Birds at Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has shown to be an important habitat for both resident and migratory birds. There are over 180 species of birds that have been recorded at the Botanic Gardens, almost half of over 400 species of birds that have been sighted in Singapore. Many of these sightings were contributed by community of bird watchers  that have provided sighting information as well as records of the activities of some of the birds and the duration they spent at the Botanic Gardens. 

The valuable source of information on the habitats and conditions preferred by the birds, as well as the observations help to inform NParks on their conservation strategies and plans, allowing them to better enhance the Botanic Gardens for both birds and visitors as Singapore is transformed into a City in Nature.

Conservation of key habitats in the Singapore Botanic Gardens supports bird diversity 

The conservation of key habitats is one of the main thrusts of Singapore’s Nature Conservation Masterplan. Within Singapore Botanic Gardens, there are 5 locations identified as nature areas for habitat conservation and enhancement. They are the 

• Primary Rain Forest
• Southern Forest of the Learning Forest
• Keppel Discovery Wetlands
• Natural freshwater stream at the Gallop Extension
• Eco-Lake

The diversity of habitats, both terrestrial and wetlands, and the long-term ecological research and horticultural works undertaken by the Gardens in conserving and restoring natural habitats and flora of Singapore have contributed to the diversity of bird species that have been sighted in the Botanic Gardens.

As for the birds, both resident and migratory, they in turn also contribute to the Gardens by enriching the habitats, playing their roles in the complex food web system that underpin our urban and forest ecosystems. 

Community partnerships enhance monitoring and conservation efforts

The community plays an invaluable role in the efforts to conserve Singapore’s natural heritage. Under NParks Garden Bird Watch (GBW), a Community in Nature initiative, citizen scientists help to survey birds at various green spaces across Singapore. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been one of the the GBW locations since the launch of GBW in 2015. 

The 5 year data collected from the GBW showed that the Botanic Gardens is one of the top 10 sites for species richness. The insights from such surveys, as well as information on sightings from bird photographers, help guide NParks conservation and management measures, ensuring that the Gardens is conducive not just for visitors, but to avifauna as well.

Dr Tan Puay Yok, Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said, “Interest in the bird life present in the Gardens is not new. As far back as 1898, the Gardens’ then-director H.N. Ridley wrote a paper on the birds of the Gardens published in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in which he shared about the monitoring of a White-bellied Sea Eagle which had built a large nest on a big tree within the Gardens. It is heartening that our avian visitors and rich natural heritage continue to be appreciated and treasured by Singaporeans today, and they also contribute to our conservation efforts through their observations. Through this exhibition, we hope to share with our visitors the joy and pride of our bird watching community, the role of the Gardens in avian biodiversity conservation and the role of our avian friends in maintaining the ecology of our natural habitats, and to inspire more people to join us to transform Singapore into a City in Nature.” 

My birding and wildlife photography adventures in NParks GBW 

I am also playing my small part in NParks GBW through my birding and wildlife photography, helping out my friend Belinda who has been very active in NParks GBW Community in Nature initiative. 

My personal birding and wildlife photography adventures at Singapore Botanic Gardens over the years had been enriching and exciting, trying to spot and photograph the birds (both resident and migratory) in action, or somewhere inside the dense green nature areas or perched high up the tall trees at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Just part of my birding photography adventures (and playing small part in NParks GBW) across different locations in Singapore. 

Here are two photos of birds that I photographed at Singapore Botanic Gardens in 2023. I look forward to photographing and documenting many more different birds (residents and migratory) at Botanic Gardens. 

If you would like to find out more about NParks citizen science programmes and how you can get involved, please visit – https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/citizen-science-programmes 

“A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

The “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition received more than 830 community submissions, of which 160 photographs from 49 photographers have been selected for this community photography exhibition, made possible with the support of CDL.

This exhibition features numerous resident and migratory bird species, a curated selection of photographs shard by the enthusiastic birding community who come to Singapore Botanic Gardens to observe, admire, study and research the remarkable diversity of birds found in Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

Through the photographs, illustrations and interactive displays, this exhibition showcases the vibrant bird diversity of the Gardens, conservation and habitat enhancement efforts, and the role of green spaces like Botanic Gardens to support Singapore’s biodiversity conservation efforts. 

