NOTE
Activities open to the public are specifically indicated as such.
For other events,
you may become a member using the membership form
or register with the Nature Society representative
at any official Nature Society event.
To contact us, email to
contact@nss.org.sg
contact@nss.org.sg
Kranji Nature Walk: Open to both Members & the Public.
Where: Kranji Reservoir Marsh.
Date: Last week-end of the month.
Time: 7:30am
Maximum Group size : 20pax
Admission: Free, but booking required.
For more information: email kranji@nss.org.sg
Welcome to a nature walk in a remote & beautiful corner of Singapore conducted by the Nature Society under the PUB's ABC Waters Programe. Get away from it all & enjoy the interesting wildlife and the scenic landscape of Kranji Reservoir and the countryside.
>> Back to topDate: Sat 5 Mar
Time: 7am - 11:30am
Venue: Meet at Sembawang Park beneath a spreading fig tree by the sea, along a road named Kampong Wak Hassan.
Cost: $50 per person
Explore Sungei Khatib Bongsu by kayak, in a 7.5 km relaxing mangrove paddle amongst one of the last accessible riverine mangroves on mainland Singapore. Expect to see a variety of interesting plant and animal life. Suitable for beginners and for those who have never kayaked before. Bring sun protection, water, snacks, and a change of clothes (will get wet!). Toilets with showers are available. Up to 3 children can be accommodated on this trip, and must be accompanied by one parent per child.
For details and registration, please contact Moira Khaw at burningblue2@gmail.com. In the event of a good response, it may be possible to re-run this trip at a suitable date later this year.
Medicinal Plants and Trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Date: Sun 6 Mar
Time: 9 am
Venue: Meet Janice Oh at the Visitor Centre (Nassim Gate)
There are many medicinal plants and trees at the Botanic Gardens. Where exactly are they? Join Janice Oh as she leads us to discover some of these plants and trees prized for their medicinal and healing properties. The tour will take about 2 hours and will end near the Green Pavilion.
Last Kampong Ramble
Date: Sun 13 Mar
Led by Ali Jafaar, this morning ramble begins with a tour of the last surviving traditional village (kampong) on mainland Singapore - Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Expect to observe nature and tradition at close hand. This kampong will evoke nostalgia as well as give the younger generation a taste of how life was for many in Singapore in the 50s and 60s. From here, we will travel along Punggol River and explore wooded areas in the vicinity.
Please register with Benjamin Ho at benhojw@gmail.com.
Talk on “Bird Conservation in Singapore”
Date: Fri 18 Mar
Time: 8pm - 9:30pm
Venue:
The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
Birds are among the most conspicuous elements of Singapore’s biodiversity. They have been the emphasis of many recent conservation actions. This talk by Yong Ding Li will review and summarise local conservation developments from an avian perspective. Issues to be covered include the Red Data book and the conservation status of locally endangered birds, the Wild Animals and Birds Act (WABA), poaching, the importance of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the Eco-link, hornbill projects and more. Priorities and challenges in local bird conservation will also be discussed. For details, email Ding Li at zoothera@yahoo.com. The talk is open to both members and non-members.
Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research
Date: Sat 19 Mar
Time: 3:30pm
Meet at: Extension of Kranji Road near 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).
Please register with Goh Ter Yang teryang@nss.org.sg, stating your name, if you are a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (HSC). We have started an ongoing HSC Training & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to become a qualified HSC R&Rer.
We recommend that you bring a cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities available.
FREE Movie Screening by Butterfly Interest Group
Date: Sat 19 Mar
Time: 3pm
Synopsis of movie:
Pete Carlton (Marc Donato) is a funny and intelligent 10-year-old boy, battling terminal brain cancer. Pete’s ultimate wish is to catch the most beautiful butterfly on earth--the rare Blue Morpho, found only in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Pete’s brave mother, Theresa (Pascale Bussieres) – a single-mum consumed by love – is determined to fulfill her child’s dying wish and overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of his dream. The first crucial step is to convince Alan Osborn (William Hurt), a renowned entomologist and Pete’s hero, to take her wheelchair-bound child into the rainforest on his quest. Alan is a passionate and rugged yet vulnerable man who – due partly to a secret that haunts him – prefers the company of insects over people. He is immediately dead-set against the idea. Through a fine blend of contemplation, manipulation, timing, luck, desperation and destiny, Alan finally agrees to bring Pete to the mystical and dangerous jungle. The promise is that the Morpho can be caught in one day. However, the elusive Blue Morpho evades capture, leading them on a life and death adventure that ultimately transforms their lives.
