wild happenings in singapore: February 2015

28 Feb (Sat): Seeker's Trail Family Games Day

Join this treasure hunt trail and fight myopia. Get a free copy of the "Seeker's Trail" booklet and follow Kyle the Kingfisher, Lynn the Leopard cat and a pack of local animals as they battle evil creatures that vow to make the whole world myopic.

Join in our live-storytelling session where characters in the books get brought to life, along with a host of educational games about myopia. Fighting myopia has never been more fun! Sign up early and grab a free goodie-bag.

For children aged 5-9, and their parents.

The event is free but pre-registration is required on www.seeksingapore.com/events

The event is organised by SEEK (Stop the Eye Epidemic in Kids) which aims to encourage parents to take their kids for more outdoor play to combat the rising rates of myopia in Singapore.

Time: 4-7pm
Venue: Sembawang Park
Website: http://www.seeksingapore.com/

28 Feb (Sat): Pulau Ubin Kampong Tour Guided Walk

Take a walk with us to experience Ubin's wonderful natural and cultural heritage. The walk takes about 2 hour to complete. The tour will start at the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub and take you through the spice trees around Jelutong campsite, Butterfly Hill, Pekan Quarry, Sensory Trail Ponds, Kampong House, Old Bin Kiang School site, Toa Pek Kong Temple and end at the Wayang Stage. You will hear about the use of spices in cooking and the interesting history of the different sites. Do you know what the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub was in the 1970s? When was the Toa Pek Kong Temple built? If you would like to know, then this is an excellent introduction to the heritage of the island.

Register on the NParks website.

Time: 9:30-11:30 am
Venue: Meet at Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub. More on how to get to Pulau Ubin.
Cost: $60 per group (for a maximum of 15 persons) up to maximum of 4 groups.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

28 Feb (Sat): What's in my mud?

The mud at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a key habitat for the plants and animals. This unique habitat is full of surprises! Get close and personal to the mud and observe the rich biodiversity; critical to the ecosystem at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Join us for an interesting guided walk featuring our lesser known creatures of the mudflats in Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants, register on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

28 Feb (Sat): NSS Kids’ Fun with Pulau Ubin’s Natural and Cultural Heritage

Open to the Public - Registration needed

Join The Education Group in a fun exploration of Pulau Ubin’s natural and cultural heritage. We will point out the wild birds, butterflies, dragonflies and vertebrates living in Ubin’s secondary forests, ponds, scrubland and mangroves. The rich cultural and historical tapestry of Ubin can also be savoured alongside, from quaint kampong homes and colourful temples to granite quarries.

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 they need to loan binoculars (FOC) or not, and let us have your mobile number. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.

Time: 8.30-11am
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. Please note that bumboat fees are $2.50 per pax each way.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

28 Feb (Sat): Coastal Cleanup at Mandai Mudflats

Open to the Public - Registration needed

As the monsoon season draws to a close, join us as we resume our cleanup of the Mandai mudflats to benefit the wildlife that thrive here. This stretch of coastline is a key habitat for horseshoe crabs and an important feeding site for wading birds.

To participate in this meaningful experience, please register with Kerry Pereira (kerry@nss.org.sg) or at the NSS website stating your full name, email and contact number. Details will be emailed to all participants.

Time: 12.30-3.30pm
Venue: Mandai Mudflats. More details will be emailed to those who register.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

28 Feb (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.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

28 Feb (Sat): Nature Keeper Programme

Designed to stimulate the interest of the young and inculcate in them an appreciation of our forests, the Nature Keeper Programme Workshop will be carried out at the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves. Beyond the workshops, the programme also aims to nurture young volunteers in active protection and conservation of our natural heritage.

Suitable for children 7 - 11 years old (Primary 1 to 5)

Minimum of 10 children, Maximum of 20 children. Register online at the Nparks website.

Time: 9am - 12noon
Venue: Dairy Farm Nature Park, Wallace Environmental Learning Lab
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

28 Feb (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 15 minutes before the tour starts, and 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: 64717361 / 64717138 orNParks_SBG_Visitor_Services@nparks.gov.sg.

16-22 Feb: Highlights of the week ahead

Wild walks

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin

Go wild on your own!
During the up coming holidays, why not explore our wild places free-and-easy? Great destinations include Pulau Ubin and a wide range of seashores, mangroves and forest destinations. Check out the many DIY Trail Guides on the NParks website. Lots of info for visitors on wildsingapore with tips on how to prepare for a trip, how to get there and what to see and do.

Tips for visiting during a long holiday
Our wild places and parks can get VERY crowded on long holidays. The best way to avoid the crowds is to arrive early in the morning and leave early. Our wildlife is generally more active in the morning too!

