wild happenings in singapore: April 2013

22-28 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Paint along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh

Walks in wild places

28 Apr (Sun): Paint along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh

Free art-and-nature appreciation at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Tham Pui San, a volunteer of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, is an avid artist who expresses his passion for nature through his art work.

Pui San welcomes artists of all ages or anyone who wants to learn. His objective is to encourage creativity while enjoying nature at the same time. Bring along your favourite drawing or painting supplies and enjoy learning different drawing techniques at Sungei Buloh.

More in the art in the wetlands blog.

Time: 8.30-11.30am, meet at Information Counter, Visitor Centre.
Admission charges:While the art session is free, usual admission charges to Reserve apply. $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve at info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

27 Apr (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 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

27 Apr (Sat): HortPark Butterfly Garden guided tour

HortPark's Butterfly Garden is a 150-sqm landscaped theme garden comprising an enclosure and an outdoor garden. Providing a visual feast of tropical plants and nearly 20 species of native butterflies, the Butterfly Garden enables visitors to learn about the different stages of metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar into butterfly. Within the enclosure, visitors are greeted with an up close and personal encounter with these flying jewels and can observe how pupae emerge into adult butterflies before taking their maiden flight.

Photo from the Butterflies of Singapore blog:
Launch of the Butterfly Garden at Hort Park.

The Butterfly Garden also serves as an experimental garden for National Parks Board to work on a Butterfly Species Recovery Programme to research on suitable nectar and host plants for breeding a variety of butterfly species, including locally extinct species such as Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) and Common Sergeant (Athyma perius).

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 free and is held every last Saturday of the month.

Time: 9-11am, please gather at the Butterfly Garden for the tour
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601

22 Apr (Mon): Earth Day 2013: Guided bird-watching session at Singapore Quarry Wetland

While the earth continues to face changes, we show that making a positive difference can start with just a few people. Three NParks officers come together with a desire to help interested public appreciate the diverse and abundant birdlife through a special guided session.

We invite you to come and join us in this journey. Make Earth Day 2013 meaningful for you!

Registration is required, closes on 19 April, and is on a first-come, first served basis. Please e-mail Ramakrishnan at ramakrishnan_kolandavelu@nparks.gov.sg or Ryuta at ryuta_teo@nparks.gov.sg. The session can take a maximum of 20 participants.

Time: 7.30-9.30am
Venue: Meet at Carpark A of Dairy Farm Nature Park
From the NParks facebook page (event not listed on the NParks website)

15-21 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and families

Walks in wild places

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Birdwatching at Pulau Semakau

21 Apr (Sun): Birdwatching at Kranji Marsh

Open to the public.

From the meeting point, a hired bus will ferry us to our destination. We begin with a pleasant stroll along a countryside road to the Kranji Marshes 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 PUB's ABC Waters Programme. Birding highlights here include the Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, White-browed Crake, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and more.

Register by 23 Apr on the NSS website. A registration form will then be emailed to you. Max: 20 pax. Open to the public but children below 12 are not allowed for safety reasons.

Time: 7.45am to 11.00am, meet Willie Foo at Kranji Dam Carpark B near the tidal gates of Kranji Reservoir, off Kranji Way. Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

21 Apr (Sun): Mandarin guided tour 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.

Pre-register by calling 67941401, minimum 5 participants to start the tour and maximum 15. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve.

More about the Mandarin guided walks on the Purple Mangrove blog. More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website.

Time: 9.30 am, meet at the Information Counter, 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

20 Apr (Sat): Birdwatching at Pulau Semakau

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

January is a good time to visit Pulau Semakau for its varied birdlife. In addition to resident attractions like the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret and Malaysian Plover, it is possible to see rare migrants such as the Chinese Egret and Ashy Drongo.

More details on the NSS website.

Time: 7.30am-2pm. Meet at West Coast Pier near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.
Cost: $30 per person
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Celebrations at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Join these exciting events at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to celebrate Earth Day.