At the upcoming Festival of Biodiversity (https://fob.nparks.gov.sg) taking place on 25th and 26th May at One Punggol, visitors can find out more about Singapore’s rich natural heritage and how they can contribute.

Information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

Venue: CDL Green Gallery, Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Photographs from the exhibition are also displayed at the People’s Gallery exhibition spaces near the Visitor Services Counters at Botany Centre, Nassim Gate, Tyersall Gate, Gallop Gate and Bukit Timah Gate (MRT Station Exit A).

Date: 7th May to 31st October 2024

Time: 

CDL Green Gallery

• Opening hours: 9am to 6pm daily
• Closed every last Tuesday of the month, if the closure falls on a public holiday, the closure will be moved to the following working day

People’s Gallery exhibition spaces

• Opening hours: 5am to 12am daily

Entry Fee: Free Admission

For more information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/whats-happening/calendar-of-events/exhibition-birds-of-sbg-2024 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN)

Singapore’s Park Connector Network (PCN) is one of the best developments that has taken place over the years, and they are still enhancing as Singapore strives towards a City in Nature by 2035. The PCN is Singapore’s island-wide network of linear green corridors linking and connecting major parks and natures across Singapore. They provide a wide variety of recreational, outdoors, nature, therapeutic and exercising opportunities for fitness, outdoors enthusiasts, as well as for our international visitors to visit the PCN and explore local heartlands, parks and nature areas of Singapore.

Do visit NParks Park Connector Network website – https://pcn.nparks.gov.sg/ for more information and updates!

Completion of the 18km Eastern Corridor 

On 17th February 2024, NParks announced the completion of the 18km Eastern Corridor, offering additional recreational connectivity between Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park via Bedok Reservoir Park. The Eastern Corridor has been progressively opened since 2021 after it was first announced, allowing members of the public to enjoy walking and cycling along sections of the Eastern Corridor as soon as they were ready. 

For the public who would like an alternative route to travel between Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park, the completion of the Eastern Corridor offers this alternative travel, linking parks in the east that presents a variety of nature-based recreational experiences for visitors to the parks. Some of them include bird watching/bird photography at Tampines Eco Green, therapeutic experiences at Sun Plaza Park, and sports activities at East Coast Park.

Half of the Eastern Corridor route is located among waterways, including those enhanced under national water agency PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme, such as the Sungei Tampines and Sungei Bedok. They offer visitors to the parks a scenic cycling and walking experience along beautiful water landscapes in the east. 

The Eastern Corridor also features the new 600m Bedok Park Connector (Eastern Bank), and the recently completed park connectors along Tampines Ave 9 and Tampines Ave 10, totalling over a distance of 3.2km. Through the use of multi-tiered landscaping along those park connectors, NParks enhances greenery and attracts biodiversity along the Eastern Corridor route and in the area. 

I do visit Pasr Ris Park a number of times for wildlife/bird photography (especially during low tide days), sunset photography and nature therapy. I have yet to revisit Tampines Eco Green since my last visit a few years back, as it was going through upgrades and enhancements as part of the Eastern Corridor route. I would revisit again to check out the wildlife/bird photography in the area, and explore part of the Eastern Corridor route. 

Upcoming enhancements to the eastern half of Round Island Route (RIR) 

The eastern half of the RIR was opened in January 2022, stretching over 75km, making it Singapore’s longest recreational connection, encircling Singapore in the east, from Rower’s Bay Park in the north-east to, Changi Beach Park, East Coast Park and past the Singapore River towards Berlayer Creek (Labrador Nature Park) in the south.

NParks will be enhancing the recreational experience along the eastern half of the RIR, they will be introducing way finding such as map boards and directional signage to allow for better navigation and improved user experience, and multi-tiered landscaping to provide shade and greenery. 

NParks will also be introducing marine habitats through the installation of marine tiles to attract biodiversity along the route. They will be progressively introduced at key points along the eastern half of the RIR. NParks is also planning three new cycling bridges at Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park to improve the experience for visitors to the parks.

