Monday 1 February 2021

Online Workshops: Fun with Backyard Birds (Parts 1 & 2)

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Education Committee led by Vice Chairperson Gloria Seow has temporarily suspended all nature walks. We have instead organised a number of online talks and workshops. Watch them on NSS's YouTube Channel or below:

1. Fun with Backyard Birds (Part 1, conducted on 21 November 2020 on Zoom)


Keen to start birdwatching? Even without binoculars, you can spot colourful birds in your backyard if you know how. In this interactive webinar, Vice Chairperson of the Education Committee Gloria Seow revealed the 33 common bird species found in our parks, streets and water bodies, from the showy blue Collared Kingfisher to the sunny yellow Black-naped Oriole. Participants learnt how to tell these birds apart, where similar-looking species were juxtaposed to good effect. Gloria also shared the typical behaviour of these birds and fielded questions in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) segment. In the post-webinar survey, one participant summed up the sentiments saying that she "thoroughly enjoyed this as a starter". 

If you cannot view the video above, please go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewotRLw544


2. Fun with Backyard Birds 
(Part 2, conducted on 
12 December 2020 on Zoom)


Continuing the workshop in this interactive webinar, 
Vice Chairperson of the Education Committee Gloria Seow elucidated on the basics of birding including binoculars use as well as spotting and recording birds. She also recommended various useful resources available for birders, including guide books, apps, websites and guided walks. Gloria then fielded questions in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) segment. In the post-webinar survey, one participant remarked as follows: "Good session, will recommend highly".

If you cannot view the video above, please go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu1mWN1UTNc&t


About the Speaker Gloria Seow is a volunteer from Nature Society Singapore and has been running the Fun with Nature programme for children and their parents since 2008 as the former Chairperson, and now as the Vice Chairperson of the Education Committee. She has been involved in bird and wildlife surveys for close to 15 years and has travelled to many countries to watch wildlife. She formerly worked as a communications professional but switched to become a financial consultant and professional nature guide a year ago.

If you wish you engage Gloria and/or other nature guides for affordable private, school or company walks, please contact Gloria at gloria_seow@yahoo.com.

Online Talks: 1. Fun with Hornbills & 2. Fun with Otters

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Education Committee led by Vice Chairperson Gloria Seow has temporarily suspended all nature walks and has instead organised a number of online talks. Watch them on NSS's YouTube Channel or below:

1. Fun with Hornbills (conducted on 2 August 2020 on Zoom)

Singapore has two hornbill species – the iconic Oriental Pied Hornbill and the rare Black Hornbill. In this interactive webinar, Ms Ng Bee Choo revealed fun facts and unravelled the behaviour of these beloved birds, as well as shared about the ongoing conservation efforts in Asia. Bee Choo is the International Coordinator for the Hornbill Research Foundation based in Thailand, as well as the Programme Officer for the IUCN Species Survival Commission – Hornbill Specialist Group. The Fun with Hornbills online talk ended with a Q&A segment as well as a fun quiz for kids between 4 to 12 years old, where the winner walked away with the book "Hornbills of the World". 

If you cannot view the video above, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7n5dwpdjlQ


2. Fun with Otters (conducted on 
25 October 2020 on Zoom)


The Smooth-coated Otter is a national darling when it comes to wildlife in Singapore, appearing in the news ever so often, in countless social media posts, artworks and even government banners. Aside from finding them irresistible, how well do you know your otters? Wildlife photographer "OtterGrapher" Bernard Seah opened our eyes to their colourful lifestyle in this interactive webinar: from their hunting behaviour to mating, parenting, exploring, sheltering, territorial disputes, and interactions with other species including humans. He also shared about the threats they face and dished out tips on where and how to watch them. The talk ended with an AMA (ask me anything) segment.

If you cannot view the video above, please go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfqa-A9pJaA&t