JUL-AUG 2008

CONTENTS Pg Activities 2 Trips Abroad 3 “Wild Animals of Singapore” Book Launch 4 “Up” Malaysia: Kuala Gula, Maxwell Hill & Cameron Highlands 5 Conservation Report 6 NSS Kids Enthralled by Wondrous Wetland Birds 7 Singapore Annual Bird Census 2008 8 Maiden Birding Trip to the Ex-Kampong at Tagore Lane 9 AGM Minutes 10 Singapore’s Streams: Good Water Quality? 16 Accreditation of Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Volunteers 17 NSS Participates in Singapore’s first Animal Welfare Symposium 18 Announcements 19 NSS Directory 19 All Purpose Form 20

9th Mid-Year Bird Census Jul 5 & 6

Workshop for International Coastal Cleanup 2008 Jul 5

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Jul 6

NSS Kids’ Fun with Horseshoe Crabs Jul 6

Birdwatching at Tagore Lane Jul 13

Pasir Ris Mangrove Nature Walk Jul 19

Rifle Range to Zhenghua Park Ramble Jul 20

Mount Faber to Kent Ridge Ramble Aug 2

Go Green, Go Vegetarian with NSS (Part 3) Aug 2

NSS Kids’ Fun with Beverage Plants Aug 23

Birdwatching at Tampines Wood Aug 24

Exploring Clementi Woods Aug 30

TRIPS ABROARD

4D/3N Nature & Birding Trip to Frazer’s Hill Jul 26 - 29

4D/4N Taman Negara with Raja Sept 3-7

Book Launch Page 4

Photo by Chan Kwok Wai

Activities July

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Saturday & Sunday 5-6 9th Mid-Year Bird Census Happily, we are into the ninth year of this census of Singapore’s wild bird population. Unlike the other censuses which were all held on a single day, this census has been extended to two days to allow birdwatchers to cover their backyards, neighbourhood parks or home patches. The ever-changing landscape and deterioration and clearance of bird habitats are all cause for concern. Such censuses have assisted in formulating conservation proposals by providing hard data to substantiate them. Helpers are needed for site counts which will be led by an experienced birdwatcher. Please let us know which day you are available, all the better if you can make it for both days. If you can help, please email coordinator Lim Kim Seng at denislim@starhub.net.sg before 1 July 2008. Satuday 5 Workshop for International Coastal Cleanup 2008 Singapore’s Coastal Cleanup is part of the world's largest volunteer effort for the marine environment. In 2007, NSS contributed a 70-strong contingent to help cleanup the Chek Jawa Wetlands. Islandwide, more than 3,000 volunteers collected and categorised from Singapore’s beaches some 110,000 items of marine debris weighing almost 10 tonnes. This year, the Cleanup falls on 20 September 2008. NSS will again be leading a contingent of members, collaborating organisations, corporate sponsors and friends of nature at the Cleanup. Volunteers need to attend this workshop for organisers and team leaders, which will be held in NUS. Please register early with Dr Hsu Chia Chi at hsu_chia_chi@hotmail.com and he will provide details. Sunday 6 Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Please register with Dr Hsu at hsu_chia_chi@ hotmail.com 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 also started a HSC Training & Accreditation Programme (see article on Page 17) for anyone keen to be a Qualified HSC R&Rer. Meet at the extension of Kranji Road at the junct ion with Kranj i Loop at 8.30 am. Take bus 925 from Kranj i MRT, a l ight at the Chinese temple along Kranj i Loop, cross the road and look for the name les s t r ack tha t starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). We recommend that you bring cap/hat, shoes/ booties, sun block, insect repellant, cutter and camera. Washing facilities available.

Sunday 6 NSS Kids’ Fun with Horseshoe Crabs Find out why horseshoe crabs (HSC) are regarded as living fossils, and how their bluish blood is useful in medicine. You’ll get to slosh about on the mudflats of Kranji hunting for live HSC, and you might even he l p r e s cue HSC t r apped i n d i su sed ne t s . Please register your kids with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com. A registration fee of $5 per child applies. Proper attire includes shoes/ booties/wellies (strictly no sandals), hat, water, sun block, insect repellent and a change of clothes. This NSS Kids’ session will be held in conjunction with the regular HSC Rescue & Research mission from 8.30 am to 11.00 am (see activity above). More details will be emailed to those who sign up. Sunday 13 Birdwatching at Tagore Lane If you missed the birding trip to Tagore Lane in May (see article on Page 9), join Siew Kwang for a revisit to this ex-kampong patch. Rambutan and Durian trees abound, not to mention the lively bird life he re . Be s i de s ge t t i n g to adm i re Sunb i rd s , Flowerpeckers, Bulbuls, White-eyes, Woodpeckers and Parakeets, we hope that we would be in time to savour the ‘wild’ durians growing here. Meet at 7.30 am at the junction of Tagore Road and Upper Thomson Road. We will carpool and drive to the end of Tagore Lane to start our walk. There is no free parking in this area. Parking coupons are required. Saturday 19 Nature Walk at Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest Meet Goh Si Guim at 8.30am at the Pasir Ris MRT Station. Pasir Ris New Town was developed with a thriving mangrove incorporated into a large park. The mangrove has since matured and NParks has expanded its Boardwalk network. Let‘s avail ourselves to the mangrove forest and discover what abounds in this small but rich habitat. Sunday 20 Rifle Range to Zhenghua Park Ramble with the Nature Ramblers led by Rehan Yusoff. He will take you through kampong trails where you can see durians in season and other local fruit trees like the rambai, chempedak, jackfruit and mango growing wild. If you are lucky, you’ll get to taste some of these fruits. In the second part of this ramble, walk through the countryside to Zhenghua Park. Bring along your binoculars to spot interesting birds and a camera to capture photos of wild flowers. Meet at 7.30 am at Bukit Timah Visitor Centre car park. This 8km/4hr ramble ends at Zhenghua HDB Estate. Booking is not required. Not suitable for children below 12 years old.

TRIPS ABROAD 4D/4N Taman Negara with Raja (3 - 7 Sept 2008)

Back by popular demand, this is Raja’s 26th trip to Taman Negara with NSS members. We set off by overnight coach at 10pm on Wednesday 3 Sep and should reach Taman Negara the next morning at 7am. Chalets are two to a room for the three nights there. Activities include trekking, canopy walk, swimming, fishing, cascades, rapids shooting, orang asli settlement visit and a trip to the High Hide. Estimated time of

return to Singapore is 7pm on Sunday 7 Sep, depending on road conditions. Estimated cost is $390 per person, discounted for children (exact discount to be determined). To register, please send the All Purpose Form and a $50 cheque deposit) made out to Nature Society (Singapore). Mail this form to S. Rajamanickam at 61 Chestnut Crescent, Singapore 679412. Full payment must be received by 10 August 2008.

Saturday 2 Mount Faber to Kent Ridge Ramble with the Nature Ramblers led by Benjamin Ho. Explore the maze of pathways that connects Mount Faber to Telok Blangah Hill Park. Enjoy fantastic views of the harbour and southern islands from these hilly vantage points. The ramble will take you through new attractions completed by NParks: the highest pedestrian bridge at Henderson Crossing, an elevated metal walkway at Telok Blangah Hill, the arch bridge across Alexandra Road, and HortPark at Kent Ridge. Bring along your binoculars to spot interesting birds, and a camera to capture the beautiful scenery. Meet at 7.30 am at the Harbour Front MRT Station Exit D (near Marang Road). This 8km/4hr ramble ends at Pepys Road (off Pasir Panjang Road). Booking is not required. Saturday 2 Go Green, Go Vegetarian with NSS (Part 3) By special request, this session will focus on Chinese Vegetarian Dumpling. At this fun ‘hands-on’ cookout held at the Sunflower, the dough and vegetarian filling will be prepared, and everyone will make his/her own dumpling…and get to eat it. Those wishing to attend are required to bring a narrow and light wooden rolling pin that resembles a cut up broomstick handle about 8 inches long. To help keep our costs down, please indicate your interest by filling in the All Purpose Form (at the back of this newsletter) and s end i t t o NSS o f f i c e o r ema i l Ang i e Ng (angienbc@singnet.com.sg). Our special introductory fee of $6 per person will apply for this series. The session will run from 2.30 to 4.30 pm. Saturday 23 NSS Kids’ Fun with Beverage Plants Do you know that the hot beverage you have for breakfast, be it Coffee, Tea or Cocoa, all come from plants? What gives these plants their taste, aroma and

uplifting properties? See, smell and touch the plants Botanics Garden. This session will be from 3.30 pm to 6.00pm. Please register your kids with Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com. A registration fee of $5 per child applies.

