“Birding in Singapore and the Challenges of the 21st Century” has just been published by Nature in Singapore, the scientific online journal of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, University of Singapore. You can download a PDF file by clicking HERE (#9).

The paper details the changes that need to be urgently implemented to bring the local birdwatching scene to a higher level. Challenging activities need to be incorporated into routine activities if interest in birdwatching is to be maintained. Documenting bird behaviour and studying bird calls and songs are major aspects that citizen scientists can contribute to the ornithological knowledge of the local species. The camera has become a basic necessity in birdwatching and photographs need to be accompanied in any sightings of rarities and difficult species, if the local records committee is to remain creditable.

It is not enough to just report observations in websites and in-house newsletters. There is a need to publish them in scientific journals, making information available to ornithologists and birdwatchers alike. Similarly, it is not enough to compile information into books if manuscripts are not properly reviewed.

Whatever it is, the dynamics of birdwatching in Singapore has changed irreversibly since the early 2000s. And if you are a birdwatcher, photographer, nature enthusiast, ornithologist, citizen scientist… this paper will have something for you.

Images courtesy of Dr Jonathan WK Cheah.

“It is not very often that I would travel for the sake of watching and enjoying the companionship of wild birds but on December 2009 I made my first solo bird photography trip to HongKong. I was well received by my host Mr KK Hui, a retired chartered engineer turned accredited Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society (FRPS). As with those countless encounter out field when strangers just become friends linked by our common interests in birds, I got to know KK via another birding mate. While we have never met in person, that did not pose as a barrier to our communication.

[L: Greater Egret taking a mudskipper. R: Chasing Northern Shoveler with shellfish in beak]

“The place on our agenda was known as Nam Sang Wai (NSW), a stretch of river where hundreds of winter visitors feed yearly. According to KK, one can expect to observe a different species landing with each passing week towards late spring at close proximity (within meters), distances that are impossible to achieve locally without first flushing the avians. One possible explanation for their high tolerance of human presence could be attributed to the geographic location of the river bank and the river itself: the river bank is on higher ground at a meter about the river level, thereby creating an impression of alienation to the feeding birds in the river at low tide. Guided by a good tutor and an adolescent heart, we took a 45mins drive along the country side from the buzzing city centre the next morning after I landed.

[L: Endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. R: Pied Avocet pre-landing gears down]

“My senses were first assailed when we were greeted by a flock of great cormorants against the brightening morning sky by the left filter from the highway driving into NSW. They appeared as black triangles aligned in the typical arrow-head formation in flight overhead. To our left are some abandoned prawn rearing farms or otherwise known as ke wai, with the fertile river to our right. It took another 5mins drive-in before we arrived at the intersection of Shan Pui River and Kam Tin River, where we parked and unpacked for some nice bird-in-flight (BIF) images.

The feeling of watching hundreds of shore birds feasting on the river bed at close proximity under gusting chilling wind conditions is nothing short of amazing. A quick check on my guidebook revealed the following: 1. Northern Shoveler; 2. Common Pintail; 3. Crested Grebe; 4. Gull; 5. Great Egret; 6. White-napped Raven; 7. Osprey; 8. Peregrine Falcon; 9. White-bellied Sea Eagle; 10. Common Teal; 11. White Wagtail; 12. Common Sandpiper; 13. Great Cormorant; 14. Pied Avocet; 15. Black-wingged Stilts; 16. Black-faced Spoonbill; 17. Little Egret; 18. Grey Heron; 19. Javan Pond Heron; 20. Common Pochard; 21. Tufted Duck; 22. White-throated Kingfisher; 23. Starlings and 24. Black-headed Gull.

[L: Northern Shoveler performing a fly-pass with full wing-spread. R: Common Pintail stretching its wings early morning]

“Based on the photographs taken, it appearred these wintering birds are feeding off the river on shell-fish and mud-skippers among others. Interestingly, the ducks are curious as usual and would attempt to check out the row of photographers lining the shore by swimming within 5 metres proximity. Feeding may also occur at such distance, suggesting comfort behaviour even in the presence of humans. Tolerant as these birds are to humans, some events can easily trigger a mass take-off. They include a motor boat cruising pass and the raving engine of a rubbish truck.

[L: Great Cormorant flying over calm water. R: Starlings taking off in great numbers]

“Territorial dispute over food is rare and few in-between, normally observed to occur between pair of ducks and avocets. In particular, a Pied Avocet demonstrated aggressive behaviour when it consistently chased an incoming Avocet away by trying to pin its opponent down under. Each time, the lesser bird would cower and take flight for the opposite shore, only to return minutes later to try its luck again. This cyclic behaviour offered delightful moments for action shots.

[L: Black-wingged Stilt fly-pass. R: Common Teal Landing with a splash]

“While replenishing food supply is a top priority for these wintering birds, sex is also readily observed for some species of ducks. On two separate occasions spread over 2 days, a pair of pintail was observed to demonstrate some frolicking behaviour in the shallow water about 10 meters away, with one bird pinning the other bird under water, leading myself and other observers to conclude these actions to be ‘duck-rape’.

