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Birdwatching at Tampines Wood with Willie Foo
Date: Sun 19 Sep
Time: 7:30am
Meet: Veteran birder Willie Foo (HP: 9675-1089) at the junction of Tampines Road and Jalan Sam Kongsi.
This area is located behind Tampines Industrial area, along Tampines Ave 10. There was once a “Grebe Pond” here with the highest count of 12 grebes. Alas, it has since given way to development. Visit this wooded area before it is completely gone. We will look out for Sooty-headed Bulbuls, Red-Whiskered Bulbuls, Black-shouldered Kites, Pied Trillers, Pied Fantails and bee-eaters that call this place home. If we are lucky, we can watch mix flocks of munias (Black-headed, White-headed and Scaly-breasted) feeding together! Formerly this road was known to drivers as “Old Tampines Road”.
NSS International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) Activities with support from the Plant Group
Date: Sat 25 Sep
Time: 4pm - 7pm
Venue: Mandai Mudflats (main habitat for horseshoe crabs)
If you are keen to help spruce up the Mandai Mudflats, please register with Dr Hsu Chia Chi at hsu_chia_chi@hotmail.com. The Plant Group will be there to introduce members to the many species of mangrove and coastal plants that make up the area’s ecosystem. We will round off the event by watching the sun set over a cleaner mudflat. Thereafter, all volunteers are invited to join in a sing-along session and "makan kechil" (dinner), which will be provided. Please bring your own non-disposable plates and utensils. This is also a good chance to get to know other like-minded nature and environmental stewards over a simple meal. There are other ICCS events organised by RMBR which you can help in, please register at this website http://iccs-individual.rafflesmuseum.net/.
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Birdwatching at Kranji Marsh with Yong Ding Li
Date: Sun 26 Sep
Time: 7:45am
Meet at: Kranji Dam Carpark near the Tidal Gates of Kranji Reservoir (off Kranji Way). Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Registration: Email kranji@nss.org.sg by 15 September 2010 (max: 20 pax).
From the meeting place, a hired bus will ferry us to our destination. We begin with a pleasant stroll along a countryside road to the Kranji Marsh where we will continue our walk along the PUB Bund. The marsh is designated by URA as a Nature Park and is currently adopted by NSS under the PUB’s ABC Waters Programme. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle and more.
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Plant Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir’s Petai Trail with Dr Shawn Lum
Date: Sat 2 Oct
Time: 9:30am
Meet at: New MacRitchie Reservoir Visitor Centre
The area around MacRitchie Nature Trail is an interesting mix of regenerating secondary forest and remnant patches of primary forest. Large and majestic trees are scattered throughout the site. What are these trees? How can we recognise the forest types as we walk through them? How might they develop in the decades ahead? This walk will explore the rainforest, following the Petai Trail’s boardwalk and returning by the Nature Trail.
NSS Kids’ Fun with Nature Sketching at Bukit Batok Nature Park
Date: Sun 3 Oct
Time: 8.30 am - 10.30 am
Venue: Bukit Batok Nature Park
Registration: Please register your kids (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if they are NSS members or not, and let us have your mobile number.
Want to learn the basics of nature sketching? Join birder and artist Yong Ding Li at the Bukit Batok Nature Park where it will become our outdoor classroom to learn how to do quick sketches of insects, plants, birds and other animals. A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents are encouraged to join in at no charge. Drawing materials will only be provided for kids, adults have to bring their own. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.
Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve with Lim Kim Chuah
Date: Sun 3 Oct
Time: 7:30am
Meet at: Ticket counter of SBWR off Neo Tiew Crescent
This is a good place to learn how to identify the many migratory birds that winter here. Let the experts show you how to separate a plover from a sandpiper or the Marsh Sandpiper from the Common Greenshank. Differences between the birds may be subtle but once these are pointed out, you would be surprised to see that it is not so difficult after all.
Nature walk at Bidadari with Goh Si Guim
Date: Sat 9 Oct
Time: 8am
Meet at: Exit B of Potong Pasir MRT station
The graves have long been exhumed from both the Christian and Muslim Cemeteries at Bidadari to make way for planned public housing. To date, no development has materialised. In their original states, these verdant cemeteries were an oasis for wildlife. Left to fallow for the last ten years since the exhumation, perhaps nature has regained some foothold. Let’s venture in to check out the plant and bird life found here.