Activities

NATURE NEWS Jul-Aug 2008 ACTIVITIES

August

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Sunday 24 Birdwatching at Tampines Wood This area is located behind Tampines Industrial area along Tampines Ave 10. There was once a “Grebe Pond” here with the highest location record of 12 Little Grebes. Alas, it has since been drained. Visit this woody area before it is completely gone. We will be looking out for Sooty-headed Bulbuls, Red-Whiskered Bulbuls, Black-shouldered Kites, Pied Trillers, Pied Fantails etc. If we are lucky, we can watch mixed flocks of Munias: Black-headed, White-headed and Scaly-breasted feeding together! Meet our veteran birder Willie Foo at the junction of Tampines Road and Jalan Sam Kongsi at 7.30 am. Saturday 30 Exploring Clementi Woods with Shawn Lum and the Plant Group While the beautiful and well publicised Southern Ridges Trail captures the imagination, there are a number of other green spots in the southwest that are worth exploring. One of these is Clementi Woods Park, a 12 ha green oasis situated between West Coast and Clementi Roads, and a stone's throw from one of the larger shopping complexes along the west coast. Besides the obvious recreational benefits of such parks, what role do they play in the conservation of Singapore's natural heritage? Come and enjoy a morning walk, as well as ponder the challenges and opportunities of encouraging and maximising urban biodiversity. Meet at 9.30 am at the children's playground in Clementi Woods by West Coast Road, which is opposite Kent Ridge and Jin Tai schools.

Ches tnu t - c rowned and Ches tnu t - c apped Laughingthrushes, White-browed Shrike-babbler, Greater & Lesser Yellownapes, Brown Wood-owl, Speckled Piculet and Blue Nuthatch. Mid-altitude specialties include: Ferruginous Wood Patridge, Marbled Wren-babbler, Everette's White- eye, White-hooded Babbler, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Yellow-vented Pigeon, Wedge-tailed Pigeon, Bat Hawk, Sultan Tit, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler, Black Laughing Thrush, Malayan Whistling Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Eye-browed Wren-babbler, Ashy Bulbul, Bamboo Woodpecker, Maroon Woodpecker, Orange-breasted Trogon etc. Organiser: SUN-ClTY TRAVEL & TOURS PTE LTD Cost: S$360.00 per person (includes insurance coverage, accommodation, transport at our disposal and guide). Tour fare excludes all meals (breakfast is usually on the house). Min participants: 12 pax, Max participants: 20 pax. Closing date: 19 Jul 2008 For a complete itinerary, please email Sutari (sutari@gmail.com). Tel: 62835069, Hp: 97700432.

TRIPS ABROAD 4D/3N Nature & Birding Trip to Fraser’s Hill

(26 - 29 July 2008) Fraser's Hill has that untouched serenity and lush greenery with vast treasures of flora and fauna. This hill station has a refreshing, invigorating climate and restful cool ambience. It is easy to see many montane and mid-altitude specialties here. Numerous jungle trails provide many opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife. Peaking at 5,000 feet (1,500 m) along the Titiwangsa range in Pahang, this is undoubtedly a premier birding site in Peninsula Malaysia. One factor that makes Fraser's Hill unique is its quaint, tranquil and cool surroundings unsullied by commercialism. The Fraser's Hill checklist has 267 bird species. Montane specialities include: Oriental Cuckoo, Little Cuckoo-dove, Rusty-naped Pitta, Grey-chinned Minivet, Large Scimitar Babbler, Pygmy Wren-babbler, Cutia, Blue-winged Minla, Lesser Shortwing, White- tailed Robin, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Rufous- bellied Eagle, Black Eagle, Blyth's Hawk Eagle, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo-dove, Large Hawk- cuckoo, Green-billed Malkoha, Collared Owlet, Red- headed Trogon, Large Niltava, Black-eared Shrike- babbler, Great Hornbill, Fire-tufted Barbet, Streaked Wren-babbler, Golden Babbler, White-throated Fantail,

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Vertebrate Study Group (VSG) launched its first-ever book titled ‘Wild Animals of Singapore’ on 29 March 2008. This groundbreaking photographic guide features almost all terrestrial vertebrates currently occurr ing in the wi ld : a tota l of 180 species comprising 38 mammals, 87 reptiles, 25 frogs and toads, and also 30 freshwater fishes. Remarkably, all wildlife images were taken in Singapore under natural conditions by some 28 photographers. Aside from offering the latest facts about each species, the guide has suggestions on how and where to find wildlife in Singapore. It includes an updated checklist of all non-avian vertebrates in Singapore, including those extinct, introduced, or of indeterminate status. “We hope that this book will inspire others in Singapore to help NSS preserve wildlife and the environment, and to take an active interest in the vertebrates that can be seen with a little patience in Singapore’s parks and nature reserves,” said Guest-of-Honour Mr Chris Gibson-Robinson of Pearl

‘Wild Animals of Singapore’ is a photographic guide featuring a l m o s t a l l t e r r e s t r i a l v e r t e b r a t e s c u r r e n t l y occurring in the wild, totaling some 180 species. Photo Credit : Chan Kwok Wai

Energy, an oil and gas exploration company, and the book’s sponsor. ‘Wild Animals Of Singapore’ has garnered much interest in the local media, being featured in both The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao. It is produced in a handy pocket-sized format, making it easy to carry

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Wild Animals Of Singapore Book Launch By Nick Baker

along for nature walks. The book is available for $25 from NSS' office and from major bookstores (but at a h igher pr ice) . A l l p roceeds w i l l go to VSG's work.

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Deep inside, we just wanted to ‘escape’ from Singapore during the long Chinese New Year holidays from 7 to 11 February 2008. So, on the first morning of the lunar calendar, ten members plus yours truly fled in a chartered van for Perak. It proved to be a bum-breaking ride as we arrived in Kg Jawang only after sunset. We were warmly welcomed by my uncle Haji Sukarno and his family. We wasted no time, dipping in a cool bath at the riverside chalets before settling down under the star-filled skies. Kwok Peng played the guitar while we sang oldies as Mars and Saturn sailed by. Our revenous hunger saw us devouring my aunt’s kampong servings with gusto. After dinner, I gave a briefing on the following day’s programme with a dash of Perak’s history to boot. As it neared midnight, we had a star-gazing session as I pointed out Orion, Canis Major, Taurus, Gemini, Pleades, the Big Dipper, Centaurus, Southern Cross and the various planets and finished off with romantic star lore. We awoke to the dawn chorus of riverside birds. Venus and Jupiter were still bright in the morning sky. Breakfast was roti prata and kueh-kueh at a quiet town called Karai. Some of us even purchased the ‘cheap and good’ (C & G) rubber shoes (the ones with four yellow stripes) at only RM$5 a pair. These trekking shoes can be worn even up to the summit of Gunung Tahan and other tough mountains. The Orang Asli find this the perfect rubber shoe for all outdoor occasions. From Karai, we headed for Kuala Gula, a bird sanctuary on the Perak coast near Port Weld. Enroute, we stopped over at a ‘Tropical Fruits Sales Centre’ near Bt Gantang. It was a fruity galore session

as the vendors induced us to sample many of the fruits. We succumbed to pomeloes, local oranges, ‘salak’ (snake-skin fruit), jambu ayer (water-apple), rambutan, mango, etc. The abundance of birds in Kuala Gula during the winter migratory season has made it of special interest to birders worldwide. As many as 166

species of migrants and resident birds have been recorded here. However, we reached Kuala Gula at a very low tide and could not get a boat out till the tide went up some hours later. The Great Egret, Lesser Adjutant, White-winged Tern, Black-capped Kingfisher, Osprey and other birds kept us happy during the boat ride through the islands and set some members clicking away. The extensive mangrove

