Despite our small size, Singapore is still home to a wide variety of frogs and toads. Most of these species are only found within the last forests of the Central Nature Reserve, managed by the National Parks Board.
At least two species of frogs have been described as new species to science from Singapore, adding much value to our native biodiversity. Some species are currently considered as very rare, and only confined to localised patches in certain parts of our forest. Singapore's frogs and toads come in a wonderful variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Each species communicates with its own unique calls, speaking different languages. As amphibians have a very thin skin and require clear, clean water to survive and breed, they are most vulnerable to any drastic alterations of their habitats and the weather patterns. Hence, the current predictions of climate change may severely affect their long term survival.
Let's spend some time to understand them better and learn how we can save them from extinction.
Speaker: Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Yishun Library
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
6 Oct (Wed): "Our Home, The Mangroves" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
Gooey mangrove mud is home sweet home to the mudskipper, fiddler crab, chut-chut snail and many others. These amazing animals use the mud to make tunnels to live in, build mud ‘condos’, and also find their food! The mangrove tree rises above the mud, on its stilt roots. On it, a kingfisher will find a dry perch. Let’s explore the mangroves together and find out who else shares this muddy world!Just as we treasure Singapore as our home, so too do many native (local) plants and animals call Singapore’s wild habitats their home. Sadly, most kids and grown-ups know very little about our natural areas like our forest, grassland, freshwater swamp, mangrove and seashore habitats, where many species of native wildlife live. Through “Our Home” lessons on Singapore’s natural habitats, kids will learn about animals, plants and ecology of Singapore’s wild habitats.
This environmental education program is suitable for kids aged 5 to 10, from kindergarten to primary school.
Time: 2.30-4.30 pm
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve or Pasir Ris Park
Cost: $15 which includes a custom-made button-badge and information pamphlet will be given to all registered kids.
Contact: Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg
27 Sep - 3 Oct: Highlights of the week ahead
For kids and the family
Walks in wild places
Exhibition now on
For Nature Society (Singapore) members only
Registration now open
Highlights of Singapore nature news
Highlights of Singapore nature blogs
Photo of the week Have you seen THIS chicken? It's not just any chicken. It's a special chicken. It's our wild Red Jungle Fowl. If you've seen one, please tell Amanda who is doing a study on them. Send your sightings to http://tinyurl.com/habitatnews-records, more details on habitatnews.
- "Our Home, The Grassland" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
- NSS Kids’ Fun with Nature Sketching at Bukit Batok Nature Park
- The Birthday Day Party a guided tour for kids
- HeART for Nature Workshop for kids
- Our Kitchen Garden Tour at Pasir Ris Park
Walks in wild places
- Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday with
a special Mandarin guided walk at 9.30am.(This will be held on 31 Oct) - Edible and Medicinal Plants tour at the Botanic Gardens
- Up Close and Personal @ Peirce
Exhibition now on
- 24 Sep-6 Oct: Wealth of the Rain Forest Exhibition at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
For Nature Society (Singapore) members only
- Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
- Plant Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir’s Petai Trail
Registration now open
- 31 Oct (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers
- 20 Oct (Wed): "Our Home, The Seashore" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
- 6 Oct (Wed): "Our Home, The Mangroves" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
- 2 Oct (Sat): "Our Home, The Grassland" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
Highlights of Singapore nature news
- Singapore-Johor eco-tourism package deal: Singapore and Malaysia are in talks to link Sungei Buloh with 3 Johor sites rich in biodiversity, Amresh Gunasingham Straits Times 27 Sep 10;
- More young people get a chance to enjoy the Sun Straits Times 25 Sep 10;
- Learning Forest of tropical trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Hannah Koh Straits Times 24 Sep 10;
- Keeping reservoirs litter-free and dealing wtih illegal fishing Straits Times Forum 23 Sep 10;
- Coral bleaching: Singapore coral reefs not spared Straits Times 22 Sep 10;
Highlights of Singapore nature blogs
- The wonderful spirit of the Independents @ Sungei Ubin from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
- A Quiet Morning @ Wild Wild West from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
- Net loss from The annotated budak
- Life History of the Leopard from Butterflies of Singapore
- a short hike into MacRitchie from into the wild
- Rainforest in the City to be bigger and better! from Celebrating Singapore's BioDiversity!
- Sleeping behaviour of the Common Tailorbird from Bird Ecology Study Group
- Birdtanical gardens from The annotated budak
- Been to Cyrene: "Unlike any other reef I've seen in Singapore" from Cyrene Reef Exposed!
