NSS Kids’ Fun with Birds at Lorong Halus Wetland

By Gloria Seow, Education Committee Vice Chairperson 

The 8-km long Serangoon River wends its way across the Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol housing estates. It is flanked by the park connector network of cycling and jogging paths and prettified with stylish viewing decks and fishing platforms. The river terminates at the rehabilitated former landfill site of Lorong Halus Wetland, where a dam constructed across its mouth in 2011 converted it into a reservoir. 

While folks went about their morning exercise at Halus, NSS kids and their parents, led by Auntie Lee Ee Ling, gathered on 28 December 2019 to check out its thriving bird life. First up, Auntie Gloria Seow spotted a White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) that had sauntered out of the riverside vegetation onto the footpath. It quickly dived back in when it saw us, and continued to forage on the ground, shielded by thick cover. Auntie Ee Ling then had us tune in to the soothing background coos of the Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata). Soon enough, we found a couple in a nearby tree as they belted out their duet.

Self-taught 9-year old birder Jorge with Auntie Ee Ling (carrying scope).

We saw the usual suspects of garden birds such as the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) and Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis). One of the participants, 9-year old Jorge, turned out to be an impressive self-taught birder. He had persuaded his parents to buy him a pair of binoculars, read up obsessively on Singapore’s (and other) birds, and even had an app on avian calls. He was able to identify the birds we encountered, dutifully recording them in his notebook. Such kids are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

 The flamboyant blossom of the Sea Poison tree.

One of the trip highlights was the Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri). This large green bird announced its presence as it nosily flew into view with a flourish. It proceeded to do a few energetic swoops and even perched obligingly for us to take a good look. It was not just birds we admired. Auntie Gloria picked up the flamboyant Sea Poison (Barringtonia asiatica) flower from underneath its tree and handed it around. This night-blooming flower is pollinated by moths and bats. Kids were fascinated to learn that the lantern-like fruits of the Sea Poison contain seeds that could be pulped and used to stun fish, hence its name.

At the landmark red Halus Bridge, we encountered a Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) swimming lazily in the river. Auntie Ee Ling put her scope to good use, giving kids close-up views of a handsome Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica).

Suddenly, Uncle Timothy Pwee drew our attention skywards as a flock of some 30 Asian Openbills (Anastomus oscitans) swirled in the distance towards us. These storks had been in the news with thousands upon thousands observed coming down Peninsular Malaysia. Then they started appearing all over Singapore with the largest flock seen numbering about 1,000 birds, a rare phenomenon indeed. Some were even photographed flying across the sun during the annular solar eclipse on 26 December 2019. 

These storks usually forage for prey such as water snails in the rice fields up north, especially along the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins. However, the drought in countries such as Thailand could have reduced their prey base and triggered their flight south in search of food. The Asian Openbill is so named as adult birds have a gap between their bills to allow them to better handle water snails, much like a nutcracker. Curiously, young storks do not have this gap. As we gawked at the majestic sight, another 30 Asian Openbills flew in from the opposite direction. The two flocks crossed each other before parting again, which set our party all atwitter with excitement.

Some 60 Asian Openbills filled the skies above Halus.

A female Olive-backed Sunbird on the Heliconia flower.

Crossing the bridge, Auntie Lena pointed out the Common Parasol (Neurothemis fluctuans), easily distinguished from other red dragonflies as the only one with reddish wings (versus clear wings). We also enjoyed eye-level views of an Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) when one came to collect nectar from the Heliconia flower. Too bad we ran out of time for the Little Grebe pond, but the morning’s many great sightings well made up for that.

NSS Kids’ Fun with The Bigfoot Leave No Trace Challenge

 By Gloria Seow, Education Committee Vice Chairperson

Bigfoot (also known as Sasquatch) is a mythical ape-like bipedal creature that people claim to have seen in the wilds of America and Canada. However, investigations by scientists and the authorities have never found it, and Bigfoot is regarded as mere folklore, a misidentification or a hoax, rather than a real animal. Just as 'Bigfoot' leaves no trace of his passing through wild areas, we should do the same, to minimise our impact on the environment. This was the message that Uncle Hang Chong brought to NSS Kids on 5 October 2019 in a fun session held at MacRitchie Reservoir. 

One of the seven Leave No Trace principles is to 'Respect Wildlife' by not feeding them intentionally or unintentionally, and viewing them from a respectful distance. How far is a 'respectful distance'? A rule of thumb that Uncle Hang Chong taught was to literally use one's thumb as a gauge. Hold out one's thumb at arm's length and close one eye. If your thumb is able to block out the animal you are observing, then you are far enough. We tried this on a troop of playful Long-tailed Macaques about 20 m away and were glad that we were already keeping a respectful distance from them. 

Another Leave No Trace principle is to 'Dispose of Waste Properly'. This is in line with the Keep Singapore Clean mantra. Uncle Hang Chong modelled this behaviour by picking up banana peel litter and binning it. In the context of outdoor camping, this principle will require people to pack up their trash to take away with them, bury their faeces, wash things about 70 m (200 feet) away from water sources to prevent pollution, amongst other measures.    