‘Up’ Malaysia: Kuala Gula, Maxwell Hill & Cameron Highlands By Sutari Supari

reserve was impressive - this is the biggest and largest mangrove sanctuary in West Malaysia. At Taiping, we saw an interesting sight: Brahminy Kites circling and ‘lining-in’ for a dive bombing run to grab dead fish from an oil-palm plantation canal. Brahminys are natural scavengers and they clean the environment of dead animals just as sharks scavenge dead fish and even scraps from shipboard kitchens. However, we had to abandon our plan to visit Maxwell Hill as all tickets for the 4X4 jeep ride up the Hill were sold out. The volume of traffic was bad. As the rain came by, we decided to visit Taiping Museum (the oldest museum in Peninsular Malaysia) but even it got crowded. Chinese New Year is definitely not a good time to visit this area. The next day, we went up Cameron Highlands via the new mountain road. Though steep at points, this old CT (Communist Terrorist) route was scenic and demanded mandatory shots. We were again stuck for almost an hour getting into Brinchang town. The town itself was super crowded. During lunch and mini-shopping, yours truly visited a souvenir shop and bought several ‘Tudong Saji’ (food covers) made from bamboo/mengkuang or pandanus leaves; brass betel-nut leaf containers etc. Rehan and I took the opportunity to look up an old friend, Rama (whom we had climbed some Cameron Highland peaks with a decade ago), at his shop. Later, the rest of us met him and chatted awhile before a bit of forest trekking to Parit Falls. By 8pm, we were back at Kg Jawang and its wholesome kampong food. It was a timeless moment we enjoyed: sipping hot drinks and chatting while absorbing the rural starry night. After a nasi lemak breakfast with hot tea and bread on our last morning at Kg Jawang, we went to see the local craftsmen for Rebana drums and pottery.Whilst with the potters, we were invited to attend a Malay

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wedding. Us gatecrashers were welcomed by the villagers amidst local music by a kampong band. We enjoyed their Nasi Minyak, Mutton Rendang, Chicken Masak Merah and Acar. It was also our good fortune to see the arrival of the bride and groom just before we had to leave. For some, this village air was very nostalgic. Late in the afternoon, we went for a scenic boat cruise

along Perak River to Lake Cenderoh Dam (the first dam along the river, it was built by the British in 1938). It was fun enjoying the cool air and river water from passing high speed boats splashing us. Enjoying the view near Cenderoh, we had sweet and sour plums and other tidbits. After the evening’s sumptuous dinner, we dragged our feet to leave Kg Jawang for Singapore. Our return journey through the night was smooth and we were back in Singapore by 8.20am.

B) Kranji Marsh Adoption Scheme A proposal for Nature Society to adopt the Kranji Marsh under the PUB Adoption Scheme was accepted by PUB on March 2008. The Kranji Marsh is a Nature Area in the Singapore Green Plan located to the east of the Media Corp Transmission Station. It is between Turut Track to the north and Neo Tiew Lane 2 to the south. URA has designated it as the “Kranji Marshes Park” and it is now a prominent feature in URA's Leisure Plan (2008) for the Kranji Reservoir area. A meeting was held with PUB and an understanding was reached as to the extent of NSS’ responsibilities and the kind of activities & projects that can be carried out under the Scheme for Kranji Marshes. We are at this stage sourcing for funding to carry out these projects and a team will be formed to look into the details and oversee these projects. C) URA Jurong Lake Plan Feedback to the planning authority on biodiversity of the Jurong Lake area is being planned. This area is becoming more and more popular with birdwatchers and photographers as more and more interesting migratory and rare resident birds have been sighted here over the past five years. A team of birdwatchers and bird photographers will be formed to prepare the report. If you are interested in assisting, please write to contact@nss.org.sg or email Ho Hua Chew at hohc@starhub.net.sg.

A) URA's Punggol Coastal Recreational Plan Our feedback for this plan was submitted to the URA CEO on 3 March 2008. The objective of this feedback was to provide biodiversity information for that area in order to enhance the Plan’s ecological dimension. The official plan includes a 2.4 km Nature Walk along the coast facing Pulau Serangoon (Coney Island). Our proposals include: 1) creation of a swale or marshy pond at one of the rivers to attract waterbirds; 2) retaining the rocks and leaving the coastline west of Punggol Point as it is; 3) having a two-toned design to the edges of the water channel that is projected to run through Punggol from Sg Serangoon to Sg Punggol such that the northern edge/bank becomes more natural while the southern edge is made neater and garden-like - thereby catering for both nature lovers and recreational users; 4) scrapping the plan for a vehicular bridge crossing Sg Serangoon from Punggol Central to Lor Halus and substituting with a footbridge so as to avoid disruption to the very important Lor Halus wildlife (e.g. Little Grebe). The Conservation Committee would like to thank the following Bird Group and Conservation Volunteers for assisting in formulating this feedback: Angie Ng, Ben Lee, Ching Chabo, Cyril Ng, Ho Hua Chew, Hsu Chia Chi, Julia McLachlan, Leong Kwok Peng, Serene Tang, Sutari Supari, Willie Foo, Wing Chong and Wong Chung Cheong. This Feedback can be downloaded from the Conservation Committee website.

Conservation Report By Ho Hua Chew (Conservation Committee Chairperson)

NSS Kids Enthralled by Wondrous Wetland Birds By Vilma D'Rozario & Gloria Seow (Chairperson, Education Group)

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A troop of excited NSS kids with parents in tow spent the afternoon of 23 March 2008 hunting for wetland birds and other denizens that call Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve home. The first stop saw them learning about the shapes and lengths of beaks as specialised adaptations to help these birds find the various types of food (like worms, shellfish, crabs and fishes) that live in the mudflats. Thereafter, the kids set off on a nature walk, taking in sights like the pink eggs of apple snails, delicate damsel and dragonflies, gigantic water monitor lizards, bouncy plantain squirrels, ingenious tent spiders, industrious weaver ants and of course the strange air-breathing roots of mangrove plants and other trees. Our great teachers who pointed out the various natural tidbits along the walk were Auntie Vilma, Uncle Si Guim, Uncle Timothy and Auntie Gloria. The star of the trip was surely the multi-hued Stork-billed Kingfisher, Singapore’s largest kingfisher, observed hunting at close quarters. Many other birds

were also seen well, thanks to Uncle Si Guim’s magnifying scope, including marshland specialists like the White-breasted Waterhen, Little Heron, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper and Collared Kingfisher as

well as garden birds like the Common Iora and Yellow-vented Bulbul. The kids also tried locating their own birds by fiddling with binoculars, and had plenty of fun in the process. NSS Education Group plans to conduct a Birdwatching Course for NSS Kids and their parents, as well as interested members of the public in the November/December school holidays. This course will equip young birders with essential skills to confidently spot and identify birds, as well as understand their behaviour in the context of the wider ecology. To register your interest, please write to Gloria Seow at gloria_seow@yahoo.com.

A majestic Stork-billed Kingfisher hunts for lunch. Photo by Gloria Seow.

Uncle Si Guim points out that mangrove plants excrete excess salt on the surface of their leaves. Photo by Timothy Pwee.

The cheery group at the main bridge of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo by Gloria Seow.

