Main article | Table 1 (summary) | Table 2 (longevity records)

Bird ringing has been conducted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) since 1990. This article gives an overview of some of the results of the bird ringing effort at Sungei Buloh over the past year. In 2005, a total of 479 birds from 59 species were ringed. The ringing field work was carried out on scheduled days and nights throughout the year. A summary of the number of birds ringed in 2005 (and the previous five years) is provided in Table 1.

The most commonly ringed bird species were (Numbers ringed in brackets) : Pacific Golden Plover (82), Scaly-breasted Munia (66), Yellow-vented Bulbul (48), Common Redshank (32) and Collared Kingfisher (23). Compared to the previous year (2004 ringing results), the number of birds ringed has increased from 373 to 479. The increase is attributed to additional hours of mist netting.

Regular bird counts in SBWR have revealed an increase in shorebird numbers. Curlew Sandpipers and Mongolian Plovers that were noted to have avoided the wetland in 2003 have returned. Peak counts of 206 Curlew Sandpipers in 2004 increased to 276 in 2005 while Mongolian Plovers increased from 175 birds in 2004 to 310 in 2005. Not surprisingly and unlike in 2003 and 2004, Curlew Sandpipers were once again mist netted and ringed while the number of Mongolian Plovers that were ringed in 2005 has remained stable. Several habitat management measures to increase the attractiveness of the wetland for shorebirds over the past two years have apparently been successful. These measures will continue. Ringing work and shorebird counts over the next few years will help to determine the effectiveness of the measures.

Three species of birds were ringed for the first time at SBWR in 2005. They are the Little Egret, Ruddy-breasted Crake and Streaked Weaver. Some other interesting species ringed include the Crow-billed Drongo, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Oriental Scops Owl and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

There were 62 recoveries from 19 species that had been ringed before 2005. The Pacific Golden Plover had the most recoveries with 10 birds while the Common Redshank saw eight recoveries. One use for the data obtained from recovered birds is the enabling of longevity records and the survival of the different bird species in the wild to be determined. The longevity records based on birds recovered in 2005 are provided in Table 2.

One notable recovery is worth highlighting. An Oriental Scops Owl mist netted in February is the first migratory owl to be recovered at SBWR. This is believed to be the first evidence of site fidelity (faithfulness) exhibited by a migratory owl in Singapore to its wintering grounds.

2005 also saw the first records of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers in Sungei Buloh mist netted during mid winter and at the start of the northward migration. One flycatcher each was ringed in January and February.

In summary, bird ringing in 2005 has continued to reveal surprises in the presence of bird species, their movements, abundance and survival in Sungei Buloh. Data collected is invaluable for the long-term conservation and management of the wetland reserve.

Visitors can continue to enjoy the sights offered by SBWR as there has been no reported case of bird flu in Singapore. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the National Parks Board (NParks ) have an on-going surveillance programme for bird flu in wild birds at Sungei Buloh. For information about bird flu, look up the Singapore Government Flu Website (http://www.flu.gov.sg) which also provides links to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites. It also has useful information on hotlines to call for any enquiries.”

Comments or feedback? Email us at sbwr@pacific.net.sg

This article is possible because of the field studies supported by NParks. Thanks to fellow ringers Ramakrishnan, Charles Lim, Mustaffa Hajar, Abdul Khalid and Ong Hai Chwee for contributing to the ringing work. Many others assisted with the ringing including staff, volunteers and friends especially Halilah Ahmad, Supardi Mohd Shariff, Jack Wong and Jeanne Tan. Jeremy Ang, Tay Soon Lian and Ramakrishnan took a number of photographs and catalogued them for documentation purposes.

References
Wells, D. R. 1999. The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Vol 1. Academic Press, San Diego

Wetlands Vol 8, No.1, April 2001, Bird Ringing in Sungei Buloh Nature Park in 2000,. Pp 7 –10, Publication of SBNP, National Parks Board, Singapore

Wetlands Vol 9, No.1, April 2002, Bird Ringing in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2001,. Pp 8 –11, Publication of SBWR, National Parks Board, Singapore

Wetlands Vol 10, No.1, April 2004, Bird Ringing in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2002,. Pp 6 – 8, Publication of SBWR, National Parks Board, Singapore

Wetlands Vol 10, No.2, Nov 2004, Bird Ringing in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2003,. Pp 8 – 11, Publication of SBWR, National Parks Board, Singapore

Wetlands Vol 10, No.4, Apr 2005, Bird Ringing in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in 2004,. Pp 6 – 9, Publication of SBWR, National Parks Board, Singapore