wild happenings in singapore

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

.

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