Uncle Hang Chong took out a variety of objects from his backpack including a torchlight, magnifying glass, magnetic compass, insect repellent, rain gear, map etc. Every kid chose an item and Uncle Hang Chong proceeded to explain each object's use in an outdoor trip. He was also demonstrating another Leave No Trace principle of 'Plan Ahead and Prepare'. 

One parent spotted a bird which Auntie Gloria identified as the majestic Stork-billed Kingfisher, the largest of nine kingfishers found in Singapore. This was a welcome break to appreciate wildlife living in the great outdoors. 

Uncle Hang Chong then played a game with the kids, getting them to sort through photos and cluster them under the correct Leave No Trace principles they represent. Read more about the seven principles at https://www.bigfoottrail.org/route/leave-no-trace/. 

NSS Kids’ Fun with Butterflies at Ubin Butterfly Hill

By Gloria Seow, Education Committee Vice Chairperson

On the fine morning of 14 July 2019, Auntie Lena Chow led us on a butterfly and insect walk at Pulau Ubin's Butterfly Hill. Our first find was the nymph of the Tortoise Beetle looking all prickly. There were a number of these larvae but no sign of any adults.

Kids and parents were equally thrilled to see a Ladybug/Ladybird (species unidentified) hiding under a leaf. There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs in the world.  

We were fortunate to see the rare Bamboo Tree Brown (Lethe europa malaya), spotted by Auntie Gloria who happened to have just read about it on a nearby information board. Its host plant is the bamboo that is cultivated in lowland areas. This butterfly is usually seen during the rainy season. According to www.butterflycircle.com, only a handful of sightings have been recorded in the past decade, including at Khatib Bongsu, Sime Forest and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Butterfly Hill is planted with the host and nectar plants of many butterfly species. We found three Blue Glassy Tigers (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina) and a Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides - 3rd from left) actively feeding. 

We came across this striking Spider Wasp from the Pompilidae family.

Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia) feeding on the nectar of the Blue Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta indica (L.) Vahl). 

The Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore) is a common butterfly that can be seen all over Singapore. This butterfly's southward expansion to Singapore from India took place over a span of 30 odd years. It was first recorded here in 2006. Due to the commonness of its host plant and weed Passiflora foetida, it is now widespread across the island and of course has arrived in Pulau Ubin. Here, it is seen feeding on the Bidens pilosa.

Some of us stayed back after the walk and explored a nearby area of Ubin where we found the Wild Cape Gooseberry/Bladder Cherry (Physalis minima) looking like an elaborate lantern. It is a most attractive weed, and its orange berry is edible when ripe. 

We also found the Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) growing wild. Its seed is used to produce castor oil. 

 

NSS Kids' Fun with Marine Life at Changi Beach

 By Gloria Seow, Education Committee Vice Chairperson

We gathered bright and early on 8 June 2019 at Changi Beach. Uncle Marcus Ng was our guide, assisted by Auntie Lena Chow. As advised by Auntie Gloria, all of us were togged out in covered shoes. Uncle Marcus even came in long sleeves and pants, a precaution against vicious sandflies. We avoided the use of insect repellent as we were entering the water and it would injure marine life. 

The inviting expanse of the seagrass bed, exposed by the low tide, teems with intertidal life. 

It is always a delight to find the Noble Volute, a gorgeous snail with zig-zag markings on its attractive shell. Its body is largely black with orange spots. As a predator, it feeds on clams. It has a restricted range of only Singapore and Malaysia as it does not have a free-swimming larval form (conducive to being carried by sea currents). As such, the Noble Volute is vulnerable to over collection. 

Even when dead, its shell is useful, serving as homes for large hermit crabs. Hence, we should not collect shells from seashores as we would be depriving hermit crabs of suitable abodes.

Tiny Biscuit Sea Stars are relatively common on the seagrass beds. Larger ones are usually found on coral rubble.

The underside of the Biscuit Sea Star has orange tube feet tipped with suckers.

White Salmacis Urchin with short and sharp spines. It feeds on seaweed. This sea urchin can quickly gather various items, including seaweed and shell, to cover itself as a form of camouflage.

A hermit crab sitting on Mermaid's Fan Seaweed. This seaweed can be eaten and is used as animal feed, fertiliser and traditional medicine.

An unidentified shrimp.

A gangly-looking Elbow Crab with enormous pincers many times longer than its body.

Haddon's Carpet Anemone with Ball Sea Cucumber and Pink Warty Sea Cucumber.

Green Gum Drops Ascidians clinging onto seagrass. Each 'drop' comprises many zooids embedded in a common tissue. 

Our best find of the day is the Spearer Mantis Shrimp, a formidable predator. On the left is its armoured tail while its head is partially hidden. Its huge pincers are akin to that of the Praying Mantis, hence its name. As a spearer, it has sharp spines on its pincers that attack at lightening speed to impale darting prey like fish and prawns. 

Miliaris Cowrie with its mantle showing. The mantle can cover the shell completely such that it resembles a sea slug. The shell is glossy smooth and not encrusted because of the enveloping mantle. As a special organ, the mantle deposits a layer of pearl-like substance, and is responsible for the cowrie's colour, pattern and shell repair. The mantle also enlarges the shell. When threatened, the mantle retracts into the shell.