23-29 Nov: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

• Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs
• NSS Kids' Fun "Last Kampung of Singapore" Adventure.
• Let's Leaf Together a workshop for kids on Wednesday and Sunday.
• Trash to Treasure a workshop for kids.
• All about Edible Plants a tour for kids.

Special events

• Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers.
• 25 Nov (Wed): Nature Bloggers 2.0 - Level Up!
• Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Walks in our wild places

• HortPark Butterfly Garden Guided Tour.
  
• Heritage and Nature guided walk at Fort Canning Park.
• Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday.
• Evolution garden tour.

Talks this week

• 23 Nov (Mon): "Conserving Moving Targets: How to Deal with Dynamic Species and Landscapes?"
• 26 Nov (Thu): Green Drinks - zero emission transport
• 28 Nov (Sat): "Why Do Birds Do What they Do" by Dr Wee Yeow Chin
• 28 Nov (Sat): "Go Green with Singapore's Native Plants!"

For Nature Society Singapore members only

• NSS Kids' Fun with Kampong Games
• Birdwatching at Semakau

Registration now open

• 12 Dec (Sat) and 19 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist Passport Camp at Sungei Buloh
• 5 Dec (Sat): Kusu Island Reefwalk with the Blue Water Volunteers.
• 5 Dec (Sat): Wild and Fabulous a fundraiser for ACRES
• 3 Dec (Thu), 6 Dec (Sun), 13 Dec (Sun): MAD lessons on seashore friends with Cicada Tree Eco Place.
  

Announcements

• The Kampong Melayu trail going into Chek Jawa Wetlands from Kelichap Hut to Punai will be closed for repair and improvement works from 9 Oct to 30 Nov. Access to Chek Jawa will be via the Quarry trail from Berberek Hut to Punai Hut.
• Food court at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanical Gardens closed until December for renovation.

Singapore news highlights

• Learning lab in a forest Straits Times 18 Nov 09;
• Bonfires of Trust, Flash-floods of Pain: Bukit Timah Floods 2009, from You run, we GEOG;
• Life History of the Glistening Caerulean from Butterflies of Singapore;
• Powering up Pulau Ubin: what wild effects? from wild shores of singapore;
• Red-legged Crake – road kill from Bird Ecology Study Group
• A new sponge species - including a Singapore specimen! from wild shores of singapore.
• Leonids let down? from wild shores of singapore.

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the week is this amazing shot of an Oriental whip snake eating a gecko shared by Chay Hoon on her blog.

Oriental Whip Snake Feeding, originally uploaded by il_mare77.

29 Nov (Sun): NSS Kids' Fun "Last Kampung of Singapore" Adventure

Travel back in time with Benjamin Ho of The Nature Ramblers when we visit the last surviving village in mainland Singapore at Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Even though it is only a stone’s throw from buzzing Hougang HDB estate, the idyllic calls of bulbuls, cicadas and kingfishers fill the air, while the smells of fresh kampong produce like ginger, lemongrass and pandan pervade. Experience what it is like living in a rustic wooden hut with zinc roof, surrounded by banana, chiku and rambutan trees with a river right at your doorstep.

Please register your kids (4 to 12 years old) at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if you are a NSS member or not, your mobile number, and if you need us to provide binoculars or not.

A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents are encouraged to come along at no charge. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.

Time: 8.30=10.30am.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

29 Nov (Sun): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

Special Mandarin guided tour
Time: 9.45am to 11.15am
Please call 67941401 to book this free guided tour. We need a minimum of 5 participants to commence the tour. Limited to maximum 15 participants.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

29 Nov (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers

A unique and educational dive experience in our local waters. Discover what is truly, uniquely Singapore!

Your support helps us monitor and document Hantu's reef on a regular basis! Let's see what's waiting for us out there this time!

Pre-registration is required.

Organised by the Hantu Bloggers, check out their blog for more details of the upcoming trip and to register online.

From the Hantu Bloggers: "The Hantu Blog Dives are integral to our work on the island. More than just an educational field trip, our dives are also our primary source of funding to develop and maintain public education work in schools and at national events. By joining our dives, you’ll not only be signing up for an insightful and eye-opening weekend, you’ll also be contributing to our efforts to safe guard Pulau Hantu and its marine life."

Join the The Hantu Bloggers Yahoo Group to read the trip itinerary, and to be informed of future dives.

