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

• Kayak Mandai Mangroves
• Nature Trail Walk with the BES Drongos
• What's in my water? - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Free Guided Walk
• Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

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.