Interested members are requested to register with Peck Chan via email: environmentalist2007@gmail.com , providing your name, handphone number and membership number.
Date: Sun 20 Mar
Time: 7:30am
Venue: This one-day census will include many known bird sites in Singapore
For more information, email Lim Kim Seng at ibisbill@yahoo.com before 15 March 2011.
The Bird Group held its very first Annual Bird Census on 20 April 1986, recording nearly 6,000 birds of 129 species. In 2010, 60 pairs of eyes at 26 sites counted a total of 8,665 birds of 161 species. Are wild birds doing well in Singapore? The general trend appears to be improving. In the last decade of surveys, we have identified some 220 species, 60% of the known avifauna in Singapore. Of these 220 species, 42% have seen an increase in numbers, 28% are on the decline, 5% showed no change, while the last 25% could not be assessed due to a lack of data. The collated data over the years was published in 2009 in the book “State of Singapore’s Wild Birds and Bird Habitats”. We are looking to collect more data so as to detect underlying bird trends and formulate better conservation strategies.
We invite all birders to participate. Even if you are new, all we need is your ability to see and count. Help the leader at a site nearest your home or at any other site.
President’s Chat
Date: Wed 23 Mar
Time: 8pm
Venue:
The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
The forthcoming establishment of a BirdLife International (BL) office in Singapore gives NSS, a BirdLife network partner, exciting opportunities. One of these is co-location of our office with theirs. We would like to discuss with members on our various office options. One possibility is sharing office space with BL at Tanglin International Centre in Kay Siang Road, near Redhill MRT station and Orchard Road. How viable is moving our office completely or continuing to maintain capacity elsewhere? The new location offers conference and meeting rooms, as well as a richly-landscaped gathering area. No decisions have been made by the Exco. Any decisions hinge to a large extent on member feedback.
Birdwatching at Kranji Marshes with Wong Chung
Date: Sat 26 Mar
Time: 7:45am
Meet at: Kranji Dam Carpark near the Tidal Gates of Kranji Reservoir (off Kranji Way). Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Registration: Email kranji@nss.org.sg by 18 March 2011 (max: 20 pax).
From the meeting place, 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 the 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.
Intertidal walk at Semakau
Date: Sat 26 Mar
Time: 8:15am
Meet at: Marina South Pier
Come explore interesting coastal marine life with Nature Society (Singapore) on our offshore landfill island. A tour of landfill operations is also included. This tour is open to both members and non-members.
Fees: $55 per pax (non-refundable) for boat and administration.
Send your cheque to the NSS office by 22 March with the completed All Purpose Form (on the back page of Nature News).
For more info, email Goh Ter Yang at teryang@nss.org.sg or call 6741-2036.
Resident/PR identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Booking priority for members a first come first served basis. Under NEA regulations, children below 12 years old are not allowed to come. Return to mainland by 2pm.
Birdwatching at Semakau with Tan Hang Chong
Date: Sun 27 Mar
Time: 7:30am
Meet at: West Coast Pier (near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club).
Free parking at Carpark 2 off West Coast Highway.
Registration: Email Hang Chong at hangchong@gmail.com to register.
Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Fees: $28 per pax (non-refundable) for boat and administration.
Send your cheque to the NSS office by 18 March with the completed All Purpose Form (on the back page of Nature News).
This is a good time to visit Semakau for resident birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret, Malaysian Plover and Osprey. Sightings of uncommon migrants such as the Black-capped Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon and Eastern Marsh Harrier are possible. Return to mainland by 2 pm.
Resident/PR identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Booking priority for members a first come first served basis. Under NEA regulations, children below 12 years old are not allowed to come.
Birdwatching at Lorong Halus
Date: Sun 3 Apr
Time: 7:30am
Meet: Alfred Chia at Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 1 (opposite the Heavy Vehicle Park).