Website: http://www.pulauhantu.org/
Contact: hantublog@gmail.com

29 Nov (Sun): Birdwatching at Semakau

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Lim Kim Keang leads this walk. A good time to visit Pulau Semakau for resident birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret and Malaysian Plover. There is also the possibility of seeing rare migrants like the Chinese Egret and Ashy Drongo.

Booking required at Kim Keang at kklimsg@singnet.com.sg. IC or Passport is mandatory for boat boarding. Strictly for members only on a first come first serve basis. Children under 12 years old are not allowed (NEA regulation).

Time: 7.30am, meet at the West Coast Pier near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. Return to mainland by 2.00pm.
Registration fee: Non-refundable fee of $28 for boat ride and administration. Send your cheques to NSS office by 10 Jan with the All-Purpose Form. Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

29 Nov (Sun): Let's Leaf Together - a workshop for kids

Join us and learn how to make beautiful but simple nature displays that are all made with leaves of various shapes and sizes! Creations include a butterfly, and a mouse. Materials are provided. Participants get to bring home their own creations.
Suitable for kids 4 to 10 years old.

To register, please email Lili at lin_lili@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 3 days before the event. Classes will commence with minimum 15 persons per session

Dates
29 Nov (Sun) and 5 Dec (Sat)

Time: 9-10.30am
Cost: $10/person(includes materials)
Venue: D'Space, Pasir Ris Park (Carpark E)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

28 Nov (Sat): HortPark Butterfly Garden Guided Tour

HortPark's latest attraction - Butterfly Garden - is an experimental project that supports efforts for a Butterfly Species Recovery Programme. It aims to breed various butterfly species, including locally extince species using suitable nectar and host plants in the enclosure.

Get up close and personal with the flying jewels, and learn their different stages of metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar into butterfly. Observe how pupae emerge into adult butterflies before taking their maiden flight within HortPark's Butterfly Garden.

This walk is held every last Saturday of the month

Time: 10am, please gather at the Butterfly Garden for the tour
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601

28 Nov (Sat): Heritage and Nature guided walk at Fort Canning Park

Free guided walk to discover the most historic part of Singapore. Malay & Chinese historical records point to this hill as the centre of a kingdom that arose around 1300AD. Previously a "Forbidden Hill", Fort Canning Park once housed some ancient Malay rulers as well as Sir Stamford Raffles who had his house built in 1823 during his 3rd and last visit to Singapore.

This walk is conducted by volunteer guides every last Saturday of the month.

Time: 4-5.30pm
Venue: Meet at Cox Terrace, in front of Fort Canning Centre, Fort Canning Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Lili at 63321302 or Goh_lili@nparks.gov.sg

28 Nov (Sat): NSS Kids' Fun with Kampong Games

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Calling all kids 4 to 12 years old. Join Gloria and Tim of the NSS Education Group in Fun with Kampong Games, in a repeat of last year's kids' activities at the NSS Get-Together. Shoot marbles, dabble in ‘five stones’ and enjoy team games such as ‘Eagle catches the Chicks’, ‘One-Leg’ and ‘Le-long’.

Register with Gloria at gloria_seow@yahoo.com stating your kids’ names and ages.

Time: 4.30-6pm.
Venue: MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Center during the NSS Get-Together held at the same venue.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

28 Nov (Sat): Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

The Naked Hermit Crabs introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. Even though we are not going on to the shore, there is still much to see and enjoy. There are monitor lizards, fiddler crabs, spiders, rare plants, wild boars, mudskippers and lots of fruit trees. If we are lucky, we might even spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle and the giant Atlas Moth.

The free walk will be held every last Saturday of the month.

Not more than five persons in a group please.

A message from the Crabs:

As our upcoming walk falls smack in the middle of the long Hari Raya Haji weekend, we are expecting huge crowds to descend upon Pulau Ubin. So, the Crabs have decided to change the timing of our walk to 9am. This new timing allows us to avoid the crowds going to Ubin as well as returning home. We also think the 9 am timing is perfect for the year-end monsoon season as you may have noticed that the storms in recent days happen in the afternoon.

Write to nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com with the title “Sign up for Chek Jawa Boardwalk Tour September” and we will confirm your places for you. We accept walk-ins too! As always, we ask that you come in small family and friend groups of not more than 5. Please don't organise an extended family group or a company outing. The Naked Hermit Crabs are, er.... small and vulnerable. We confess.... we will get overwhelmed by large groups.