22 Feb (Sun): Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, an island that never fails to surprise. Ten travel by island taxi from Ubin jetty to Chek Jawa where we will look for waders and waterfowl around the boardwalk and Pulau Sekudu. Thereafter, we intend to walk back to Ubin Jetty, birding along the way. Island specialities include the Red Junglefowl, Oriental Pied Hornbill and the globally-endangered Straw-headed Bulbul. Please prepare fees for bumboat ($2.50 per pax each way) and island taxi fare ($2 per pax).

Time: 7.15am
Venue: Meet at Changi Jetty at 7.15 am sharp as we aim to catch the low tide (0.8 m at 8 am) in Chek Jawa.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

21 Feb (Sat): Nature Trail Walk with the BES Drongos

Come on an invigorating walk along the Petai Trail! Learn more about nature spaces in Singapore and the biodiversity found in our physical landscape of the secondary forest at Macritchie Reservoir Park. The walk is on gravel path and boardwalk, some elevation but no steep stairs.

The BES Drongos are a group of nature lovers from the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) programme who have come together to manage guided walks on nature trails open to everyone! We want to bring people to appreciate and understand local biodiversity and our ecological systems in Singapore through our guided walks on the Petai Trail at Macritchie Reservoir Park.

Registration required online at besdrongos.eventbrite.sg

Time: 8.45am-12noon
Meeting point: Mushroom cafe at the entrance of Macritchie Reservoir Park
Website: http://besdrongos.wordpress.com

21 Feb (Sat): What's in my mangroves?

Mangrove forests are living borders of the freshwater and salt water. Out of 73 true mangroves species worldwide, 22 can be found in Sungei Buloh. Join us for a lovely morning walk and get to know the mangrove trees and plants of the forest.

Limited to 20 participants, register on the NParks website

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Information Centre
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

21 Feb (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

21 Feb (Sat): National Orchid Garden guided tour

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

Full map at http://www.sbg.org.sg/map_nog.htmThis 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 Feb (Fri): Istana Open House for Chinese New Year

The Istana grounds are open to the public in celebration of Chinese New Year. View the Istana gardens while a variety of performances on the grounds provide entertainment. You may also have the chance to have your photos taken with the President and First Lady when they come by to greet visitors.

There will be guided nature walks by volunteer guides trained by NParks who will share snippets of the Istana’s history and little-known facts of the resident flora and fauna. Highlights of the walk include plants which were a key part of the Istana’s history, such as the nutmeg at the Spice Terrace. Other examples of plants uncommon outside the Istana’s grounds are the Meninjau tree, Nibong palm and the fragrant Bread Flower climber. Visitors may also spot birds like the Oriental Magpie Robin and Lesser Whistling Ducks residing in the grounds, which have long been used as a conservation sanctuary for many species. More details on the NParks website.

Selected function rooms with displays of gifts presented to the President and Prime Minister by foreign dignitaries can be viewed for a fee of $2. All proceeds from entrance fees and the sale of Istana souvenirs will be donated to charity.

More details on the Istana website and on AsiaOne.

Time: 8.30am - 6pm
Venue: Entrance to the grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road.
Charges: Admission to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents. Others, including foreign visitors, are charged $1 per person.
Website: http://www.istana.gov.sg/

9-15 Feb: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Seeker's Trail Family Games Day

Walks in wild places

14 Feb (Sat): Seeker's Trail Family Games Day

Join in our live-storytelling session where characters in the books get brought to life, along with a host of educational games about myopia. Fighting myopia has never been more fun! Sign up early and grab a free goodie-bag.

For children aged 5-9, and their parents.

The event is free but pre-registration is required on www.seeksingapore.com/events

The event is organised by SEEK (Stop the Eye Epidemic in Kids) which aims to encourage parents to take their kids for more outdoor play to combat the rising rates of myopia in Singapore.

Time: 4-7pm
Venue: Pasir Ris Park
Website: http://www.seeksingapore.com/

14 Feb (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Macritchie

The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at Macritchie Reservoir Park. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network. In many ways, they provide a mirror of our own sociality.

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Macritchie, please join our walk, led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute Singapor e.

Suitable for adults and children above 8 years

Register at sg.monkey.walk@gmail.com, at least 3 days in advance. Do provide us with your preferred date, 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.

Time: 5-6.30pm
Venue: Macritchie Reservoir Park, Lawn @ Paddle Lodge
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

14 Feb (Sat): What's in my water?

What's that swimming in the water? A fish, a worm or an insect? Join us for an interesting morning walk getting to know the creatures and plants that lives in and around the water edges of Sungei Buloh.