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Railway Ramble 2
Date: Sun 10 Oct
Registration: Mandatory as there is a limit to the number of participants.
Email Benjamin Ho at benhojw@gmail.com with your membership number to register. Details will be given after registration confirmation.
Led by Rehan Yusof, this ramble will explore the greenery and buildings along the historic railway track near Alexandra Hospital including the traditional mosque at Jalan Hang Jebat, colonial bungalows at Portsdown Road, early Housing Board flats at Tanglin and the green belt at Holland and Bukit Timah roads. We expect to see many interesting flora and fauna. NSS has done up a conservation proposal to turn this railway track into an eco-heritage or green corridor for nature and recreation.
Birdwatching at Semakau with Wing Chong
Date: Sun 23 Oct
Time: 7:30am
Meet at: West Coast Pier (near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club). Return to mainland by 2 pm. Free parking at Carpark 2 off West Coast Highway.
Registration: Call HP: 9227-2020 or email Wing Chong at wingchong58@yahoo.com to register.
Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Fees: $28 per pax (non-refundable) for boat and administration. Send your cheque to the NSS office by 14 October with the completed All Purpose Form (on the back page of Nature News).
This is a good time to visit Semakau for resident birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret and Malaysian Plover. Sightings of rare migrants such as the Chinese Egret and Ashy Drongo are possible.
Resident/PR identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Strictly for members only on a first come first served basis. Under NEA regulations, children below 12 years old are not allowed to come. Please note that your reservation is not automatically confirmed until you hear from your trip leader after the closing date.
27th Annual Singapore Bird Race
Date: Sun 24 Oct
Timings:
Both Novice and Advance racers will start together at 8 am at the NSS Green Hub @ Ubin
and end the race at 4pm and 5pm respectively.
Registration starts at 7:30am, entry fee is $10 per participant (includes seafood dinner). Email Wong Chung Cheong at chungcheong.wong@gmail.com to register beforehand. We will help to group individual entries.
Come and join us for a day of fun and green bird racing organised by the Bird Group. Breaking away from the traditional overnight event, this year’s race will be a one day dash around Pulau Ubin. As a continuation of last year's success of Going Green, we require participants to race using sheer human energy by running, cycling, roller blading or using any other human-powered vehicles around the island. No cars, taxis, motorcycles or any forms of motorised transport are allowed. Each team may comprise 2 to 4 members. All team members are required to see the bird before it can be recorded. Bird calls cannot be counted.
Registration fees includes a sumptuous post-race seafood dinner at one of the restaurants on Ubin, meant for racers, volunteers and guests to mingle and share the highlights of the race. Swarovski Optik and their sales agent Precision Optik Asia Pte Ltd are the sponsors for this race.
Birdwatching at Kranji Marsh with Kenneth Kee
Date: Sat 30 Oct
Time: 7:45am
Meet at:
Kranji Dam Carpark near the Tidal Gates of Kranji Reservoir (off Kranji Way). Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Booking required by 13 October 2010 (max: 20 pax) at email: kranji@nss.org.sg.
From here, a hired bus will ferry us to our destination. We begin with a pleasant stroll along a countryside road to the Kranji Marsh where we will continue our walk along the PUB Bund. The marsh is designated by URA as a Nature Park and is currently adopted by NSS under the PUB’s ABC Waters Programme. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle and more.
Raptor Biology and Conservation Workshop
Date: Sat 30 Oct
Time: 1pm to 5:30pm
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
Registration is on a first come first served basis with Yong Ding Li at zoothera@yahoo.com. Limited to just 25 participants.
The Bird Group, in collaboration with ARRCN (Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network), will hold a half day raptor workshop in conjunction with the upcoming annual raptor count. The objective is to promote better understanding of raptor conservation and ecology in Singapore, and equip participants with raptor identification skills in preparation for the raptor count. Topics include raptor identification, breeding biology, migration, foraging ecology, conservation, basic research techniques as well as a session on satellite tracking by Lim Kim Keang.
Light refreshments and printed notes will be provided.