Time: 9am meet at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk
Duration: Two hours
Cost: no charge for now, but donations accepted.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

28 Nov (Sat): "Why Do Birds Do What they Do" by Dr Wee Yeow Chin

Dr. Wee Yeow Chin, Chairman of the Bird Ecology Study Group, shares his insight on the remarkable things birds do.

Opened to all age groups.

Limited seats available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Sentosa Nature Discovery
Website and contact: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/nature_discovery.html

28 Nov (Sat): "Go Green with Singapore's Native Plants!"

Of the estimated 400,000 plant species in the world, more than 2200 are native to our little island of Singapore. But what is a native plant? And what is so important about native plants? How do I "go green" with native plants?

This talk by Ms Joyce Foo would shed light on these questions, as well as introduce some of our fascinating and delightful native plant species. You may be surprised to find out that you already know some of them!

Joyce was working on a project to conserve endangered native plants of Singapore, which has given her the opportunity to admire all kinds of amazing greenery, from shrubs to trees. She dreams of having her own garden, where leisure time can be spent with a book, a cat and yet more plants.

Brought to you by the 'Community in Bloom' Programme, in collaboration with the National Library Board and Hort. Excellence (NParks)

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Geylang East Public Library, Merpati Hall (Level 3)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

28 Nov (Sat): Evolution Garden Tour

A free guided walk of this unique garden in the Botanic Gardens, that tells the story of how our plants came to be. An easy stroll on paved paths among strange plants.

Suitable for kids.

This walk is held every fourth Saturday of the month. Please register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre.

Time: 9am (English tour) and 4pm (Mandarin tour)
Venue: Register at Visitor Centre before the tour starts.
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361

28 Nov (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

28 Nov (Sat): Trash to Treasure - a workshop for kids

Look beyond the empty water bottles, containers and used items and see their potential in our recycling art and craft workshop. Kids will have fun learning how to recycle common household items and make something old into something new again. This workshop features craftwork using tetrapaks.

Suitable for kids 4 to 10 years old.

To register, please email Lili at lin_lili@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 3 days before the event. Classes will commence with minimum 15 persons per session

Dates:
28 Nov (Sat) and 2 Dec (Wed)

Time: 9- 10.30am
Cost: $10/person(includes materials)
Venue: D'Space, Pasir Ris Park (Carpark E)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

26 Nov (Thu): Green Drinks - zero emission transport

Because you want to engage in a greater conversation about the environment, and steer it towards a positive outcome for the world.

This month, Jan Croeni, who successfully pushed for the availability of electric scooters and charging infrastructure in Singapore will speak about zero emission transportation, and in particular, electric scooters.

About the speaker: While he was the MD of Zeco Systems, he introduced Singapore's first production ready electric vehicle, set up Singapore's first electric charging locations at IKEA, INSEAD and PoMo, followed by Singapore's first solar charging station at Singapore Polytechnic.

Time: 8-10pm
Venue: Food #03, 109 Rowell Road (Off Serangoon Rd in Little India) map
Website: Green Drinks Facebook Group
Contact: olivia@greendrinks.org

26 Nov (Thu): All about Edible Plants - a tour for kids

Learn where healthy, yummy fruits and vegetables come from! Be amazed by the many different types of fruits and vegetables that we have in Jacob Ballas Children's Garden! Give your eyes a visual treat! Join us to learn interesting and amazing fruit and veggie facts.

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

25 Nov (Wed): Nature Bloggers 2.0 - Level Up!

After the successful run of blogging for nature workshops last year, The Leafmonkey Workshop is bringing back our blogging workshops. This workshop is for those who already have a blog and wish to know how to improve their blogs for more effective nature outreach.

Some of the topics covered in this workshop include:
1) How can I improve my blog's design and readability?
2) How should I structure my blog?
3) How can I reach out to more readers?
4) How do I integrate with other social media tools like twitter/facebook?
5) What should I know about copyright, ethics and etiquette?

Be prepared to work hard, have fun, make new friends and definitely learn new ways of looking at guiding and our wild places. This is a great opportunity to meet the faces behind the nature blogs that you always read and learn from other bloggers. Exchange ideas and experiences on blogging for nature!

PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
To participate in this workshop, you must have:
1) A regularly updated blog
2) Interest in blogging for nature outreach
3) Interest in exchanging blog ideas and experience with others
4) A laptop with wifi capabilities that you MUST bring to the workshop

About the speaker
November Tan is the author of the Midnight Monkey Monitor blog which was listed as Blogger’s Blog of Note in 2007. A self-confessed social media addict, she spends her off days testing new social media platforms and cooking up new projects. She currently coordinates workshops for nature volunteers under the initiative known as The Leafmonkey Workshop which has a popular blogging workshop series which she facilitates.

Please register by Friday, 20 November 2009.

More details of the event on the Leafmonkey Workshop

Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road [Map]
Website: http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Contact: leafmonkey@gmail.com

25 Nov (Wed): Let’s Leaf Together - a workshop for kids

Join us and learn how to make beautiful but simple nature displays that are all made with leaves of various shapes and sizes! Creations include a butterfly, and a mouse. Materials are provided. Participants get to bring home their own creations.
Suitable for kids 4 to 10 years old.

To register, please email Lili at lin_lili@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 3 days before the event. Classes will commence with minimum 15 persons per session

Dates
25 Nov (Wed), 29 Nov (Sun) and 5 Dec (Sat)

Time: 9-10.30am
Cost: $10/person(includes materials)
Venue: D'Space, Pasir Ris Park (Carpark E)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

23 Nov (Mon): "Conserving Moving Targets: How to Deal with Dynamic Species and Landscapes?"

A talk by Peter Leimgruber.

Traditional conservation strategies rely heavily on protected area approaches that attempt to conserve species and their habitat within a network of protected spaces. Such strategies are necessarily static in space and time and may have severe limitations if the target species have large area requirements or are extremely mobile.

Additionally, protected areas may not capture well the spatio-temporal variation in habitats and landscapes unless they are very large. Using Asian elephants Elephas maximus and Mongolian gazelles Procapra gutturosa as examples, this talk is intended to describe the special conservation challenges posed by dynamic species and habitats and why landscape-level conservation is required well beyond the borders of protected areas.

More about the talk on the Biodiversity Crew @ NUS blog.

Time: 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Venue: S2-04-11 (Seminar Room 1) Map

16-22 Nov: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

• Free Guided Nature Walk at Pasir Ris Park by Grant Pereira.
• MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place
• Adventure in the Garden - for kids
• Wild Isle Discovery workshops for kids: Rainforests.
• Wild Isle Discovery Workshops: Frogs and Toads
• The Art of Paper Folding at Sungei Buloh

Special event

• 17 Nov (Tue) and 18 Nov (Wed): Leonids meteor shower gazing

Walks in wild places

• Free Guided Nature Walk at Pasir Ris Park by Grant Pereira.
• Birdwatching at the Southern Ridges.
• Guided walk at the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin.
• Mangrove walk at Pasir Ris Park.
• Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday.
• Rainforest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail.
• Guided walk at the National Orchid Garden.

Talks this week

• 20 Nov (Fri): "An Orchid Survey of Northern Myanmar"

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

• Birdwatching at Choa Chu Kang Cemeteries.
• 20 Nov (Fri): "Gaps in Southeast Asian Ornithology" by Yong Ding Li

Registration now open

• 12 Dec (Sat) and 19 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist Passport Camp at Sungei Buloh
• 5 Dec (Sat): Wild and Fabulous a fundraiser for ACRES
• 3 Dec (Thu), 6 Dec (Sun), 13 Dec (Sun): MAD lessons on seashore friends with Cicada Tree Eco Place.
• 29 Nov (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers
• 25 Nov (Wed): Nature Bloggers 2.0 - Level Up! by the Leafmonkey Workshop.
• 20 Nov (Fri): MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Announcements

• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Route 2 closed 2-20 Nov (after Prawn Pond leading to Tower Hide 2C) for maintenance.
• The Kampong Melayu trail going into Chek Jawa Wetlands from Kelichap Hut to Punai will be closed for repair and improvement works from 9 Oct to 30 Nov. Access to Chek Jawa will be via the Quarry trail from Berberek Hut to Punai Hut.
• Food court at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanical Gardens closed until December for renovation.