Click on image for larger view.

9am - Plant-a-Propagule (while stocks last, plant a baby mangrove tree!)
9.30am and 9.45am: Guided Tour of the Mangroves
10-11am - Talk on "Mangroves: Web of Love and Hate Relationships"
Throughout the day - Pebble Painting, Nature Origami

Click on image for larger view.

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

20 Apr (Sat): Race Against Time – Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

Join this free one-hour tour by the Botanic Gardens staff to learn more about the Gardens’ research work.

Come and explore the hub of the Gardens' research facilities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to learn about botanical research. Find out about the urgency of plant exploration, collection and scientific documentation as species and habitats continue to be lost in the region. Visit the Orchid Micro-propagation and hybridisation display and find out how new hybrids are produced. You can also enter the restricted domain of the Herbarium and Library to learn about the valuable historical treasures they hold for science and posterity.

Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Green Pavilion, Botany Centre. Limited to 20 participants.

Time: 10-11am
Meeting point: Green Pavilion, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: NParks_SBG_Visitor_Services@nparks.gov.sg.

20 Apr (Sat): A walk in an ancient forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the largest surviving primary rainforest in Singapore. Come and join us on a fascinating journey of discovery to learn more about the natural wonders of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and why we should protect and conserve its complex ecosystem and diversity.

This free guided walk will introduce you to the common native flora and fauna found in the primary rainforest.

This guided walk is suitable for families with children 9 and above, and groups of not more than 5. Along a slightly undulating natural path, 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.

Sign up on this online form.

Time: 9.25am-10.30am. Meet at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, at the ranger counter.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

20 Apr (Sat): National Orchid Garden guided tour

Explore the beauty and diversity of orchids in the National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Since 1859, orchids have been closely associated with the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The products of the Gardens' orchid breeding programme, which began in 1928, deserve a place where they can be displayed in their full splendour. The very design of these orchids is, one could say, 'hand-crafted' by the Gardens' horticultural staff, dedicated to bringing out the finest in any hybrid cross.

Over 1000 species and 2,000 hybrids are now found in the Gardens' collection, with about 600 species and hybrids on display. Every year, more vibrant and enduring hybrids are added on. So that all may admire and enjoy their diversity, richness and beauty, the National Orchid Garden now offers a permanent showcase, the largest display of tropical orchids in the world.

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

20 Apr (Sat): Free Earth Day Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

There are fascinating mangroves at Pasir Ris Park! Easily explored through the boardwalks and it's open even at night! Join the Naked Hermit Crabs for an evening stroll through this interesting but often overlooked mangrove.

Here, we are sure to see lots of crazy tree climbing crabs, delightful giant mudskippers and cool monitor lizards. Pasir Ris is also one of the few places where nesting herons are easily observed. And as the sun sets, we might spot some nocturnal animals like watersnakes. If we're lucky, we may catch a glimpse of the rare Mangrove pitta or the family of otters that have been seen here! More details on the Naked Hermit Crabs blog.

Register through this online form. A confirmation note will be sent.

Time: 5pm. We should end at around 6.30pm, just before sunset.
Meeting point: Pasir Ris Park, Carpark C, meet near the first toilets nearest the entrance to the carpark. The meeting point is a short stroll from the Pasir Ris MRT station. Map
Website and contact: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/

20 Apr (Sat): Guided walk at the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin

Experience Ubin's wonderful nature through your senses along our Sensory Trail. This is an excellent introduction to the rustic and natural character of the island. You will be able to touch, see or smell fruit trees, spices and herbs for cooking, plants used in traditional medicine and native plants of the mangrove forest.

Booking now online until 10 Apr.

