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what's
on this week
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| WHAT'S
ON THIS WEEK?! Nature activities and events happening this week 29 Nov - 5 Dec 4 Dec (Sat): Free talk on Monkey Island on Pulau Tekukor by Dr Paolo Martelli and Barbara Martelli Time: 3 to 4pm, The Programme Zone, Library@Orchard 391 Orchard Road. #05-22/26 Ngee Ann City Podium Block, Tower B Part of the now regular Blue Water Volunteers Public Talk Series. In "Monkey Business", Barbara Martelli addresses issues on monkeys found in urbanized Singapore, commonly spotted at forest edges. Why does the Singapore Long Tail Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) need rescue? She will be sharing some background facts and giving insights to the Rescue Centre (operations and plans for the future), as well as a creation of a viable philanthropic concept. In "Monkey Island", Dr Paolo Martelli proposes a conservation and research initiative for a whole island, i.e. Pulau Tekukor. This includes a study of the island's flora and fauna, as well as its preservation and restoration. Topics on education opportunities and community service will be discussed. More details on the Monkey Island website and Pulau Tekukor on Coral Reefs of Singapore Blue Water Volunteers will be setting up a booth too. There will be display of posters on local marine life, information about our shores and BWV activities, sale of items such as our newly-launched guidesheets on the Southern Shores of Singapore, the Chek Jawa guidebook, marine-themed toys and tee-shirts for fund raising. Contact: RSVP Dionne at mattebluewhite@yahoo.com.sg by 2 Dec 04 (Thu). 4 Dec (Sat): Native Plant Hunt at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Time: 10am, 10.30am and 11am Are you curious about the names of some of the plants found in Bukit Timah's Hindhede Nature Park? Here's a chance to help you learn at least 8 native plant species in a fun way! Form a team of 3-5 members and join us in the Native Plant Hunt! The free plant hunts will be held on Saturdays: 26 Jun, 24 Jul, 28 Aug, 30 Oct, 4 Dec. The plant hunts are organised by NParks. The free plant hunts are conducted by the Building and Environment Green Volunteers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Engineering. Registration for the free plant hunt is limited to maximum of 10 people per registrant. The plant hunt is available and chargeable for organised groups (minimum 20 participants) on other dates. At least 1 month's notice is needed to book for this specially arranged plant hunt. More details on the NParks Central Nature Reserve website. Contact: For enquiries and registration, please contact Ms. Genevie Chua, Outreach Officer of Central Nature Reserve, at 6 554 5127 or email Genevie_Chua@nparks.gov.sg 4-11 Dec: Free Exhibition and Talk on "Man and Monkey" Have you ever encountered monkeys on your visits to the Nature Reserves at Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment? Do you have the urge to feed them because they appear "so cute" and the forest does not seem to have enough food for them? Well, if you do, you will be doing them more harm than good. To find out why, come and join us for a talk on monkeys and their relationship with us humans in the increasing urban landscape. It is the Year of the Monkey, so let us resolve to live in harmony with these forest creatures by understanding their habits, and how you can help to conserve them by playing your part Exhibition: 4-11 Dec, Ang Mo Kio Community Library Talk: 4 Dec (Sat), 2-3pm, Ang Mo Kio Community Library Admission is free. Contact: For registration, please call 6332 3255 4 Dec (Sat): Free pastel workshop at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve with Tham Pui San (second session on 11 Dec) Time: 2.30-5.30pm, at the Reserve Workroom Reserve volunteer guide and artist Tham Pui San hopes that the 2-day programme will introduce the use of pastels in sketching and painting, teach basic landscape painting techniques and promote nature appreciation through Art. What to bring: A charcoal pencil, 2B lead pencil, small piece of sandpaper, penknife, pastel paper, drawing block (min A4 size) or water colour sketching block, abasic set of pastels or pastel pencils. Pre-registration required, places are limited to the first 22 participants. More about the Reserve and Tham Pui San This workshop is conducted free of charge but participant are welcome to make donations by cash or cheque (payable to 'Garden City Fund') that will go towards funding conservation programmes at the Reserve. Contact: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve at 6794 1401 4 Dec (Sat): Kids Fun with Nature in the Tree Tops with Leong Tzi Ming and the Education Group Open only to NSS members and associates Fancy feeling on top of the world? Well, join us if you’re between the ages of 6 and 11, as we take a morning walk along the Tree Top Walk at Sime Forest to get a bird’s eye view of the rainforest and the plants and animals that call this their home. If you’re quiet enough, you’ll not scare off the Asian Fairy Bluebird or Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, and may even catch sight of a Clouded Monitor Lizard or a Tree Shrew. Wear lightweight cotton clothing, a good pair of walking shoes (as we will be doing a fair bit of walking), bring your water bottle, binoculars, nature journal/notebook and a pencil. Herbal insect repellent will keep the mozzies away. To register and for details, please email Vilma at vdroza@nie.edu.sg Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036. 