Singapore news highlights

• Fishing enthusiasts have netted some huge prizes in Singapore waters: Whopper of a catch, Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 15 Nov 09;
• Studying mangroves to save Singapore's coast Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 14 Nov 09;
• Singapore studying vulnerability to climate change Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia 7 Nov 09;
• Volunteers needed to plant butterfly garden from The Green Volunteers;
• How to visit the shores of Singapore? from wonderful creation;
• Of Dragons and Lizards – Mistaken Identities #4 from My Itchy Fingers;
• Dives in Singapore from Psychedelic Nature;
• Eco-corridor for Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserve from spotlight's on nature;

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the week are these gorgeous mushrooms shared by Jac on her blog. Rain may be inconvenient to us, but wet weather often results in marvellous burst of life in our wild places!

venus_JQL5309, originally uploaded by _husky_.

22 Nov (Sun): Birdwatching at the Southern Ridges

If you are a bird-lover, be sure to join us for a chirpy experience at Southern Ridges! Comprising a chain of green-open spaces and forested areas spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park, the Southern Ridges is home to numerous species of flora and fauna yet to be fully explored. 43 species of birds have been recently surveyed in this area, and some of them are even rare and uncommon.

The event is free but registration is required.

Time: 7.30-9am
Venue: i-kiosk at Henderson Waves (Bridge between Mt Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601

22 Nov (Sun): The Art of Paper Folding at Sungei Buloh

Would you like to learn how to fold these cute little frogs?
And not just frogs, you can get to learn how to fold many more interesting creatures, or even boats which we used to fold during our childhood days! This is a good opportunity for us to bring ourselves back to our childhood days, or to pass on the skill to our children, or a new skill for us to pick up and pass on to others.

Origami is not only fun, but is also an artistic way of interpreting animals, plants, objects, or basically anything you can think of!

The focus of this origami workshop will be on animals that can be found in our nature areas.

Time: 2.30-4pm
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, meet at the Information Counter at the Visitor Centre
Website and contact: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/

22 Nov (Sun): Wild Isle Discovery workshops for kids - Rainforests

Take a walk on the wild side with Cicada Tree Eco-Place and learn all about Sentosa’s island habitats, plants and animals. Come learn all about our rainforest — how plants and animals live and interact with one another. This lesson will comprise a slide-talk on Singapore’s rainforest and take us on a walk through Sentosa’s Imbiah Nature Trail. We will learn about the many different types of plants and animals which call a rainforest home.

The Wild Isle Discovery workshops focus on biodiversity in our beautiful outdoors. Kids from 5 – 12 years old can learn in the living classroom of Sentosa. Learn and apply skills to: observe, compare, classify and infer.

Each workshop includes a 45 minute presentation, hands-on activities, showcasing of preserved and live specimens (where suitable) and a nature-guided walk to the habitat in focus. Materials will be provided for the walks and workshops.

Time: 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Venue: Sentosa Nature Discovery
Price: $23/Child (Public) | $20/Child (Cove Residents & Islander Cards)
FREE 1 accompanying adult per child (Prices are non-inclusive of on-island admission & transportation charges.)
To Register: Email education@sentosa.com.sg or call 1800-SENTOSA (736 8672) from 9am - 6.30pm. Reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis and close 5 days prior to workshop date.
Website: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/nature_discovery.html

22 Nov (Sun); Birdwatching at Choa Chu Kang Cemeteries

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Alan OwYong leads this walk. The cemeteries at Choa Chu Kang border the Western Live Firing areas and Poyan. These are relatively undisturbed and are excellent birding areas. Open landscapes, scattered trees and shrubs make up most of the habitat here. We will also check out the birdlife inside the Poyan restricted area from the Muslim Cemetery. Birding possibilities include the rare Jerdon’s Baza, Common Buzzard and flocks of Oriental Pratincoles.

Please carpool.

Time: 7.30am, meet at the junction of Path 2 and 13 at the Christian Cemetery. We will drive around the fringes to the Indian, Chinese and Muslim Cemeteries, stopping at vantage points and interesting high ground to look for raptor and passerine migrants.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

22 Nov (Sun): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

21 Nov (Sat): Adventure in the Garden - for kids

Learn all about interesting plants and gardening ideas as we bring you around the theme gardens and display plots at HortPark. Next, try your hand at the different steps of starting your own plant. Learn the various planting methods, and the basics of how to take care of your first plant! You will get to take home the potted plant you have created after the workshop.

Suitable for children above 5 years old. Limited to the first 30 sign-ups.

Time: 10am-12.30pm
Venue: HortPark, Visitor Services Counter
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601

21 Nov (Sat): Free Guided Nature Walk at Pasir Ris Park

Grant Pereira and the Green Volunteers take you on this 2-hour stroll through mangroves and vegetable and spice gardens.