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. More on how to get to Pulau Ubin.
Cost: $60 per group of 15 persons, maximum 6 groups
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Special - Sara goes Carbon Footprinting

Join Sara, the Botanicosaurus, and her new friend, Rana the Frog in this tour and learn about carbon footprints and the many little but important things that all of us can do to make a difference for our home, Planet Earth! Young participants will also be introduced to some useful and multi-purpose trees!

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")

Suitable for children in P3 – P6 levels

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fee: $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 “Sara Goes Carbon Footprinting" workbook) and $6 per accompanying adult
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Special: Storytime with Sara - Learning about the 3Rs

Join us for a fun-filled storytelling session, specially designed for little ones. Together with Sara and her friend, Rana the Frog, children will learn about the importance of trees, how to save the earth and what we can do to protect the environment.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the SBG Education Branch at 6471 9961; 6465 0196 or email: nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Suitable for children in K1 – P2 levels

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

20 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

8-14 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

13 Apr (Sat): Butterfly Walk at Bukit Brown

Open to the public.

Invaluable for its cultural heritage, Bukit Brown is also a good place to look for butterflies, given its proximity to MacRitchie forest and the Botanic Gardens. Close to 60 species have been recorded here. These include the rare Golden Royal butterfly and the Banded Lineblue, newly discovered in 2012. NSS Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide.

Time: 9.30am-12noon
Venue: Meet Anuj Jain at the main gate of Bukit Brown Cemetery, located at the end of Lorong Halwa.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

13 Apr (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Bukit Timah

The long-tailed macaques at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are commonly seen, but often misunderstood. Few know about the social world of these monkeys. They have family members, power struggles, friends, foes, and a complex social network. In many ways, they mirror our own social life!

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Bukit Timah, please join our walk, led by experts in these unique creatures.

Register at sg.monkey.walk@gmail.com, at least 3 days in advance. Do provide us with your name, contact number (in case of cancellation, we will contact you), number of adult and children participants (at most, 5 participants per registration). Upon receiving your registration, we will reply with a confirmation email. The walk will be cancelled if there is bad weather 45 minutes before the walk.

This walk is held every second Saturday of the month.

Time: 5-6.30pm
Venue: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (Meeting point is at the Ranger Counter)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

13 Apr (Sat): HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids

This FREE art workshop helps children to delve deep into their hearts to express nature in various themed art activities like drawing, fingerprinting, origami, puppet making. The children will also learn about our natural heritage.

Suitable for children aged 5 to 8 years (with parental supervision).

Limited spaces available. Register online or email vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30-10.30am. The workshop will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.
Venue: Dairy Farm Nature Park- Wallace Education Centre
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

13 Apr (Sat): Forest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

A free guided nature walk through a rainforest right in the heart of the city! Along a boardwalk, under the shade of giant trees, learn about our rainforests, spot forest creatures and strange plants.

Suitable for young children.

More about the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail on the wildsingapore website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NPark's Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every second Saturday of the month.

Tours in Mandarin are available at 10am and 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 4pm; Register 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One hour.
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services, 64717361 or NPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

13 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

1-7 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

Other wild happenings

Talk on "Butterflies can be Easy to Learn"

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

NSS Kids’ Fun with Snakes at Pasir Ris Park

6 Apr (Sat): Talk on "Butterflies can be Easy to Learn"

Learn about butterflies from one of the youngest butterfly experts in Singapore, 20 year old Tea Yi Kai. He has been writing about fish since young until he started getting dirty in our forests with butterfly photography. Yi Kai will show you how butterflies can be super easy to learn, and watching them so fun. All you need is a keen eye, a camera and lots of passion. Be prepared to go through a stunning photo gallery in this public talk as well.

This talk is open to the public.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: NSS Office, 510 Geylang Road, #02-05, The Sunflower, (S) 389466
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

6 Apr (Sat): NSS Kids’ Fun with Snakes at Pasir Ris Park

The Chinese Year of the Water Snake has arrived. Come observe Singapore’s very own water snakes at Pasir Ris mangrove boardwalk. Expect to see the Dog-faced Water Snake that mostly emerges at night. If we are lucky, we might spot three rarer estuarine species: the Cantor’s, Crab-eating and Gerard’s Water Snakes. Kids will get to examine preserved specimens and snake moults as well as learn more about our slithery friends.