For years, Little Grebes and Common Moorhens have made their homes in Lorong Halus, an old rubbish dump site. Grassland birds like the Yellow-bellied Prinia, various Munias, Baya Weaver, Long-tailed Shrike and more thrive here. Under the ABC (Active, Beautiful, Clean) waters programme, PUB recently completed works to create ‘Halus Wetlands’, to help purify run-offs from the dump site. This will be opened to the public in early March. Come join veteran birder Alfred in an enjoyable morning of sights and sounds presented by these birds. The walk is open to members and non-members, subject to a maximum of 30 participants.
Registration is required. Please send a completed All Purpose Form to the NSS office by 25 March 2011.
Date: Sun 3 Apr
Time: 8:30am - 3pm
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Co-organised by NSS and Precision Optik Asia Pte Ltd, participants will learn the techniques of digiscopy or taking photographs using digital cameras attached to telescopes. This full-day workshop will be conducted by accomplished digiscopers Rattapon Kaichid and Pitchaya Janhom. There will be classroom and practical field sessions with breakfast and lunch provided. Interested members should email Goh Ter Yang at teryang@nss.org.sg to register, as well as send in the completed All Purpose Form to the NSS office by 25 March 2011, with a cheque of $10 (non-refundable) made payable to “Nature Society (Singapore)”. Places are limited and are available on a first come first served basis
How to Identify Pteridophytes in Singapore by Dr Benito Tan
Date: Tues 5 Apr, Thurs 7 Apr, Sat 9 Apr
Time: 8pm - 10pm (5th and 7th Apr), 9am field trip (9th Apr)
Venue: The Sunflower (NSS office). 510 Geylang Road #02-05,Singapore 389466
Fees: $50 per person, limited to 10 pax.
Pteridophytes include ferns and fern allied plants. In Singapore, we have about a hundred varieties of this group of primitive vascular plants. Many are gravely endangered in the wild today. Join us to learn about the diversity of surviving pteridophytic flora in Singapore. Led by Dr Benito Tan, this topic consists of two lecture / lab workshops, followed by a half-day field trip. The workshops will discuss the diversity, biology, ecology and evolution of ferns and fern allied plants in general, with a focus on how to identify them at the generic level. On the field trip, we will get to see these plants in the wild and learn about their habitat requirements and conservation status. A short introduction to common ornamental fern species and varieties will also be presented.
Each participant is required to bring along a field magnifying lens of at least 7x power for all three sessions.
NSS Kids’ Fun with Marine Life at Chek Jawa
Date: Sun 10 Apr
Time: 8am - 11am
Meet at: Changi Jetty
Registration: Please register your children (4 to 12 years old) with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com.
Chek Jawa is a thriving hotspot of marine, mangrove and rocky shore life. Come face to face with fascinating fiddler crabs, stupendous sea stars and colourful corals. The Education Group will explore this rustic corner of Pulau Ubin during the spring low tides to suss out its natural offerings, led by veteran nature guide Tan Hang Chong. 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.
A fee of $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents / caregivers are encouraged to join in at no charge. Do note that ferry rides to and from Ubin cost $2.50 per person per trip, while taxi-van rides to Chek Jawa cost $2 per person per trip. Details will be emailed to those who sign up.
Birdwatching at Semakau
Date: Sun 10 Apr
Time: 7:30am
Meet at: West Coast Pier (near the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club).
Free parking at Carpark 2 off West Coast Highway.
Registration: Email Willie Foo at Willie.Foo@kbr.com to register.
Number of persons per trip: 11, 22 or 33.
Fees: $28 per pax (non-refundable) for boat and administration.
Send your cheque to the NSS office by 8 April with the completed All Purpose Form (on the back page of Nature News).
This is a good time to visit Semakau for resident birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions include the Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret, Malaysian Plover and Osprey. Sightings of uncommon migrants such as the Black-capped Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon and Eastern Marsh Harrier are possible. Return to mainland by 2 pm.
Resident/PR identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Booking priority for members a first come first served basis. Under NEA regulations, children below 12 years old are not allowed to come.
Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research
Date: Sat 16 Apr
Time: 2:30pm
Meet at: Extension of Kranji Road near 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).