Registration required. Email grant@singapore.com with your name, mobile number and total number of people attending. First come first serve basis!

Time: 9am sharp, meet at station control Pasir Ris MRT Station
Website and contact: http://thegreenvolunteers.blogspot.com/

21 Nov (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

21 Nov (Sat): Guided walk at the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin

Experience Ubin's wonderful nature through your senses along our Sensory Trail, the trail will brought you to the patch of herbs and spices and a "Secret Garden" to feel the original garden used to be on the island. Much more along the trail for you to explore.

This walk is held every third Saturday of the month.

Booking now online.

For more details about this walk, see the NParks website
More about the Sensory Trail on the wildsingapore website and Ubin Volunteers blog

Time: Walks starts 9.30am and lasts for about 1.5 hours. Meet at the Pulau Ubin Main Information Kiosk next to the Ubin Jetty.
Cost: $60 per group of 15 persons, maximum 6 groups
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

21 Nov (Sat): Mangrove walk at Pasir Ris Park

Eppy Walk What exactly is a mudskipper? And who is Fiddler crab or Sesamine crab? Does a dog-faced water snake look more like a dog or a snake? Join the team and discover answers to the questions above and more. And if we’re lucky, we may be able to see some of the seashore animals at the river mouth (depending on the tide conditions).

Suitable for kids.

Registration closes one day before the walk date.

This walk is held every third Saturday. More details on the Pasir Ris Park website.

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Green (Carpark C)
Cost: $4/person
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

21 Nov (Sat): Guided walk at the National Orchid Garden

A leisurely stroll through a garden of orchids and other special plants.

This walk is conducted by the volunteers of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every third Saturday of the month.

A tour in Mandarin is also conducted at 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am (English) and 4pm (Mandarin), register at Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Tour duration: One hour.
Cost: While the tour is free, admission charges to the Orchid Garden applies: $5/adult, $1/student, $1/senior citizens (above 60 years) , Child below 12 years - Free
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361

21 Nov (Sat): Rainforest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

A Walk in an Ancient Forest: This free guided nature walk brings you along natural winding hillside trails under tall rainforest trees. Learn about our only substantial patch of primary rainforest, spot forest creatures and strange forest plants.

Along a slightly undulating nature path, the walk is suitable for children aged 9 and above. The trail is not accessible to prams and wheelchairs.

More about the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Central Nature Reserve and is held every third Saturday of the month.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30am. Meet at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, at the ranger counter at 9.25am.
Tour duration: About one hour.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Woon_Ling_Ling@nparks.gov.sg or Tel:6554 5127

20 Nov (Fri): MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Monkeys are special. They are mammals just like we are. In Singapore, we have two species of monkeys that live wild and free. They are the Long-tailed Macaque and the Banded Leaf Monkey.

Come learn all about monkeys and other primates and how we can make a positive difference in their lives.

For kids aged 5-10 years.

Pre-registration required. Email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Cost: $15 per child which includes a lovely badge.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg

20 Nov (Fri): "An Orchid Survey of Northern Myanmar"

Dr Hubert Kurzweil (Senior Researcher, Singapore Herbarium) will be sharing his works on the orchid flora in Northern Myanmar. His research aims to improve on the knowledge of orchids in this region, largely a consequence of the political isolation of the country.

All are welcome!

Time: 4pm - 5pm
Venue: Function Hall, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Botany Centre (Enter by Tanglin Gate)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

20 Nov (Fri): "Gaps in Southeast Asian Ornithology" by Yong Ding Li

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region of stunning biological diversity, hosting some 15% of the earth’s bird species, of which over half are endemic. Unfortunately, bird research in this region is constantly hampered by a lack of interest, poor governmental support and a paucity of local researchers. To date, most studies concentrate on general bird surveys, taxonomy, habitat fragmentation effects, ecology of charismatic bird families (eg hornbills and raptors) and the conservation of flagship species (eg Giant Ibis, Philippine Eagle and the Maleo). Join Ding Li as he gives an overview of ornithological research in SEA for the past three decades, and highlights the major gaps that should be addressed.

In conjunction, the Singapore Bird Group (SBG) will introduce the Small-Grant Scheme for Bird Conservation Studies (SGS-BCS) in Singapore. This pioneering scheme aims to increase bird research in Singapore especially on locally threatened species. Details will be available on the day of the talk.

