Nature for me and my boys
Allan Teo, self-employed, SBWR volunteer of twelve years

My involvement with Sungei Buloh began way back when my twins were doing a nature project called “Bird Watching in Singapore “. With the help and kind support of the Education Officer at Sungei Buloh, we were granted permission to use the library which provided us with lots of useful information. With the knowledge and information gathered from the numerous books and outings with Nature Society, my children and I picked up a lot of information and knowledge about local birds, fauna and flora. With that we were asked to be “Volunteers of SBNP” which I have been till today and for my son, Amos, until he left for Melbourne.

The satisfaction is immeasurable and the wonderful feeling of guiding groups around SBWR and seeing that I have made their time worth while, is enough to make me want to come back to conduct more nature walks for the public.

Thank you for making my association with SBWR so wonderful!

A decade of satisfaction
Keith Hillier, Shipping Consultant, SBWR volunteer of ten years

So it must have been ten years ago that I figured out for myself that doing volunteer work at Sungei Buloh would match my criteria for an ideal retirement activity - sun, fresh air, exercise, something interesting every time and no end to the learning.

Every time I conducted a guided walk, there was something new to pick up. I remembered once I took a party of staff and their families from the National Library Board (NLB). There was a little old Malay lady - one of the staff’s grandmother. I was pointing out a Bakau putih mangrove and she asked why it was called “putih”. I did not really know but suggested that it might be because the apical buds were whitish, as distinct from the red ones of the Tumu (Bakau merah). Her response was a scathing “You are only guessing young man, you should know for sure”. Incidentally, she could not have been much older than me.

Thoroughly chastised, I went to the library and looked it up and then emailed the grand-daughter at the library to tell her to inform her grandmother that the real reason was because it was the wood (timber) that was white. A couple of days later, I received a reply of thanks and a query if I could answer some more questions that her grandmother was posing.

Certainly this was one way of constant learning, not to mention the satisfaction of having someone else interested in nature.

Birds of a feather
Kenneth Kee, Projects Executive, SBWR volunteer of ten years

I have been bird watching in Sungei Buloh even before it was officially opened in 1993. It was my favourite weekend retreat to relax, be close to nature and enjoy my breakfast with the company of hundreds and thousands of waders.

It was during one of those occasions, ten years ago, when a charming lady approached me at the main hide to become a volunteer guide at Sungei Buloh. “Why not share your passion of bird watching with members of the public?”

I enjoy imparting my knowledge and sharing my passion of bird watching. It has always been a joy to me when they expressed delight and amazement that such beautiful birds exists in Singapore. It was my hope that they will be better informed, encourage their friends to come and slowly spread the message that this wonderful place is worth preserving. I was overjoyed when Sungei Buloh was officially announced as a wetland reserve in 2003.

It has been a good ten years. I wish Sungei Buloh and its dedicated staff all the best and every success in its Volunteer program. Happy 10th anniversary!

Savouring the rustic charms of nature
KS Wong, Semi retiree, SBWR volunteer of ten years

My first acquaintance with Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SB WR) started in 1994. It was then a nature park. I was on a reconnaissance for a nature outing for my former colleagues. I was awed by the rustic beauty of the Reserve. Soon after, I made frequent weekend trips to savour its charms. Hence, when SBWR asked for volunteer guides, I signed up. What better way to help conserve its charms and share its wonders with others than as a volunteer.

Over the years, I have volunteered in various areas, with varied and very enriching experiences. I have led guided walks for visitors from different ages, backgrounds and countries. I have helped out in conservation work and assisted in various activities, programmes and events organised. I have also conducted training for new volunteers and “green clubs” from schools and organisations.

Through volunteering, I have gained knowledge, skills, experience and much enjoyment!

Witness for the Wetlands
W. Calvin Ho, Attorney, SBWR volunteer of ten years for the wetlands

It was at first difficult to imagine the beautiful but gregarious-looking kingfishers to be vocal, but their quarrels have since become for me the audio insignia of Sungei Buloh. Furthermore, who would have thought huge monitor lizards to be shy or otters could be so bold! I once witnessed a Grey Heron slurp up an unfortunate Oriental Whip Snake much like one would a thread of noodle. And one can hardly underrate the stunning display of coordination in flight as winged migrants overreact to a disinterested White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Of the many facades of nature, I learnt that rustling leaves could mimic the sound of rain even as the sensation of it was reconstructed by a shower of seeds from tall-standing mangrove trees. Looking up, one could not but marvel at the spectacle of light displaced by shield bugs as dazzling metallic colours against a moving pallet of green.

Such have been aspects of my education, not only as a volunteer, but also about being Singaporean. I am delighted to find that we have a natural heritage that is uniquely Singapore.

In the past 10 years, it has been my privilege, as well as honour, to have served with a team of wonderful people at Sungei Buloh – both past and present. This anniversary is appropriately a celebration of the dedication, inspiration and vision that have enriched the Singaporean identity.

Congratulations Sungei Buloh!

A vessel for nature
SK Kwan, Manager in a shipping company, SBWR volunteer of ten years

Back in the 80s, one of my well-liked places was Sungei Buloh prawn farms where I watched the baya weavers. I was very happy when it was officially opened as a nature park on 6 December 1993, and looked forward to enjoying the place with more people It was great fun showing visitors that the little brown blobs on the mudflats were actually birds (usually the Pacific Golden Plovers which remains quite still). I have seen their amazement when I point out to them the colours of the kingfisher through the binoculars, or telling them how smart the Tilapia was in making little ponds to stay in when the tide went out.

So, when I learnt that volunteer guides were needed, I signed up. I am glad that Sungei Buloh today is now designated a Wetland Reserve and is even a member of the East Asian- Australasian Shorebird Site Network. It is great fun being a volunteer as sometimes, you could be on the receiving end of a simple guided walk.

My love affair
Yeo Swee Cheong, Process Engineer, SBWR volunteer of ten years

In those early days, volunteering was pretty much devoted to the weeklong event of “Birdwatch” in November, bird count/census, bird ringing and some weeding. The volunteering activities have since evolved much with weekend free guided tours, prawn harvesting demonstrations, art workshops, coastal cleanup and lots more to do. With time, my knowledge of mangroves grew and my oratory skills had improved.

Dispensing nuggets of interesting information of otherwise dull looking plants, interwoven with the intrigues and dramas of natural behaviours and interactions made visitors sit up and listen.

It was immensely satisfying when the visitors, after the guided tour, would come up to me and say that they had truly enjoyed the visit and my “nature talk” had greatly contributed to their experience.

I am proud to be a part of this “volunteer family” in Sungei Buloh, which includes many volunteers of whom I had known for many years now, and to bear witness to all that has come to pass, especially in becoming a Wetland Reserve in 2002 that it rightly deserves to be.