“On the opposite shore, a White-naped Raven easily double the size of a normal house crow was observed to harass some feeding shorebirds over 3 afternoons. Each time the Raven landed, the surrounding feeding shore birds would take flight, with only the grey herons staying put.

“Probably attributed to the winter season, most of the shore birds are in non-breeding plumages. For example, the pintail are lacking the diagnostic pin and gorgeous plumages and some Black-wingged Stilts showed partial black head-dress. Tis perhaps the draw of full breeding plumages that beckons that I shall return once again to this fertile river in Mar 2010. Probably this time round I’d spend more time at the Mai Po nature reserve to bring more interesting content to share.” [L: Black-headed Gull landing for a fish]

Text and images by Dr Jeff Lim.

“Raising a Family” is a photo exhibition on the breeding behaviour of birds that include nest building, incubation, brooding and adult-fledgling relationship. The excellent photographs on exhibition have been provided by NaturePixels.org and BESG, with Nature’s Niche Pte Ltd and Sentosa Nature Discovery organising the event.

Photographers have been documenting bird behaviour for more than a few years now, and with stunning results. Lately, younger birdwatchers have not only made it a habit of bringing along a camera when out birdwatching, many have also shared their observations on the blog. Indeed, the local birdwatching scene has become more interesting as our knowledge on bird behaviour improved by leaps and bounds as a result.

The current exhibition is another joint BESG-NaturePixels.org project to bring the study of bird behaviour to a wider audience.

Awareness of the intriguing aspects of bird life can only lead to further appreciation of our avian fauna. This in turn can only bring about a deeper commitment to nature conservation.

Location: Sentosa Imbiah Lookout
Date: 1st November till 31st December 2009
Opening time: 9am to 6pm
Getting there: Sentosa and use Blue line bus, red line bus or Sentosa express (alight at Imbiah station)

Image by Joe Yao.

It was a pleasant surprise to receive an unsolicited ‘comment’ from Lee Chiu San on the occasion of our million blog hits. The text is reproduced below to serve as an encouragement to the people behind it - contributors, photographers, BESG panel of technical advisors, visitors and more…

“To YC and the others helping to put together this site.

“Congratulations for the amount of work that you put in and the quality of the discussions. YC and I had a mutual friend (the late Professor Roland Sharma of the Zoology Department) and he knew that even more than 40 years ago I already had a strong interest in nature.

“Since retirement, I spend much time on various nature discussion sites, and I can say unequivocally that BESG is the best site that I visit, both locally and internationally.

“I know what is needed to put together a good publication, having been a professional journalist and editor for half my working life (I spent the other half in a more respectable job, as a car salesman).

“This BESG site is frequently updated. The information is either accurate or open-ended, meaning that discussion is invited. I commend the contributors for not being afraid to sometimes say that they do not know.

“And the tone of the arguments has (generally) been logical. The language used here is certainly of a higher order of civility and relevance than that used in the Straits Times Interactive On-line Forum.

“A site of such quality does not develop by itself without the efforts of people who not only have enthusiasm but also the right quality of thought.

“No wonder it has garnered over a million hits. Let’s look forward to the second million.

“Thanks again to the BESG Team.”

Note: I knew of Lee Chiu San by reputation as he used to write for the local Straits Times in his capacity as racing correspondent. Yes, we had a common friend in the late Roland Sharma of the then Zoology Department, National University of Singapore. Roland was heading the then Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch) as Chairman with me as Secretary. I lost contact with Chiu San until he started accessing this blog in 2009 and made a post. Then in the recent ORA dinner, I met him by chance after so many decades. YC

The Bird Ecology Study Group has just breached yet another milestone - a million hits.

On the occasion of a million hits, we take the opportunity to again acknowledge the generosity of many: Jacqueline Lau who continues to hosts the blog; bird photographers affiliated to NaturePixels who generously allow us to make use of their excellent images; local and overseas contributors who willingly share their observations; and of course you the viewers who continue to visit the blog

BESG was conceived in 2005 to fill an urgent need. The subsequent years saw the success of the blog beyond our wildest dreams. This is because we provide an aspect of birding that birdwatchers longed for. Lack of an effective leadership led birdwatchers into a decade long slide into activities involving mainly ticking and listing.

The Nature Society (Singapore) was initially reluctant to formally accept the BESG. The Bird Group was against a rival group challenging its dominance in the local birding scene. It took the threat of an Extraordinary General Meeting and a subsequent under the counter “deal” with the then President before she was willing to bring the issue to a vote with the Exco members. As expected, the BESG was formally approved as a special interest group by all except one member who declined to vote - see HERE for a full account of how the BESG came into being

We now provide an active forum where photographers, birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts can showcase their encounters and images, check on bird behaviour or query on puzzling happenings.

Currently, we have over 1,370 posts on various aspects. The weblog has now morphed into a scientific database on bird behaviour. In fact, many posts have been consolidated and published in peer-review scientific journals. And although our support base is still local, we are getting more and more supporters from all over the world (above). In fact this blog is one of the top few bird blogs in cyberspace.

Thank you all. The success of this blog is attributed to you.

Image of visitor locations from 3 Feb-12 September 2009 courtesy of ClustrMaps.