Time: 8-9.30pm.
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,,Singapore 389466
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

20 Nov (Fri): Wild Isle Discovery Workshops - Frogs and Toads

Take a walk on the wild side with Cicada Tree Eco-Place and learn all about Sentosa’s island habitats, plants and animals. Check out Sentosa’s frogs and toads! What are they? Where can they be found? This lesson will comprise a slide-talk on Singapore’s native frogs and toads as well as a night walk on the wild isle of Sentosa.

The Wild Isle Discovery workshops focus on biodiversity in our beautiful outdoors. Kids from 5 – 12 years old can learn in the living classroom of Sentosa. Learn and apply skills to: observe, compare, classify and infer.

Each workshop includes a 45 minute presentation, hands-on activities, showcasing of preserved and live specimens (where suitable) and a nature-guided walk to the habitat in focus. Materials will be provided for the walks and workshops.

Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Venue: Sentosa Nature Discovery
Price: $23/Child (Public) | $20/Child (Cove Residents & Islander Cards)
FREE 1 accompanying adult per child (Prices are non-inclusive of on-island admission & transportation charges.)
To Register: Email education@sentosa.com.sg or call 1800-SENTOSA (736 8672) from 9am - 6.30pm. Reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis and close 5 days prior to workshop date.
Website: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/nature_discovery.html

18 Nov (Wed): Leonids Meteor Shower Gazing

Astronomers have predicted that the annual Leonids might put up the most dramatic light show not seen in recent years as the earth passes close to the centre of the comet’s debris trail laid down in 1466. The ideal locations for viewing are in Asia and North America.

On stage, there will be performances by Kenji Williams, an audio visual art performer, while offstage, visitors will be entertained by the Science Buskers. For astronomy buffs, an accompanying meteorite exhibition, a talk by TASOS, on-site telescope viewing of the planet Jupiter and inflatable planetarium tours for children will also be held.

More details on astronomy.sg. Some background also on the wild shores of singapore.

Time: 8pm – 5am
(8pm–2am: activities/2am – 5am: free & easy)
Venue: Japanese Gardens
Website and contact: http://astronomy.sg/

17 Nov (Tue): Leonids Meteor Shower Gazing

Astronomers have predicted that the annual Leonids might put up the most dramatic light show not seen in recent years as the earth passes close to the centre of the comet’s debris trail laid down in 1466. The ideal locations for viewing are in Asia and North America.

On stage, there will be performances by Kenji Williams, an audio visual art performer, while offstage, visitors will be entertained by the Science Buskers. For astronomy buffs, an accompanying meteorite exhibition, a talk by TASOS, on-site telescope viewing of the planet Jupiter and inflatable planetarium tours for children will also be held.

More details on astronomy.sg. Some background also on the wild shores of singapore.

Time: 8pm – 5am
(8pm–2am: activities/2am – 5am: free & easy)
Venue: Japanese Gardens
Website and contact: http://astronomy.sg/

9-15 Nov: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

• MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place.
• Bats are beautiful! a night workshop for kids

Walks in wild places

• Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday.
• Nature walk at MacRitchie Prunus Trail.
• "Getting to Know MacRitchie" walk.
• Forest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail.

Talks this week

• 14 Nov (Sat): "Colours of the Sea - An Underwater Fiesta!" for kids by Siti Maryam.
• 14 Nov (Sat): "Sexy & Naked For You" on slug photography by Ivan Choong.
• 11 Nov (Wed): "Nature is Changing: Copenhagen and beyond – what does it mean for Asia?" dialogue with experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  

Film screening

• From 3 Nov: "Under the Sea 3D" screening at Omni-Theatre.

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

• Horseshoe crab Research and Rescue.
• Butterfly Walk at Pasir Ris Park.

Announcements

• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Route 2 closed 2-20 Nov (after Prawn Pond leading to Tower Hide 2C) for maintenance.
• The Kampong Melayu trail going into Chek Jawa Wetlands from Kelichap Hut to Punai will be closed for repair and improvement works from 9 Oct to 30 Nov. Access to Chek Jawa will be via the Quarry trail from Berberek Hut to Punai Hut.
• Kusu Island pilgrimage season 18 Oct - 16 Nov: road to Pier closed, regular ferries to St. John's suspended.