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Singapore’s 23rd Annual Bird Census (ABC) took place on 23 March 2008 in generally cloudy weather. A total of 46 observers at 27 sites counted 9,153 birds from 153 species. This was an improvement from 2007’s figures, both in terms of number of birds and species recorded. Singapore’s latest checklist stands at 364 species. As birding locales, Lorong Halus and Neo Tiew Lane 2 had the best bird diversity with 54 species each, followed closely by Ubin Central (52 species). Conversely, the sites with the lowest diversity were Bukit Brown (16 species); Mount Faber (24 species); Kent Ridge Park (25 species) and Marina East (25 species). As expected, the most populous site was Sungei Mandai with 1,896 birds, up from 1,465 birds in 2007 but still lower than the 1,950 birds counted in 2006. Coming a distant second was Neo Tiew Lane 2 with 625 birds while Pasir Ris Park took third spot with 436 birds. The least populous sites were Marina East with 110 birds, Sime Road with 133 birds, and Telok

Blangah Hill Park with 144 birds. Due to the lack of observers and other extenuating circumstances, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Changi Beach, Kranji Dam, Sentosa, Simpang Grassland, and Upper Seletar Reservoir were not covered in this year’s census. Looking on the bright side, two new sites, Chinese Garden and Marina East, were counted for the first time in ABC history while Pasir Ris Park returned after a prolonged absence. For future counts, we hope to increase the pool of leaders through greater involvement from the birding community. The ubiquitous White-vented Myna retained its pole position as Singapore’s most numerous bird for the second successive year with a count of 1,364 birds - a huge jump from the 979 and 862 birds recorded in 2007 and 2006 respectively. The Pacific Golden Plover took second place with 1,038 birds, up from 851 birds in 2007, but still well below the 1,577 birds from 2006. In terms of numbers, the top 20 birds for 2008 are listed below, together with the figures and rankings from 2007:

Singapore Annual Bird Census 2008 By Lim Kim Seng

No. SPECIES ABC 2008 ABC 2007 1 WHITE-VENTED MYNA 1364 979 (1) 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER 1038 851 (2) 3 ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING 607 372 (4) 4 YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL 468 441 (3) 5 PINK-NECKED GREEN PIGEON 448 363 (5) 6 BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE 243 213 (8) 7 WHIMBREL 232 165 (13) 8 SPOTTED DOVE 210 186 (9) 9 COMMON GREENSHANK 202 121 (15) 10 HOUSE CROW 191 182 (10) 11 LITTLE EGRET 190 276 (7) 12 COLLARED KINGFISHER 165 168 (12) 13 PACIFIC SWALLOW 162 181 (11) 14 BARN SWALLOW 152 337 (6) 15 COMMON IORA 132 111 (18) 16 ASHY MINIVET 128 50 (32) 17 OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD 127 100 (19) 18 GREY HERON 115 128 (14) 19 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN 113 87 (22) 20 COMMON PIGEON 112 80 (23)

Top 20 Most Common Birds Counted in 2008

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Of 56 nationally threatened species, 21 species (up from 19 in 2007) or 37.5% were recorded, the most numerous being the Grey Heron with 115 birds. The only globally threatened species encountered at this year’s census was the Straw-headed Bulbul. The most exciting birds observed at ABC 2008 were two Ruddy Kingfishers at Khatib Bongsu and Nee Soon; a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo at Poyan; a Jambu Fruit-dove at Chinese Garden; two Javan Pond Herons at Sungei Mandai and Lorong Halus; a Blue-winged Pitta at Sime Road; a Mangrove Pitta at Ubin West; an Asian Paradise-flycatcher at Nee Soon; and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher at Lorong Halus.

We would like to thank the following people who led or assisted in ABC 2008: Ali Jaafar, Doreen Ang, D Chan, Chan Kim Cheng, Chan Mei Yee, Alfred Chia, Avian Chia, Geoffrey Davison, Willie Foo, Goh Si Guim, Margie Hall, James Heng, Keith Hillier, Ho Hua Chew, Kenneth Kee, Nessie Khoo, Maurice Kwan, Danny Lau, Lee Ee Ling, Karen Lim, Lim Kim Chuah, Lim Kim Keang, Lim Kim Seng, Lin Yang Chen, Low Bing Wen, Lyn Ng, Harry Ong, Kim Ong, Alan Owyong, Peng Ah Huay, Phang Seng Khai, Timothy Pwee, Rehan Yusoff, Jane Rogers, Gloria Seow, Soon Tze Chien, Tan Kok Hui, Tan Siew Kwang, Tan Soon Im, Teh Kiam Poh, Wee Sau Cheng, Wing Chong, Wong Chung Cheong, Yang Pah Liang and Sunny Yeo.

On 25 May 2008, 29 NSS members made a maiden birdwatching trip to the woods at Tagore Lane. This ex-kampong (ex-village) sported a luxuriant green cover of elephant grass, bamboo and gigantic Albizias. Scattered amongst these were fruit trees like Mata Kuching, Rambutan, Jackfruit, Banana and Durian, as well as a few large specimens of strangling figs such as Ficus benjamina and Ficus microcarpa. Cultivated food plants like Wild Pepper, Tapioca, tiny Solanum torvum brinjals and Sirih were still growing freely, as were many ornamental plants such as Canna, Heliconis, Dump Cane, Common Snakeweed, Silver Queen, Iron Plant, Money Plant and Indian Kale. Foreign workers were seen harvesting some of these edible plants. The trip got off to a good start when Siew Kwang spotted an uncommon White-rumped Munia feeding on elephant grass seeds. It stayed for a good 20 minutes, enough time for everyone to admire it through binoculars and telescopes. An electrifying Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot tried to steal the

limelight by perching briefly on an exposed tree nearby while a Laced Woodpecker joined in the excitement by flying low across our paths, accompanied by its loud single-note call. I pointed out the messy nest of an Olive-winged Bulbul well hidden in a low bush. Other birds seen that morning include the Rose-ringed Parakeet,

Long-tailed Parakeet, Tanimbar Corella, Emerald Dove and Scaly-breasted Munia. Birdcalls were abundant, including that of the Ashy Tailorbird, Common Iora, Drongo Cuckoo, Black-naped Oriole, Striped Tit Babbler and Olive-backed Sunbird. We even heard melodious calls from the globally-threatened Straw-headed Bulbul, but the shy birds froze and remained quiet each time we came close, denying us any views of them. Durian and Rambutan trees were in their early stage of fruiting, prompting some members to request a revisit when the fruits ripen in about two months time. The return trip has been scheduled for 13 July 2008 (see Activities list).

Maiden Birding Trip to the Ex-Kampong at Tagore Lane

By Wing Chong (Trip Leader)