Limited to 20 participants, register on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Information Counter
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

14 Feb (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

14 Feb (Sat): Rainforest Tour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

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 orNPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

2-8 Feb: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

Wild talks

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

8 Feb (Sun): Nature Trail Walk with the BES Drongos

8 Feb (Sun): Birdwatching at Bukit Brown

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Join us for a walk around this unique and historical corner of Singapore. Sections have been closed off for road construction but there are still interesting and undisturbed areas to explore. Expect to see a mix of parkland, open country and forest birds such as babblers, bulbuls, doves, flowerpeckers, parakeets, sunbirds and woodpeckers.

Time: 7.30-12noon.
Venue: Meet at the entrance of Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery near the junction of Sime Road and Kheam Hock Road.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

7 Feb (Sat): Seeker's Trail Family Games Day

Join in our live-storytelling session where characters in the books get brought to life, along with a host of educational games about myopia. Fighting myopia has never been more fun! Sign up early and grab a free goodie-bag.

For children aged 5-9, and their parents.

The event is free but pre-registration is required on www.seeksingapore.com/events

The event is organised by SEEK (Stop the Eye Epidemic in Kids) which aims to encourage parents to take their kids for more outdoor play to combat the rising rates of myopia in Singapore.

Time: 4-7pm
Venue: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (Activity Lawn 1)
Website: http://www.seeksingapore.com/

7 Feb (Sat): Muddy and his Home

Kids! Join Muddy and his friends for an adventure in the wetlands of Sungei Buloh. Be amazed listening to his interesting story and participate in the morning nature walk.

Places limited to 20 persons. Register on the NParks website.

Time: 9.30am-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Information Counter
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

7 Feb (Sat): Chinese New Year Special: Plants And Their Uses - A guided tour for kids

Did you know that many plants play an important role in the Chinese culture? Throughout Chinese history, many plants have symbolic meanings representing good fortune and prosperity. Join us in this tour to learn about the important uses of plants and their significance as we celebrate Chinese New Year!

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

For enquiry, please contact the SBG Education Branch at 6471 9961 & 6465 0196 or through email:nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg.

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

7 Feb (Sat): Frognite with Nature Society (Singapore)

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only - verification needed

Join the Vertebrate Study Group for a night of exploration at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. We will set out to look for vertebrates including mammals, lizards, snakes and end the night with frogs.

Families are welcome to join in but children should be above 5 years old. Please bring along torchlights, drinking water and wear covered walking shoes. Please bring along your membership card for verification.

Time: 6-8pm
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens. Meet outside the library at the Botany Centre.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

7 Feb (Sat): Waders' Watch Workshop at Sungei Buloh

The migratory bird season has started and the birds are here at Sungei Buloh! Sungei Buloh is an important bird site for these birds. Every year, thousands of these birds visit Sungei Buloh and other parts of Singapore to find food and shelter during winter in the northern parts of the world. Join in this workshop to know how to identify these amazing birds. Also learn how to Birdwatch and how you can help NParks in studying the migratory patterns of these birds in Singapore.

The workshop comprises a lecture and discussion about the birds followed by a field tour to practice identifying migratory shorebirds. It would be good if you have a pair of binoculars but we can loan you a limited number of binoculars. Attire: Cotton, covered comfortable walking shoes

Please email info@sbwr.org.sg to reserve your place as there are limited slots. Upon receiving your cheque, the Reserve will confirm your registration.

Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Cost: $5 (Includes admission fees and materials) (Please pay by cheque payable to National Parks Board, Attn: Waders' Watch and snail mail to 301, Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718925)
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

7 Feb (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

7 Feb (Sat): Talk "A Journey with Dr Ray Chua"

Join Dr Chua Ee Kiam aka Ray Chua, winner of the 2013 Nikon VIP Access “I AM AN EXPLORER” and the grand prize winner of the 2012 ‘City in a Garden’ Photography Competition, for a fun and insightful workshop as he shares his expertise and knowledge on nature and macro photography at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve’s new extension.

Get the insider’s scoop on how to spot interesting subjects and find exciting angles for that potential winning shot for the Singapore Garden Photographer of the Year photo competition. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to learn more about nature conservation and photography tips from Dr Chua!

To register for this free photography talk, simply name one wildlife species found in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and email the answer along with your name, contact number and email address to benjamin_ang@nparks.gov.sg. Slots are filling up fast. Sign up today to secure a slot for yourself!