4 Dec (Sat): Night Walk on Pulau Ubin with Robert Teo Open only to NSS members and associates Join the Vertebrate Study Group (VSG) on its second night walk on Pulau Ubin. For those unfamiliar with this island, it offers a haven of peace and quiet away from the bustle of the city. Its largely abandoned kampongs, prawn ponds and rubber plantations are a haven for various wildlife. We should be able to spot Pouched Tomb Bats as they emerge for their night forays. Are there white bats in Pulau Ubin, as the rumours say? And is the Toddy Cat (Common Palm Civet) still around? As wildlife spotting requires small groups, the numbers for this outing are limited to 20. To secure a seat, register with VSG secretary Celine Low, preferably by email at leopardcat@pacific.net.sg - please submit your full name, contact and membership numbers. Meeting details will be given upon confirmation. Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036. 4 Dec (Sat): Free guided walk of the Sensory Trail, Pulau Ubin Time: 9.30am and 10am. Meet at the Ubin Information Kiosk (near Ubin Jetty) 10 minutes before tour starts. For an interesting encounter with Ubin's natural heritage. Experience nature with all your senses. As there are limited spaces available and demand for the guided tours is high, please book early to avoid disappointment. Call Pulau Ubin Hotline (Tel: 6542-4108) or visit the Ubin Information Kiosk between 8.30am-5pm to book a visit. A booking number would be allocated upon confirmation of places. More details on the Nparks website. Contact: Pulau Ubin Hotline 6542-4108 4 Dec (Sat): Free Nature Appreciation Walk at the Lower Peirce Boardwalk Time: 9.30am and 10.30am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road. You'll learn and see more about the plants and animals of the secondary forest and wetlands of the Lower Peirce Reservoir. More details about the boardwalk and about the guided walk on the NParks Central Nature Reserve website. To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book. Contact: Genevie_CHUA@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127. 4 Dec (Sat): Free guided walk of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Time: 9am, 10am, 3pm, 4pm You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Usual entry charges apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child /student/senior citizen. More details Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401 5 Dec (Sun): Birdwatching on Pulau Ubin with See Swee Leng Time: 7.30am, meet at Changi Jetty off Lorong Bekukong Open only to NSS members and associates The kampung and rural areas here are good places to spot Common Flameback and Laced Woodpeckers, the melodious Straw-headed Bulbul, Red Junglefowl, as well as some mangrove species. There’s also a good chance we would get to see the Oriental Pied Hornbill, probably the only place where they occur naturally in Singapore. Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036. 5 Dec (Sun): Walk “Wildflowers of Singapore” on Pulau Ubin with the Plant Group Time: 9.30am, meet at the information kiosk on Pulau Ubin, situated at the end of the Pulau Ubin jetty. Open only to NSS members and associates Many of us may be familiar with local forest trees, but how often do we look down in search of plants, rather than look up? This walk will be the first in a series that will explore a sometimes-neglected component of our wonderful flora. Come prepared for a leisurely and very slow stroll around Pulau Ubin – we may not cover much distance, but there should be much to see. Please come prepared for a good deal of sun and/or rain, and with lots of drinking water. Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036. 5 Dec (Sun): 11th Anniversary afternoon walk at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) with N. Sivasothi and friends Before we start the walk, you will be handed a map with a series of stations to visit. A group guide will be leading you through the stations and guides will regale you with stories of Buloh’s animals and plants, and a little about the ecology of mangroves. Keep your ears and eyes open, and you will surely ace the quiz provided! Tree-climbing crabs, mudskippers, barnacles and snails are common here. Spot the fishes – Archer fish, Mullet, Halfbeak, Garfish and Green Chromide; figure out how mangroves are formed, and pause to reflect on the invasions of WWII with the view of Johor across the straits. Learn to recognise some of the migratory birds and figure out what they are doing and understand the pond management system. Throughout, we will keep an eye out for the reserve’s exciting denizens –monitor lizards, the resident family of Smooth-coated otters, and even rarer, the crocodile! Be prepared for rain as always. For updates, check http://buloh.sivasothi.com Contact: To register yourself and for the meeting details, please email to: buloh@sivasothi.com 5 Dec (Sun): Free Nature Appreciation Walk at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Time: 9.30am and 10.30am. Meet at Ranger Counter at Visitor Centre. You'll learn more about the rainforest and the plants and animals that live there. More details about the Reserve and about the guided walk on the NParks Central Nature Reserve website. To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book. Contact: NParks Rangers at 64685 736. 5 Dec (Sun): Free guided walk of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Time: 9am, 10am subject to availability of volunteer guides. You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Usual entry charges apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child /student/senior citizen. More details Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401 Want MORE events? View all the upcoming events in the calendar for the next 3 months. |
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