Minutes of the Nature Society (Singapore) 54 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Held on Saturday, 24th May, 2008, at MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Centre MEMBERS PRESENT: S. Rajamanickam Margie Hall Cyril Ng Lim Chin Kheng Ilsa Sharpe Leong Kwok Peng Tom Yuan Juliana Patricia Lim Chua Leng Sim Shawn Lum R Kalimuthu Evelyn Tan Geoffrey Davison Stephen Lau Margaret Yeo Soon Tze Chien Lee Chiu San Ching Chabo Ben Lee Lesley Cartwright-Taylor Vilma D’Rozario Joel Leong Kum Hoe Ho Hua Chew Linda Oei Kong Choong Soon Charles Letts Lioe Kim Swee Timothy Pwee Goh Si Guim Evelyn Ng Andrew Mok Willie Foo Hsu Chia Chi Wong Y. C. Gerald Tay Ong Eng Hin (and his son) Gloria Seow Rehan Yusoff Vinayagan Dharmarajah Geh Min Ali Jaafar Auditor (present until 3.20 pm): Ms. Dorothy Celis from Ernst & Young. The Annual General Meeting started at 2.42 pm, with 34 members present. 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE 2007 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The approval of the Minutes of the 2007 AGM was proposed by Ben Lee and seconded by Joel Leong. 2. TREASURER’S REPORT - 2007 The Treasurer, Joel Leong, referred members to page 4 of the Financial Report showing a reported total income of $198,45l.00 against expenditure of $114,533.00. The Accumulated Funds at 31 December, 2007 were $1,065.785.00, including property, plant and equipment valued at $563,575.00 and net current assets of $502,210.00 Auditor’s qualifying paragraph Joel then drew members' attention to the following statement in the Independent Auditor’s Report: “The small size of the operations of the Society does not facilitate the institution of proper accounting controls prior to the initial entry of cash receipts in the accounting records. Accordingly, our examination relating to cash receipts was limited to the amounts recorded in the accounts of the Society and we are unable to satisfy ourselves as to the completeness of the cash receipts recorded. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2006 were qualified on the same basis.” Joel pointed out that we had already achieved Charity Status and applied for IPC Status. He considered that we needed to improve controls so that in future our Auditor’s Report will not contain this qualification. Accordingly he had asked our Auditor, Ms. Dorothy Celis, from Ernst and Young, to attend the meeting to explain to the members. Ms. Celis explained that to better improve our controls the Society would need to separate the function of cash collection & issuing of receipts from the function of recording the cash received into the accounts. This implied the need for another administrative person as these two functions are currently both done by our Administrative Officer, Joseph Lim. Timothy Pwee asked if we were specifically required to have two employees in order to achieve IPC status. Joel said no, this was not the case, but that the change of status to Charity and IPC made us accountable to the public, and necessitates the implementation of controls. Margie Hall wondered if there was any real problem in having the qualifying paragraph in our Auditor’s Report, since MCYS has asked about it before granting us Charity Status and had been sufficiently satisfied with our explanation to grant us Charity Status. Joel Leong replied that the clause might in the future invite extra Audits by MCYS. Dr. Geh summarized the present situation as one in which MCYS were still developing their guidelines, such that neither accountants

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nor auditors could be completely sure of what procedures might eventually be required. She was confident that there were absolutely no irregularities at present, although she did invite members to comment if they believed there were any. Clearly we would have to be sufficiently accountable in terms of MCYS requirements, as and when the MCYS guidelines developed. She left it for the next Treasurer and Executive Committee to decide whether we would or would not need to employ another person. There were no doubts about the integrity of Joe, but we might need to develop checks and balances to protect both him and ourselves. Margie Hall enquired of Ms. Celis whether volunteer members could fulfill the additional accounting functions or whether they had to be done by employees in order to satisfy the auditor’s requirements. Ms. Celis replied that volunteer members could be acceptable. Tax liability Joel Leong then drew the attention of members to other aspects of the Financial Report. There was provision for $7,104.00 tax on a surplus of $83,918.00. The original surplus reported to the Auditors had been just over $15,000.00. However the Auditors had made certain adjustments. The donation of $20,000 given by CDL for Nature Watch 2007, which had not been spent in 2007 but would be spent in 2008, was disallowed as an accrual to 2008 and added in as income for 2007. The Auditors deemed likewise donations of $7,000 and $40,000 received in December 2007 for expenditure in 2008, as income for 2007. This increased the 2007 surplus and made us liable for $7,104 in tax, although the Auditors had suggested that the Society could appeal to IRAS for a dispensation, which Joel recommended for action to the incoming Executive Committee. Membership There had been a decline in members from 1,306 to 1,141, although it was noted that the Financial Report had a typing error with one figure being entered erroneously as “1,294” due to a misplaced figure in a column. This would be corrected in the copy put on record. Subgroup Accounts Turning to the balance of income and expenses of subgroup activities, the net positive balance was greater than that of the previous year. Ching Chabo inquired if the title “Butterfly Watching and Research Group” was correct in the Financial Report. Vilma D’Rozario noted that “Butterfly Interest Group” was the proper title for this group. Property Value As regards the Sunflower property, for which the purchasing price had been $675,000.00, this had been valued at $580,000.00 in December, 2007. Dr. Geh remarked that whilst prices were rising all across Singapore, our Office was rather unfortunately in an area where they had gone down. Final discussion Joel Leong thanked the Auditor, Ms. Dorothy Celis, for having agreed to attend the Meeting to clarify matters for members and noted that an Audit Management letter would be sent to us in relation to suggested controls that would allow us to have a clean, unqualified opinion from Auditors. He strongly felt that since Charity Status made us accountable to both the public and to members, getting an unqualified opinion was important. Joseph Lim pointed out that as from 2008 the Society would not be liable for tax as a Charity. Dr. Geh updated members on our application for IPC status which was still in the pipeline. A member enquired about the life-span of IPC status: was it renewable annually? There was some discussion and Margie Hall asked if anyone connected with ACRES, who had IPC status, could give us an answer. Cyril Ng informed that the ACRES IPC status was reviewed annually. Dr. Geh thanked Joseph Lim, Vinayagan Dharmarajah and Margie Hall for their hard work in achieving Charity Status for the Society and for the ongoing pursuit of IPC status. She also gave a big thank-you to Joel Leong for his diligent and dedicated work as Treasurer over the past two years, as well as for the earlier years when he had been Treasurer. She was particularly grateful that Joel had interrupted a business trip in China to return to Singapore especially for the AGM.

3. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Milestones 2007 – 2008 Dr. Geh opened her report by listing a number of milestones, or achievements, of the year. The first was taking the proposed new Constitution to an EGM and securing a favorable vote for it. The second milestone was the production of no less than three completed publications during the year by subgroups or members. These were A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore by the Butterfly Interest Group; the photographic collection on birds, A Passion for Birds, by member Ong Kiem Sian, who generously donated half of the proceeds from the first printing to the Education Group; and Wild Animals of Singapore by the Vertebrate Study Group. Dr. Geh commented that the Society was well known for its publications, which played an important role in raising the public awareness and standing of the Society. She also found them highly useful when introducing the Society to people and organizations.

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She trusted that Society members and groups would keep up these initiatives, mostly the work of volunteer members. CDL Gala Dinner The third milestone was one where in fact the Society had had to do little itself but had benefited from the very generous and spontaneous efforts of Mr. Kwek Leng Joo, of City Developments Limited. Mr. Kwek, one of the Society’s Honorary Advisors and an avid amateur photographer, had proposed and organized a Gala Dinner in aid of Singapore Environment Council and Nature Society (Singapore). He combined this with the launch of his second book of photographs. Limited copies of his book had been auctioned at the dinner. This, together with the sales of tables, had raised a total of $300,000.00, of which the Society would receive $150,000.00. – a wonderful gift. Mr. Kwek’s staff had done almost all the organizational tasks and the Society could only be enormously grateful to a benefactor such as Mr. Kwek. The Dinner had come as a total windfall to the Society as Mr. Kwek had unexpectedly initiated the idea. Dr. Geh entrusted the incoming Executive Committee with the responsibility of utilizing the benefits well – which she had every confidence that they would. In discussing Mr. Kwek’s initiative, Dr. Geh had pointed out that one of Mr. Kwek’s photographs was on the back cover of Nature Watch magazine. Indeed CDL also, in a separate gesture, sponsored the magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Ongoing Developments – Branding and Website The Society was still exploring possibilities with Birdlife International in relation to the Harapan Project. As outlined last year, it had been agreed that Birdlife International would pay for a full-time fund-raising officer for both the Society and for the Harapan Project. In fact, it was suggested that the Society does not need just a fundraiser, but also someone who could help with other aspects of the Society’s development such as branding and the creation of a more defined public image. This ties in with the idea brought up to Council by Gan Cheong Weei of the Butterfly Interest Group of engaging in a thorough branding exercise. Gan had presented a first draft of his ideas and there is now a Committee working with him to develop his suggestions. In particular it was hoped to create a website which would constantly receive and incorporate photos, data and research from members, and be organized and accessible to both members and the public. Dr. Geh considered that some of the funds from CDL could go towards this branding and website exercise, together with assistance on personnel from Birdlife International. She welcomed any members who wished to join the Committee concerned with this. Eight years as President Although now stepping down, Dr. Geh assured members she would still be serving the Society as the Immediate Past President. During the last eight years, the whole attitude towards nature in Singapore has changed tremendously with much greater public awareness of biodiversity. For this increase in awareness we can give some credit to the Society's work over the past twenty years, whilst acknowledging also increased global awareness of climate change. Singapore now includes many more environmental NGOs, and government itself is also more active, and competitive, on environmental issues. Some people felt a little uneasy on behalf of the Society as it is now harder to get members. However, Dr. Geh does not think that this is a real problem. Anything good for nature conservation is good for the Society. We would always have pioneer status but we now have others to work with and it is up to us to continue to make ourselves relevant. All environmental NGOs worldwide share this same problem of no longer being the only voice, but in the end this is for the better. How the Society adapts is now in the hands of a new Executive Committee, but, as she has learnt over these past eight years, the test of a good organization does not really rest on the leadership, but on the members. It is the members who will throw up the right leadership and support it. She herself could not have sustained her role over all these years without the members, as the Society is a “bottom up” organization. Advantages and disadvantages of a “bottom up” organization But “bottom up” organizations have both advantages and disadvantages. It is important to optimize advantages and not be undermined by disadvantages. The Society does not believe in policing its individual members. Indeed, it cannot do so. When some members confuse personal agendas with what is good for the Society, we can only appeal to them to think of the Society but we cannot control how they think and act. Making complaints and criticisms are quick and easy actions, but time-consuming for others to repair the damage. A resilient Society can distinguish between what is good for the Society and what is a personal grouse. All of us have personal views, which we may find hard to separate from the good of the Society. We cannot say that we do not want criticism, it is in fact welcome, and we expect disagreements. But the general membership should be able to filter out unnecessary, damaging, and unconstructive comments from those comments that can benefit the Society. Although the Society had had, in these respects, some “exciting” times, Dr. Geh was quite optimistic and felt that almost all instances were based on concern for the good of the Society. Four important people All in all Dr. Geh had experienced a rewarding and interesting eight years and wished to thank everyone who had helped her. But in particular four people deserved special mention:

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* Ho Hua Chew, who had inspired Dr. Geh to join the Society. With Hua Chew, the cause of nature in Singapore and the cause of the Society would always be in good hands. * Vilma D’Rozario, Chairperson of the Education Group, with whom Dr. Geh had started in the Society and who has done sterling work. * Joseph Lim and Andrew Tay in the years before he left. After Andrew’s resignation, Joe has been heroic in carrying on alone. The Society owes him a huge depth of gratitude. * Professor Tommy Koh, who, despite being busy as an international diplomat, was always there for Dr. Geh to consult. At this point Charles Letts moved a Resolution of Thanks to Dr. Geh for her eight years of service to the Society as President, which was strongly endorsed by the Meeting. 4. TREASURER’S REPORT – BUDGET FOR 2008 Joel Leong began by recalling that the Society had been in a fiscal “crisis mode” for the past three to four years. Winnie Chan as Treasurer had put in place timely controls, and the work of the Vilma D’Rozario-led Education Group had attracted many corporate donors. He presented the Society’s overall budget for 2008, which has a projected surplus of over $20,000. He hoped for an increase to $60,000 in membership subscriptions. Overall income would be $137,000 before the donation from the CDL Gala Dinner. Expenditure would be similar to 2007, except for the expenditures on Nature Watch magazine, unless the incoming Executive decides to employ more staff. As a Charity, there should not be tax liability for 2008. He thought, however, that costs might well go up for publications like Nature Watch, although Margie Hall pointed out, that at the moment, CDL has gave us sufficient funding for this. Opting out of publications by mail John Lee raised the question as to whether members could opt out of receiving a hard copy and receive an online one instead for regular publications like Nature News and Nature Watch. Dr. Geh said that this had been discussed and tried previously but few members had actually chosen to do so. Also, the Society still has to print the same number of hard copies as there are minimum print order sizes. However, as it would reduce postage costs, the incoming Exco could relook at this matter. Timothy Pwee pointed out that there was in fact an electronic cost to putting publications online. Hosting magazines like Nature Watch could cost up to a few hundred dollars per year. [nb: Nature News is already online and the cost accepted as part of the web services cost] Comments from the floor were that it needed a critical mass of members opting out to make it worthwhile; and with certain types of members and under certain circumstances, it is easy to organize electronic communications. However, we have many members who still preferred hard copies by post.

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Cost of living increases for staff Stephen Lau noted no change in salary in the budget and commented that as prices were rising these days and we valued the services of Joseph Lim, we should ensure that this appreciation was expressed. Joel Leong suggested a one-off inflation adjustment. Margie Hall pointed out that such a recommendation to the incoming Exco from the floor should be dealt with under Any Other Business, after the Meeting first agreed that new business would be allowed under Any Other Business. Dr. Geh left the meeting at this point, 4.00 pm, and Dr.Shawn Lum took over the Chair. 5. TREASURER’S REPORT – SUBGROUP BUDGETS Joel Leong presented the substantive subgroup budgets for 2008 from Bird Group, Education Group, Marine Conservation Group, Conservation Committee, and Vertebrate Study Group. All groups projected a surplus with income exceeding expenses. Nil budgets were returned for the Bird Ecology Study Group and Nature Ramblers. Shawn Lum presented the Plant Group Budget verbally. Butterfly Interest Group had not sent in a budget. Joel wondered whether the AGM should thus direct the Exco on how to proceed in this case, but Margie Hall said, under the existing Constitution, the Exco had decision making powers, so the group could still propose expenditures to the Exco during the year as normal business. During the presentation of the Education Group budget, Stephen Lau asked why activities needed to create a surplus. Why not spend all the charges on giving the best service possible? Joel Leong said that we had to take a macro view, and that our pre-Charity status model was based on the need to be self-sustaining. Vilma D’Rozario pointed out that we normally take a certain amount, as with the donation from HSBC for Fun with Nature, as an administrative fee for the general administrative support from the Office. Joel Leong said that the incoming Exco should take note that, having changed our status from being a private interest group to a Charity, we have to consider all these points. At the end of Joel’s presentation, Shawn Lum thanked Joel Leong, not only for holding the office of Treasurer for the past two years, but also for several previous office terms. This was warmly endorsed by the meeting. Joel then thanked Joseph Lim very much for dealing with all financial matters during Joel's frequent overseas trips. 6. SUB-GROUP AND COMMITTEE REPORTS Reports were made by Willie Foo for the Bird Group; Vilma D”Rozario (outgoing Chairperson) and Gloria Seow (incoming Chairperson) for the Education Group; Ho Hua Chew for the Conservation Committee; Leong Kwok Peng for the Marine Conservation Group; and Rehan Yusoff for the Nature Ramblers. These reports will appear separately. During the Plant Group