Please register your children (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if they are NSS members or not, if you need us to loan you a pair of binoculars or not, and let us have your mobile number. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.

Open to the public.

Time: 6.30-8.30 pm.
Cost: $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.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

6 Apr (Sat): Birdwatching at Lorong Halus

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

This walk will start at the Punggol Promenade. For years, Little Grebes and Common Moorhens have made their home at Lorong Halus, an old rubbish dump site. Grassland birds like Yellow-bellied Prinias, Munias, Baya Weavers, Long-tailed Shrikes and more thrive here. In 2011, PUB completed 'Lorong Halus Wetland' to help purify water that flow through the dump site. Come join Jimmy Lee in an enjoyable morning of sights and sounds presented by these birds. NSS Kids attending the walk with their parents will have a dedicated kids guide.

Time: 7.30-11am. Meet beside the Popeye Restaurant at Tebing Lane off Punggol East. You can take the MRT to Punggol station and transfer to the LRT. Alight at Riviera LRT station and walk towards the meeting point.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

6 Apr (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 boar, 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.

Wild boar crossing! Getting close to nature

Not more than five persons in a group, pre-register with this online form.

More details on the event and how to get to Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin on the Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs blog.

Time: 9.30am meet at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk, Pulau Ubin.
Duration: Two hours
Cost: no charge for now, but donations accepted.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

6 Apr (Sat): HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids

Suitable for children aged 5 to 8 years (with parental supervision).

Limited spaces available. Register online or email vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30-10.30am. The workshop will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.
Venue: Hindhede Nature Park (meet at Pulai Hut)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

6 Apr (Sat): Tour of the Healing Garden, Botanic Gardens

A free guided tour of the newly launched Healing Garden which showcases over 400 varieties of plants used medicinally. It is laid out thematically relating to component parts of the body such as head, respiratory and reproductive systems. Spread over 2.5 hectares, this garden is designed as a tranquil retreat with medical plants traditionally used in Southeast Asia as the main focus.

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am and 10am, please register 15 minutes before the tour
Venue: Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)

wild happenings in singapore

Pages

22-28 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

28 Apr (Sun): Paint along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh

27 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

27 Apr (Sat): HortPark Butterfly Garden guided tour

22 Apr (Mon): Earth Day 2013: Guided bird-watching session at Singapore Quarry Wetland

15-21 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

21 Apr (Sun): Birdwatching at Kranji Marsh

21 Apr (Sun): Mandarin guided tour at Sungei Buloh

20 Apr (Sat): Birdwatching at Pulau Semakau

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Celebrations at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

20 Apr (Sat): Race Against Time – Science behind a Botanic Garden Tour

20 Apr (Sat): A walk in an ancient forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

20 Apr (Sat): National Orchid Garden guided tour

20 Apr (Sat): Free Earth Day Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

20 Apr (Sat): Guided walk at the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Special - Sara goes Carbon Footprinting

20 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Special: Storytime with Sara - Learning about the 3Rs

20 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

8-14 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

13 Apr (Sat): Butterfly Walk at Bukit Brown

13 Apr (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Bukit Timah

13 Apr (Sat): HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids

13 Apr (Sat): Forest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

13 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

1-7 Apr: Highlights of the week ahead

6 Apr (Sat): Talk on "Butterflies can be Easy to Learn"

6 Apr (Sat): NSS Kids’ Fun with Snakes at Pasir Ris Park

6 Apr (Sat): Birdwatching at Lorong Halus

6 Apr (Sat): Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

6 Apr (Sat): HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids

6 Apr (Sat): Tour of the Healing Garden, Botanic Gardens

6 Apr (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

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