- 1,208 plastic bottles at the first ICCS @ Sungei Seletar from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
- Coral bleaching in Singapore in the news from Bleach Watch Singapore
- Shooting snakes from talfryn.net
- Reef Survey@Raffles Lighthouse from Psychedelic Nature
- Monkey Baby Boom! from Crystal and Bryan in Singapore
Photo of the week Have you seen THIS chicken? It's not just any chicken. It's a special chicken. It's our wild Red Jungle Fowl. If you've seen one, please tell Amanda who is doing a study on them. Send your sightings to http://tinyurl.com/habitatnews-records, more details on habitatnews.
3 Oct (Sun): Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
for Nature Society (Singapore) members only
Lim Kim Chuah leads this walk. This is a good place to learn how to identify the many migratory birds that winter here. Let the experts show you how to separate a plover from a sandpiper or the Marsh Sandpiper from the Common Greenshank. Differences between the birds may be subtle but once these are pointed out, you would be surprised to see that it is not so difficult after all.
Time: 7.30am
Venue: Ticket counter of SBWR off Neo Tiew Crescent
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
Lim Kim Chuah leads this walk. This is a good place to learn how to identify the many migratory birds that winter here. Let the experts show you how to separate a plover from a sandpiper or the Marsh Sandpiper from the Common Greenshank. Differences between the birds may be subtle but once these are pointed out, you would be surprised to see that it is not so difficult after all.
Time: 7.30am
Venue: Ticket counter of SBWR off Neo Tiew Crescent
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
3 Oct (Sun): NSS Kids’ Fun with Nature Sketching at Bukit Batok Nature Park
Want to learn the basics of nature sketching? Join birder and artist Yong Ding Li at the Bukit Batok Nature Park where it will become our outdoor classroom to learn how to do quick sketches of insects, plants, birds and other animals. A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents are encouraged to join in at no charge. Drawing materials will only be provided for kids, adults have to bring their own. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.
Registration: Please register your kids (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria at gloria_seow@yahoo.com, stating their names and ages, if they are NSS members or not, and let us have your mobile number.
Time: 8.30-10.30am
Venue: Bukit Batok Nature Park
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
3 Oct (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
2 Oct (Sat): "Our Home, The Grassland" with Cicada Tree Eco Place
This lesson takes us on a tour of a grassland home. We will learn about how grass and wildflowers grow, and who lives among them. Bugs, slugs, frogs, toads, snakes, skinks, and some birds make grasslands their cosy home. Find out why in this lesson!Just as we treasure Singapore as our home, so too do many native (local) plants and animals call Singapore’s wild habitats their home. Sadly, most kids and grown-ups know very little about our natural areas like our forest, grassland, freshwater swamp, mangrove and seashore habitats, where many species of native wildlife live. Through “Our Home” lessons on Singapore’s natural habitats, kids will learn about animals, plants and ecology of Singapore’s wild habitats.
This environmental education program is suitable for kids aged 5 to 10, from kindergarten to primary school.
Time: 2.30-4.30 pm
Venue: Bukit Brown or Admiralty Park
Cost: $15 which includes a custom-made button-badge and information pamphlet will be given to all registered kids.
Contact: Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg
2 Oct (Sat): Plant Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir’s Petai Trail
for Nature Society (Singapore) members only
Dr Shawn Lum leads this walk. The area around MacRitchie Nature Trail is an interesting mix of regenerating secondary forest and remnant patches of primary forest. Large and majestic trees are scattered throughout the site. What are these trees? How can we recognise the forest types as we walk through them? How might they develop in the decades ahead? This walk will explore the rainforest, following the Petai Trail’s boardwalk and returning by the Nature Trail.
Time: 9.30am
Venue: Meet at the New MacRitchie Reservoir Visitor Centre.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
Dr Shawn Lum leads this walk. The area around MacRitchie Nature Trail is an interesting mix of regenerating secondary forest and remnant patches of primary forest. Large and majestic trees are scattered throughout the site. What are these trees? How can we recognise the forest types as we walk through them? How might they develop in the decades ahead? This walk will explore the rainforest, following the Petai Trail’s boardwalk and returning by the Nature Trail.
Time: 9.30am
Venue: Meet at the New MacRitchie Reservoir Visitor Centre.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
2 Oct (Sat): The Birthday Day Party - a guided tour for kids
Sara is celebrating her baby brother's birthday party. At the last minute, she realizes she forgot the birthday present! Help Sara search for the perfect gift at the Children's Garden. Along the way, have a fun and memorable experience in this new Garden dedicated to children.Suitable for children in K1 – P2 levels.
To register, email nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg or call 64719961 or register online at www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")
Time: 10-11am
Cost: $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 “The Birthday Party. Sara at the Children’s Garden” workbook); $6 per accompanying parent.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 9961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg
2 Oct (Sat): HeART for Nature Workshop for kids
This 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 10 (with parental supervision).Limited spaces available. Please call 3 days in advance at 65545127 (Mondays to Fridays) to register for the activity.
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am
Venue: Lower Pierce Reservoir Park (big shelter next to fishing ground)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
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