3rd Raptors Watch
Date: Sun 7 Nov
Time: 9am - 4pm
Meet at: Ticket counter of SBWR off Neo Tiew Crescent
We are into our 3rd Raptors Watch this year. Since we started compiling records of migrating raptors, we have counted a total of 18 migrant and three vagrant species, including the Amur Falcon, which is a first for Singapore. During last year’s Raptors Watch, we recorded a total of 610 raptors from nine species including the rare Short-toed Eagle and a large flock of 84 Black Bazas migrating over Tuas. Choose a location near your home and help document the peak raptor migration numbers across Singapore. Which rare raptor will come flying by? Please contact the respective site coordinators listed below to register your interest. Photographers are especially welcome. We will get together for a buffet dinner later in the evening to share our sightings. There will also be a slide show on the International Raptor Conference in Ulan Bator and on a birding trip to the raptor-rich Steppe Grasslands of Mongolia.
No. |
Sites |
Coordinators |
Emails |
1. |
Tuas South |
Tan Gim Cheong |
|
2. |
Japanese Gardens |
John Spencer |
|
3. |
Kent Ridge Park |
Horst Flotow |
|
4. |
Telok Blangah Hill |
Alan OwYong & |
|
5. |
Western Catchment |
Danny Lau & |
|
6. |
Tanah Merah Coast |
Lim Kim Keang & |
|
7. |
Bukit Timah Hill |
Yong Ding Li |
Trips Abroad
4D/3N Exploration of The Lost Waterfall in Jerantut Pahang, Malaysia
Dates: 30 Sep to 3 Oct 2010
Price: : $305 per pax, inclusive of guide, return transport, travel insurance during hiking,logistics, all entrance fees, tent accommodation, meals as stated, camping equipment and event t-shirt
Min/Max: 10pax/20pax
Closing Date: 24 Sep 2010
Itinerary:
30 Sep - Meet at Causeway Point at 11.30 pm for an overnight van to Jerantut
1 Oct - Arrive at Middle Earth Motel at 7 am; 4WD into the jungles (B, L, D)
2 Oct - Waterfall exploration from 9am (B, L, D)
3 Oct - Leave for home at 9am, arriving in Singapore at 11.30 pm (B)
The Lost Waterfall is one of the few beautiful falls hidden in the jungles of Jerantut, Pahang. The only feasible route to these cascades requires navigating a 4WD vehicle through harsh terrains, followed by a few hours of trekking through forest trails and rivers. As such, only a handful of privileged folks have seen these aptly named falls: The Japanese Garden, Lata Lebah and The Lost Waterfall.
Beginning with an overnight journey, we arrive at the town of Jerantut the next morning. After a good breakfast, we will hop onto our 4WD and brace ourselves for the ride of a lifetime to our campsite in the deep forests of Jerantut. The next day is dedicated to exploring the hidden waterfalls. This involves forest trekking, walking along rivers, swimming in pools and enjoying the cascades themselves.
For details and registration, contact Leong Kwok Peng at peng@edu-sg.org or HP: 9766-7047
4D/3N Trip to Tasek Bera, Pahang Malaysia
Dates: 1 to 4 Oct 2010 (leave at 9am on 1 Oct, return at 7pm on 4 Oct)
Closing Date: 15 Sep 2010
Cost: $240 per pax all in, inclusive of two-way coach travel and accommodation in 2x1 hotel rooms.
Group Size: Minimum 12 pax
Activities: Lake tour, kayaking, visit the Semilai tribe, watch mat weaving, gaharu tapping, fishing and jungle trekking.
Fill out one All Purpose Form (APF) per person. Please make out your cheque to ‘Nature Society (Singapore)’ and mail the APF and cheque to: S Rajamanickam, 61 Chestnut Crescent, Singapore 679412. Email sithuraja@hotmail.com for details.
3D/2N 70th Anniversary Celebrations & KL Getaway
Date: 9 to 11 Oct 2010
Closing Date: 25 Sep 2010
Estimated Cost: $300+ inclusive of $100 per pax for MNS anniversary dinner, chartered coach and hotel accommodation.
Minimum: We are targeting 3 tables or 30 pax
Itinerary: 9 Oct - Depart at 8 am for KL, 11 Oct - Depart at 9 am for Singapore
Join us to celebrate Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) 70th Anniversary. This auspicious fund raising dinner celebration will happen on the evening of 10.10.10 (10 Oct 2010) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We also plan to visit several MNS initiatives including FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia) and Rhimba Ilmu Botanical Garden prior to the dinner celebration. If time permits, we may include the MNS headquarters as a stopover.
For registration and details please email Leong Kwok Peng at peng@edu-sg.org.
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