Please register with Goh Ter Yang teryang@nss.org.sg, stating your name, if you are a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (HSC). We have started an ongoing HSC Training & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to become a qualified HSC R&Rer.
We recommend that you bring a cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, cutter for HSC rescue and camera. Washing facilities available.
Butterfly Walk at Dairy Farm
Date: Sat 23 Apr
Time: 9:30am (duration of walk is around 2.5 hours)
Meet at: Dairy Farm Nature Park Car Park B opposite Petir Road.
Join KC and Amy Tsang for a stroll though this wonderful park, which is host to a great variety of forest butterflies. KC and Amy have spent considerable time watching and videoing butterflies here. They will take us to their favorite butterfly hotspots to observe the Great Mormon, Blue Bottle, Blue Jay, Common Faun, Cruiser, Yamfly and Common Posy.
Birdwatching at Kranji Marshes with Lim Kim Chuah
Date: Sun 24 Apr
Time: 7:45am
Meet at: Kranji Dam Carpark near the Tidal Gates of Kranji Reservoir (off Kranji Way). Reachable by Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Registration: Email kranji@nss.org.sg by 15 April 2011 (max: 20 pax).
From the meeting place, 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 the 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.
Trips Abroad
2D/1N Climb Gunung Datuk Relax in Malacca
Dates: 2 to 3 Apr 2011
Price: $240 per person (including inclusive of land transport, insurance and hotel accommodation in Malacca. Price excludes most meals except for hotel breakfast and trail snacks). Cheque payable to Sun-City Travel & Tours Pte Ltd.
Minimum: 6 pax
Closing Date: 18 March 2011
The majestic Gunung Datuk, also known as Gunung Rembau (2,900 ft), is situated at the end of the Titiwangsa mountain range. It is a place for nature lovers and adventure seekers. At the foot of the mountain is a clear stream that flows through slippery boulders, filling the air with the tranquil sound of running water. At the peak is a picturesque sight to behold. You must be physically and mentally prepared for the two hour challenging climb up. For more details and to register, contact Chew Leong Hai at chew.leong.hai@gmail.com or Tel: 9689-3074.
>> Back to top
1D Trek at Gunung Lambak
Dates: 26 Mar 2011
Price: $80 per person, inclusive of KTM return train journey (Tanjong Pagar-Kluang), insurance, trail snacks and dinner. Cheque payable to Sun-City Travel & Tours Pte Ltd.
Minimum: 8 pax
Closing Date: 18 March 2011
Gunung Lambak is one of the most climbed “neighbourhood” mountains in Malaysia. It forms an imposing landscape overlooking the town of Kluang. The initial ascent is a gradual trek through tropical rainforest. After the midway rest point, a steep and almost vertical climb awaits trekkers. That is where the challenge and fun begins! The summit at 510 m above sea level will reward you with a panoramic view of the Kluang district. It takes about one and a half hours for an adult to reach the summit. This is an activity that can be enjoyed by both young and old, with our youngest summiting participant being just 4 years old!
For more details and to register, contact Chew Leong Hai at chew.leong.hai@gmail.com or Tel: 9689-3074.
4D/3N Nature Trip to Ulu Gombak Bukit Tinggi in Selangor
Dates: 21 to 24 Apr 2011
Price: : $450 per pax (inclusive of meals, land transport at our disposal, basic accommodation at UMRS dormitory and insurance). Cheque payable to Sun-City Travel & Tours Pte Ltd.
Number of participants: 10 to 20 pax
Closing Date: 16 Apr 2011
Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve is a relatively untouched part of Selangor, situated on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The site is accessible via a narrow road built by the British, known locally as the ‘Old Gombak Road’. We will be staying at the University of Malaya Field Research Station (UMRS). Animals that can be seen here include Gibbons, Siamangs and Hornbills, especially in the early morning. For birdwatchers, this haven is rich in birdlife (lowland species). We will also enjoy the cool air and watch montane birds in Genting Highlands and Bukit Tinggi. A visit to the Muzium Orang Asli is planned. If time permits, we may drop by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) at Kepong and the MNS Head Office in KL.
For details and registration do contact Sutari Supari at sutari@gmail.com or Tel: 6283-5069 / 9770-0432.