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Report, Shawn Lum indicated that he would soon be handing over the Chair of the Group. At the end of the Conservation Committee Report, Hua Chew expressed his gratitude to Dr. Geh for her fearless representations in the interests of nature conservation during meetings with various government and other bodies. After the Education Group Report, Shawn Lum thanked Vilma D’Rozario. He listed all the projects which she had initiated over and above the Fun with Nature activities that the Education Group is most closely associated with: these included major contributions to several Nature Day events, a host of brochures and pamphlets produced in collaboration with schools, projects done with Community Development Councils, the Circle of Life event, the Get Close to Nature poster campaign at MRT stations done with SMRT, and her contribution to the initial phases of what would become the Save Chek Jawa campaign. He thanked her for her huge contributions to the Society, which could rival those of anyone else in the Society’s history. 7. ELECTION OF THE 2008-2009 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EXCO) AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS There had been a single nomination for each of the Executive Committee positions and so the following would make up the Committee: President: Dr. Shawn Lum (proposed by Ho Hua Chew, seconded by Margie Hall). Vice President: Leong Kwok Peng (proposed by Sutari bin Supari, seconded by Ho Hua Chew) Treasurer: Soon Tze Chien (proposed by Margie Hall, seconded by Vinayagan Dharmarajah) Hon Secretary: Margie Hall (proposed by Khoo Kim Choo, seconded by Leong Kwok Peng) Committee Members: Chua Leng Sim (Angie Ng) (proposed by Goh Si Guim, seconded by Tan Beng Chiak) Goh Si Guim (proposed by Willie Foo Yin Kok, seconded by Sutari bin Supari) Dr. Ho Hua Chew (proposed by Alan Owyong, seconded by Willie Foo Yin Kok) The two Finance Committee members proposed and seconded from the floor were: C.S. Kong (proposed by Leong Kwok Peng, seconded by Vinayagan Dharmarajah) Ben Lee (proposed by Hsu Chia Chi, seconded by Ho Hua Chew) 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Exco Resolution on Conflicts of Interest The following Resolution was brought to the AGM by the outgoing Exco in order to satisfy the requirements of Code of Governance introduced by the MCYS Commissioner of Charities Office: “That at the first Executive Committee / Council Meeting after each Annual General Meeting all members of the incoming Executive Committee and of the Council declare and have minuted any general conflict of interest which they consider they may have, and that before any specific discussions and decisions at this or any other meetings of the Executive Committee and Council, members consider whether any conflicts of interest exist for any members and, where they are considered to exist, request that member to abstain from the vote or decision-making process.” Margie Hall informed the meeting that she had received by email from Eng Hin Ong a suggestion of a resolution that covered the same concerns but was better worded. It allowed more precisely for the fact that someone who had a conflict of interest might also have useful information to impart to the discussion and should present that information before abstaining from the final decision-making. There had not been enough time for Exco to change their Resolution, but Margie suggested that the incoming Exco might interpret the present Resolution in the light of Mr. Eng’s suggestion. The Resolution was put to the meeting and received 27 votes in favour from the meeting, no votes against and one abstention. The Secretary had received 8 proxy votes in favour. The Resolution was thus carried. Allowance of new business at the AGM Margie Hall said that strictly speaking new business was not allowed at the AGMs, but it had been acceptable at past AGMs if the meeting agreed. There was no disagreement from the floor to accepting new business. Recognition of cost of living increases in relation to Finance and Membership Officer, Joseph Lim Stephen Lau had raised the issue earlier. After a short discussion it was decided that the Meeting recommended to the incoming Exco that they should take account of the cost of living increases, as well as Joe’s performance. This was proposed by Evelyn Ng and seconded by Stephen Lau. There were no objections. Absence of Reports at the AGM from some sub-groups Ben Lee pointed out that he had raised this issue at the end of the previous AGM and that it had been suggested then that subgroups whose Chairpersons could not attend might send a report to be delivered by other people. He wondered why the Butterfly Interest Group and the Vertebrate Study Group had not presented reports again, and also the Bird Ecology Study Group had not presented this year. Margie Hall responded that she had emailed to all the Chairpersons to come and present reports or to arrange for reports at the AGM. She could only try to convey the message more convincingly next year. She pointed out that all groups made frequent reports to members in Nature News. 9. CLOSING OF MEETING BY INCOMING PRESIDENT Large shoes to fill Although it was too early to speak of Dr. Geh’s “legacy” to the Society, Dr. Lum recognized the huge contribution of Dr. Geh in raising

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the institutional profile of Nature Society to the next level. She had involved the Society in a wider circle of NGOs and institutions during her tenure. She had also helped legitimize nature conservation as a valid and worthwhile activity, as shown by her occupying the position of Nominated Member of Parliament. We owed her a huge debt of gratitude for the amazing strides she had made on behalf of the Society. Dr. Lum could not offer the Society a network of contacts like those of Dr. Geh, but he hoped to maintain and extend the range of activities that Dr. Geh had initiated. Like her, he considered that the President did not lead the Society, but represented all its members, articulating the hopes, dreams and priorities of over one thousand people. The Society must cherish and respect the accomplishments of its earlier stages when, with members such as Rajamanickam and Ilsa Sharpe, present this afternoon, it was the Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society. As the Nature Society of Singapore, it must keep all that is good of itself, but continually move into new forms of relevance for nature conservation in the changing environment. For this he knew that he could rely on the support of the Society’s new Vice-President, Leong Kwok Peng. The meeting closed at 5.20 pm. and members adjourned for refreshments outside.

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Statement of Income and Expenditure for the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2007 2007 $ 2006 $ Income Grants and Donations 19,081 32,490 Subscriptions 57,895 66,600 Income from Sub-group Activities 42,429 29,660 Collections from Trips 2,942 4,420 Interest Income 4,284 6,515 Sales of Publications 4,788 3,906 Sponsorships 67,032 16,600 Total Income 198,451 160,191 Expenditure Salaries and Employee Benefits 36,989 36,725 Publication Expenses 11,708 40,111 Expenses on Sub-group Activities 25,189 17,313 Expenses on Trips 1,400 2,643 Administrative Expenses 12,253 11,474 Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment 16,451 16,426 General Expenses 8,473 7,514 Property Tax 2,070 2,070 Total Expenditure 114,533 134,276 Surplus Before Taxation 83,918 25,915 Taxation (7,104) (228) Net Surplus for the Year 76,814 25,687 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2007 Accumulated Funds 1,030,372 953,558 Project "Painted Wings" Fund 35,413 35,413 1,065,785 988,971 Property, Plant and Equipment 563,575 580,026 Current Assets Other Debtors - 255 Deposits 130 130 Fixed Deposits 332,944 328,410 Cash at Bank 221,870 138,840 554,944 467,635 Current Liabilities Subscriptions in Advance 14,010 15,165 Accrued Operating Expenses 1,077 12,873 Income Tax Payable 7,103 337 Liability Arising from Fund Held in Trust 30,544 30,315 52,734 58,690 Net Current Assets 502,210 408,945 1,065,785 988,971

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A hand-held meter allows the convenient monitoring of water quality.

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Singapore’s Streams: Good Water Quality? By Kwok Chen Ko

Singapore has been making headlines with its watery ventures, from Newater to the Marina Barrage which aims to create one continuous reservoir encompassing the Singapore and Kallang Rivers. But what about the little streams that flow through our rural areas and forests? Are they important too? Sampling of plant and animal populations can provide useful information on the wellbeing of a natural area. However, if data on environmental quality (eg. water quality of streams) is also available, it can be correlated with plant and animal data to generate a comprehensive understanding of the natural environment. This is especially true if human activities have exerted a negative impact. Environmental quality is usually the first to show signs of such impacts, for example, by detecting the presence of pesticides in water. In fact, streams are very much part of Singapore’s natural landscape and their water quality is crucial to the health of the surrounding environment. Yet, stream ecology is hardly studied or documented. To address this knowledge gap, a project was undertaken by a student team from the Singapore Polytechnic with the aims of studying the quality of inland water systems in Singapore, namely streams in primary, secondary and swamp forests, as well as those in open country and rural areas. The project started out in December 2006 as a one-off assessment of three streams in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR), but has since expanded to encompass streams in Nee Soon Swamp Forest, King Albert Park, Ulu Pandan, Khatib Bongsu and Pulau Ubin. On-site and laboratory analyses were performed monthly at each location for a period of five months in 2007. Parameters like water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness and chemical oxygen demand were monitored.

Nee Soon Swamp Forest supports a healthy fish population in its freshwater streams.

Open country stream at King Albert Park.