Registration now open

• 12 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist Passport Camp at Sungei Buloh
• 5 Dec (Sat): Wild and Fabulous a fundraiser for ACRES
• 29 Nov (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers
• 25 Nov (Wed): Nature Bloggers 2.0 - Level Up! by the Leafmonkey Workshop.
• 20 Nov (Fri): MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Singapore news highlights

• Crab expert leads charge on climate: Prof Peter Ng and the Dodo Chang Ai-Lien, Straits Times 7 Nov 09;
• Clean coal/biomass cogeneration plant on Jurong Island to go ahead Ronnie Lim, Business Times 4 Nov 09;
• Guitar shark caught off Changi Teh Jen Lee, The New Paper 5 Nov 09 AsiaOne;
• Birds at Changi shot down only as a last resort Straits Times Forum 4 Nov 09;
• Malaysia to double tiger population by next year: government AFP Google News 5 Nov 09;
• Trash-eating Turtles Dying in Record Numbers PRWEB 5 Nov 09;
• New record for Singapore! A sea cucumber at Changi from wild shores of singapore.

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the week is this tiny basket star at Pulau Hantu found and shared by James on his blog. Our shores are very much alive!

Basket star, originally uploaded by [wj].

15 Nov (Sun): MAD lessons on monkeys with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Monkeys are special. They are mammals just like we are. In Singapore, we have two species of monkeys that live wild and free. They are the Long-tailed Macaque and the Banded Leaf Monkey.

Come learn all about monkeys and other primates and how we can make a positive difference in their lives.

For kids aged 5-10 years.

Pre-registration required. Email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Other date
20 Nov (Fri)

Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Cost: $15 per child which includes a lovely badge.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg

15 Nov (Sun): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

Special Mandarin guided tour at 9.30am to 11am. Please call at 67941401 to book this free guided tour. We need a minimum of 5 participants to commence the tour. Limited to maximum 15 participants.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

14 Nov (Sat): Bats are beautiful! - a night workshop for kids

Bats are awesome flying mammals. They are important to us as they help pollinate plants that in turn produce fruit for us. Insect-eating bats help control our insect-pest numbers, while fruit-eating bats help disperse seeds that contribute to our forests. Join us in this bat-watching session and enjoy a “wayang kulit” (shadow-puppet show) about bats.

Suitable for children between 5-11 years old.

Limited to the first 30 sign-ups. Registration is on first-come-first-serve-basis. Closing date: 2 days before each programme. Please note that each workshop will only commence with minimum 15 participants. This is a collaboration between NParks and Cicada Tree Eco-Place.

Time: 5.30-8pm
Cost: $20 per child (materials included)
Venue: HortPark, Hands-On House
Contact: For more information or registration, please contact HortPark Visitor Services Counter at 6471-5601 or NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

14 Nov (Sat): ""Why Do Birds Do What they Do" by Dr Wee Yeow Chin

Dr. Wee Yeow Chin, Chairman of the Bird Ecology Study Group, shares his insight on the remarkable things birds do.

Opened to all age groups.

Limited seats available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Sentosa Nature Discovery
Website and contact: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/nature_discovery.html

14 Nov (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

14 Nov (Sat): Nature walk at MacRitchie Prunus Trail

Botanical wonders of MacRitchie. Free guided nature walk along boardwalks hugging the MacRitchie Reservoir. Learn about this mature secondary, spot forest and aquatic wildlife, enjoy panaromic views of waters surrounded by luxuriant forest.

Suitable for young children.

More about the MacRitchie Prunus Trail on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks Central Nature Reserve and is held every second Saturday of the month.

Time: 9.30am. Meet at entrance of the trail, about 50m after the canoe kiosk on the eastern side of MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
Tour duration: About one hour.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Woon_Ling_Ling@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

14 Nov (Sat): "Getting to know MacRitchie" walk

Want to about the history and importance of MacRitchie? Then this is the walk for you. Starting at the roundabout within the park, the first portion of the walk will cover the history of MacRitchie and its relationship with water. The second portion of the walk will cover how the forests around the reservoir play a very important role in maintaining the water quality�in MacRitchie�and how the various flora and fauna, within the forests, are vital to life. The walk will weave through the forest trail and end at the bandstand.

This free walk is also available in Mandarin, upon request.

Kindly dress in comfortable clothing and shoes for this walk. Do bring along water and an umbrella. In the event of bad weather, the walk will be cancelled.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9am, meet at the MacRitchie cafeteria at 8.55am.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Call 65545127 for enquiry and/or free registration.