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

7 Feb (Sat): Nature Hike - Explore Nature Areas near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

While Bukit Timah Nature reserve takes a break for improvement works, take this opportunity to discover other nature areas such as Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Singapore Quarry. Explore nature areas around Bukit Timah Nature Reserve by joining us on a nature hike. The nature hikes are conducted free of charge.

Route: Kampong Trail – Nature Corridor - Singapore Quarry (approximately 1.5 - 2 hours). All walks will end at Singapore Quarry.

Each session is open to a maximum of 25 people. Please take note that registration is required for EACH PERSON that is attending the walk. If you are coming with a group of friends, please register for them as well. Register online here.

Times: 8.20am (Hike begins 8.30am).
Meeting Point: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Start of Kampong Trail (Near the grass patch with monkey educational boards). Limited parking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve during period of closure, visitors are encouraged to come via public transport
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

7 Feb (Sat): Pebble painting and origami heart folding at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

In celebration of World Wetlands Day, join us for a painting pebbles activity. The community art pieces (painted pebbles) will be displayed at the Visitor Centre once enough pebbles are accumulated to form an art piece. Or learn to fold origami heart and bring it home as a souvenir.

Time: 9am-12noon
Venue: Api Api Lab (Kranji Way entrance) for Pebble painting
Venue: Information Counter (Kranji Way entrance) for Origami heart folding

7 Feb (Sat): Tour of the Healing Garden, Botanic Gardens

Launched in October 2011, the Healing Garden 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.

Registration is required 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre. Mandarin tours are only available at 10am. English tours are available for all slots. This tour repeats every First Saturday of the Month.

This free 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)

7 Feb (Sat): Love MacRitchie walk with the Toddycats

Join enthusiastic volunteer guides who will share with you stories about the amazing plants and animals living in our precious forest heritage at Venus Loop. This series of free guided walks for the public are conducted by The Toddycats, volunteer nature guides of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, for the Love Our MacRitchie Forest movement

More information and online registration at the Love MacRitchie Forest blog.

3 Feb (Tue): Jane Goodall Primate Session

Come listen to Dr Jane and our local young and dedicated primatologists to share their research and studies working with primates locally and in Asia. This is the Dr Jane’s effect which ended up with our own “Dr Janes” in Singapore!

Speakers

The World of Chimpanzees by Dr Jane Goodall
Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkeys in Vietnam by Andie Ang
Enough about Conflict, Let’s Talk Culture: Stone-tool Using Macaques of Thailand by Amanda Tan
Monkey Guards: An Alternative to Co-existing with Macaques by Sabrina Jabbar
Into the Private Lives of Singapore Monkeys by Jayasri Srikantan Lakshminarayanan

The event is free but pre-registration is required.

Time: 1.30 – 4.15pm
Venue: Function Hall, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://janegoodall.org.sg/Jane_Goodall/Events/Entries/2015/2/1_Dr_Jane_Goodall_is_visiting_Singapore!.html

26 Jan - 1 Feb: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Free Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Walks in wild places

Wild volunteer opportunities

Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research

Early next week

3 Feb (Tue): Jane Goodall Primate Session

1 Feb (Sun): Free Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Specially for kids and families, explore Pasir Ris mangroves with volunteer nature guides from the Naked Hermit Crabs on this FREE guided tour of the boardwalk!

During our evening stroll through this interesting but often overlooked mangrove, 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/

1 Feb (Sun): Kayak Mandai Mangroves

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Grab this chance to join Huey in exploring the Important Bird Area of Mandai Mangroves on kayak. This paddle is suitable for beginners as the kayaks are stable double-seaters. We will be exploring Sungei Mandai Besar and Sungei Mandai Kechil where large stands of mature mangroves exist alongside abandoned kampongs. This coastal tract is home to a permanent population of horseshoe crabs. We might spot our resident Brahminy Kites and White-bellied Sea Eagles circling overhead, or even a migratory Osprey fishing.

More details and registration on the NSS website.

Time: 8am-12noon
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

1 Feb (Sun): Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research

Open to the Public - Registration Needed

Horseshoe crabs (HSC) are in decline globally due to the loss of habitat, poaching and overfishing. They also get trapped in abandoned fishing nets and need our help to set them free. With such concerns, NSS aims to continually monitor our local HSC population to ensure that they stay around for many generations to come. Things to bring: cap, shoes/booties, sunblock, repellent, cutter for horseshoe crab rescue and camera. Washing facilities available after the event.

Please register with Kerry Pereira (kerry@nss. org.sg) or at the NSS website stating your name, if you a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school or company), experience if any, and contact details.

Details will be emailed upon registration.

Time: 2.30-5.30pm, meet at the extension of Kranji Road at the junction with Kranji Loop. Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road).
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

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