The focus of the monthly Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research (HSC R&R) project has always been two-pronged: (1) rescue of mangrove horseshoe crabs (HSC) trapped in disused nets, and (2) research into its distribution patterns at Kranji Mudflats. The committee helmed by Dr Hsu Chia Chi wants to take things further by having a Training and Accreditation Programme for HSC R&R Conservation Volunteers. This programme aims to establish a consistent standard for HSC data collection; implement a standard procedure for freeing entrapped HSC; and nurture environmental responsibility by improving the mudflat habitat during each visit. It hopes to build a team of certified and committed HSC R&R Conservation Volunteers, who will be able to contribute in the monthly HSC R&R and assist in next year's planned island-wide HSC population and distribution survey. Certificates and badges will be awarded starting with ‘Conservation Volunteers’ and progressing on

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Accreditation of Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Volunteers

By Hsu Chia Chi

Water Quality Monitoring Course for Secondary Schools The author of this article, Kwok Chen Ko, is currently lecturing on Environmental Science at the Singapore

Polytechnic. He enjoys jungle trekking and exploring ways of bringing nature into his classroom.

Short courses on water quality monitoring for secondary school students and their teachers are on the cards. Please email Chen Ko at kwokck@sp.edu.sg for more information.

In general, results indicate that Singapore’s inland waters are either relatively unpolluted or weakly polluted. However, incidences of very low pH (acidic conditions) recorded in places like BTNR, and low dissolved oxygen levels observed at Ulu Pandan do warrant concern and further monitoring. There are plans for the collected data to be published in suitable journals. In 2008, the team intends to continue its monitoring work at BTNR, Nee Soon, King Albert Park and Khatib Bongsu, as well as begin a new monitoring regime at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Such

continuous recording creates a reference base l ine , usefu l in d e t e c t i n g f u t u r e c h a n g e s t o t h e environment arising from either human or natural activities. Collecting water samples on a monthly basis.

through ‘Supervisors’ and ‘Trainers’ to ‘Leaders’. The programme requires attendance in at least three HSC R&R sessions a year and involves participation in the following modules: 1. Open & Transect Search for locating and identifying HSCs 2. Measurement & Recording of Data 3. Search & Rescue 4. Good Environmental Practices 5. Equipment Cleaning 6. Practical Test Those interested in this accreditation should register at the HSC R&R sessions or at horseshoecrabrr@hotmail.com. Those interested in joining the monthly HSC R&R sessions should also register at horseshoecrabrr@hotmail.com, at least one week in advance, stating your name, whether you are a NSS member, any affiliations (eg. schools or company), experience levels (if any), and contact details.

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NSS Participates in Singapore’s first Animal Welfare Symposium By Vinayagan Dharmarajah

Singapore’s first Animal Welfare Symposium was held on 24 May 2008. It was organised by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and the Animal Welfare Clubs from local universities like NUS, NTU and SMU. NSS was one of several NGOs invited to participate. We were represented by our legal advisor Vinayagan Dharmarajah who was a panellist in the discussion. He helped address queries on wildlife conservation. Participants included students, representatives and supporters of other NGOs as well as members of the public. The forum covered a wide range of wildlife related issues. Some of these are summarised below. Wildlife Trade & Labelling The discussion focussed initially on the illegal trade in wild animals and birds, and on Singapore’s perceived status as a wildlife trading hub. One participant wondered why Singapore, despite its relatively small size, had acquired such a status. It was ventured that this may be because Singapore’s location and efficiency made it a global trading centre and that wildlife traders, by moving their ‘goods’ through Singapore, were simply seeking to benefit from its position as a commercial hub. Symposium attendees were also moved by the often ignored aspect of the illegal wildlife trade, namely the cruelty suffered by animals whilst being transported. There was general acceptance that more should be done to address the issue of animal cruelty, in addition to taking steps to restrict the trade in wildlife. Another participant suggested that pet shops should carry advisory signs warning customers that it is illegal to buy and sell birds that were imported in violation of local legislative provisions. Accordingly, all bird shops should display labels indicating the name of the bird species, its origin and its CITES status on their cages. This would enable consumers to make informed decisions about the birds they were purchasing. In this way, bird sales can also be easily monitored by the public. Participants raised concerns about household product labels that suggested that animals had not been harmed in manufacturing them. They wanted to know if there were mechanisms in place to investigate these claims. It was agreed that more should be done to verify these claims. Consumption of Seahorses & Sharks Another attendee highlighted the sale of seahorses (CITES Appendix II) which she regarded as a charismatic species and suggested that individuals should encourage their friends to refrain from consuming seahorse parts. Several participants were c lear ly moved by the p l i ght o f sharks and suggested that steps should be taken to discourage the consumption of sharks’ f in. It is important to acknowledge that the practice of ‘fining’ is not isolated, but enough evidence suggest that it is fairly widespread.

Biologist N Sivasothi, who was also a panellist, pointed out that whilst there is no clear indication of overall shark numbers in our seas, it is crucial that we take steps to protect sharks as they are an ecologically important species and their decimation would affect the marine ecosystem as a whole. Another attendee suggested that the authorities should ban the serving of sharks’ fin at hotels and restaurants but continue to permit its sales in shops and markets. This would put an end to the large scale consumption of sharks’ fin at weddings and dinners while still allowing private consumption to take place. Persecution of Long-tailed Macaques The discussion shifted to the ‘persecution’ and protection of the Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Participants were concerned about the perception by some that these animals represent a public nuisance and that steps should be taken to limit their numbers. They felt that members of the public were not sufficiently understanding on this matter as the feeding, harassing and ill treatment of these monkeys had also contributed to the problem. Dr Michael Gumert, a panellist and macaque specialist, said that the monkeys were regrettably often featured as ‘thieves’ stealing from dustbins and had accordingly acquired a bad reputation. We should instead focus on their positive contributions including their role in the ecosystem. Some attendees suggested that the clearing of parts of the macaques’ traditional habitat in Singapore had led to increasing contact between the monkeys and humans. Accordingly, another participant suggested that Singapore should have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) law to assess the impact of clearing activities that result in the loss of wild habitats. The concerns raised and the suggestions put forth clearly show that a growing number of Singaporeans are concerned about animal welfare and broader environmental issues that impact animal welfare. Together with organizations like ACRES, NSS can help promote wild animal welfare as a fundamental aspect of environmental protection.

Jul 2008 Mid-Year Bird Census & Sep 2008 Fall Migration Bird Census The Bird Census is instrumental in measuring the health of bird populations in Singapore. Your help as a leader or volunteer will come a long way to accomplish its objectives. More details will be released nearer the date via our Wildbird Singapore e-group. Please contact Lim Kim Seng by e-mail (denislim@starhub.net.sg) if you would like to help in these census. Seeking Bird Trip Leaders & Speakers If you are keen to share with fellow members your knowledge about birds and birding skills, these positions may suit you: Birdwatching Trip Leaders and Speakers for Bird Chat. Please register your interest with Siew Kwang at siewkwang@singnet.com.sg. Ubin Ferry Fare Please take note that the boat fare to Pulau Ubin has now been increased to $2.50 per trip. NSS Members’ Discounts Galore

1) Nature's Niche Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor's Centre, 1 Cluny Road Tel: (65) 6475 2319 Fax: (65) 6475 1597 Website: http://www.naturesniche.com/ Open Daily: 9.00am - 7.00pm 5% discount with Nature Society (Singapore) membership card 2) Pharmaplus Camden Medical Centre, 1 Orchard Boulevard #01-04 Tel: (65) 6887 3456 Website: http://www.pharmaplus.com.sg/ Opening Hours: Weekdays: 0.00am - 7.00pm Saturdays: 9.00am - 2.30pm 10% discount with Nature Society (Singapore) membership card

NSS Stamp Fund The Stamp Fund is boosted by members and friends who collect and send us used postage stamps. (There is no need to soak the stamps from the envelopes, simply cut the stamps off the envelopes without damaging the stamps.) Keep sending these stamps to the NSS office in an envelope marked “Stamp Fund”! Our grateful thanks to everyone who donated their time, effort and money to our funds! Contributions for Nature News Please send in your contributions for the Sept/Oct 2008 issue by 5 August 2008. Send it to naturenews@nss.org.sg All digital images should be of an original minimum size of 500KB if not 2MB or higher. The Nature News Editorial Committee reserves the right to select and edit appropriate contributions for use.

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