Explore Singapore via island-wide recreational connectivity PCN

Visitors (both local and international) to the parks are able to explore Singapore via island-wide recreational connectivity PCN, this will not only bring the community closer to greenery, enabling them to benefit from the positive effects of nature on their health and well-being, they will also connect communities and bring about a sense of space many times beyond Singapore’s small island city-state. 

These are part of NParks’ overall plans to curate a 360km island-wide network of recreational routes by 2035, as Singapore transforms into a City in Nature. 

I have been exploring, documenting and photographing Singapore’s nature areas and parks, together with Singapore’s wildlife and bird photography, using the PCN, I am going to spend more time sharing my travelling experiences on the PCN between parks or nature areas in Singapore, with the local community, as well as with my friends from around the world when they plan to visit Singapore. 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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Acadia National Park

Acadia is a fantastic park, rich in history and very diverse in natural surroundings from lush forest to granite seawalls. There are two RV campgrounds within the park. Blackwoods campground is located 5 miles south of Bar Harbor and Seawall is located 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor. Blackwoods is closer to the heart of the park with quicker access to the main park visitor center and the town of Bar Harbor. Both take reservations which are highly recommended, especially during the peak summer season. If either is full or if your rig is over the 35-foot limit, try the KOAs. Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA is a great big rig friendly park located just after the causeway when you enter Mount Desert Island. Just down the road is the Woodlands KOA, it is great for smaller rigs and has a pool that is shared with the Oceanside facility.

Mammoth Cave National Park

If cave exploring is your thing, Mammoth Cave offers the largest cave network in the world and the park has some great tours. For camping, Mammoth Cave campground is located adjacent to the main visitor’s center and can accommodate RVs up to 38 feet and trailers up to 26 feet. There are no water or electric hookups except for two sites so you will have to plan on being self-sufficient. For bigger rigs or full hookup sites try Singing Hills RV Park which is located on RT 70 just east of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Everglades National Park

For paddlers, there’s no better place then Everglades National Park. There are hundreds of miles of paddling trails throughout the park. During the winter months it is also considered a birder’s paradise with several species of interesting birds wintering within the park boundaries. For RV camping there is the Flamingo Campground with spaces to accommodate RVs up to 45 feet. The busy season, and best time to visit, is from late November through mid-April. Reservations are recommended during this time.

Glacier National Park

No park in the US national park system rivals the sheer beauty of Glacier National Park. This gem in Northern Montana is a fantastic RV destination and should be high any RVers list of must-see destinations. The west side of the park, around the Apgar visitors center, is the busiest section of the park. The Fish Creek Campground is on Lake McDonald just a short drive from Apgar village and provides an excellent base camp from which to explore the park. On the east side, there are two campgrounds that take reservations and have RV spots. St. Mary Campground is on the Going to the Sun Road about a half mile from the St. Mary Visitors Center. Many Glacier Campground is about 22 miles north of St. Mary in the Many Glacier District of the park. This is one of the least visited areas and can offer a little more solitude then Fish Creek or St. Mary. The sites here are small, limited to 30 feet or less with most under 21 feet. There is generally no space for slide outs either. Larger rigs, or those with slide outs should look for space at St. Mary or Fish Creek. If space is full at the park campground, consider staying at North American RV Park. It is located about 5 miles south of the Apgar entrance and is a great place to stay in that area.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is a great place to visit, it has nearly every environment you can find in North America, aside from deserts and salt water, wrapped up into one giant park. It is also right next door to Grand Teton National Park, which is beautiful in and of itself. Yellowstone has five reservable campgrounds, and seven which are first come first serve. Fishing Bridge is the nicest and is the only one to offer full hookups. Unfortunately, it is closed for the 2019 season. Grant Village is also an excellent location. For big rigs, try Mammoth. It is first come first serve, but it has sites up to 65 feet in length. If all the campgrounds are full within the park, there are several private parks in West Yellowstone. If those are full, try Red Rock RV Park in Island Park, ID. There are also several boondocking opportunities in the national forest areas of Island Park if you are set up to camp that way.

These are a few of the top national park campgrounds. There are many more great campgrounds throughout the national park system. To find your national park camping adventure try visiting https://www.nps.gov/findapark/advanced-search.htm?a=23&p=1&v=0 for a list of parks offering camping as an activity.

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