Vol 1 No 2
Sep 94

A park for all: objectives of
the park and
about its construction

Homes of
their Own:
the atlas moth
and white-
breasted
waterhen

Research
at the Park:
bird banding,
bird census,
feeding ecology studies

Update on
the study of insectivorous
bats at the Park

Sponsorship towards Nature Conservation and Education 		  Research
at Sungei Buloh

Research is carried out on the flora and fauna found here. The information collected increases understanding of the life living within it. This in turn contributes to the sound management of the various habitats of the Park. Examples of such work done includes bird banding, bird census, water sampling and feeding ecology studies.
Bird Banding

To find out more about the movement of migratory shorebirds which visit the Park, a shorebird banding programme was started in October 1990. The initial programme involved netting efforts on consecutive nights conducted once or twice during each migratory season. Banding sessions were conducted fort- nightly throughout the migratory season.

A volunteer network involving Jurong Bird Park, the National University of Singapore, the Nature Society of Singapore, teachers and other nature enthusiasts was established. Volunteers are incorporated into the programme as part of the effort to educate the public on conservation and ornithology.

Mist-net set-up for capturing waders

During the last migratory season, from September 1993 to February 1994, 16 sessions of netting were conducted. A total of 253 birds of 19 species was caught and banded. The Common Redshank constituted 50% of the total birds banded. All birds captured in the last season were dyed (yellow) with picric acid. Different parts of the birds were dyed each time. That helped to indicate (in field sightings) the approximate amount of time a shorebird spent in the Park.

Bird Census

The Park's Scientific Department regularly monitors bird species and bird population in the Park. In 1993, 135 species of birds were sighted here. This is about 4 1 % of the total number sighted in Singapore (326 species).

Wader counts are conducted to monitor the population of these migratory birds which begin to arrive in Singapore as early as late June. The bulk of them come in October through to November. The reverse occurs in February through to May when they make their journey back to their breeding grounds. Common Greenshanks, Common Redshanks and Whimbrels are the earliest arrivals. In 1993, the highest population of waders in the Park was observed in November.


Mud sampling
 Feeding Ecology Studies

Such studies involve observation of the behaviour of shorebirds, particularly their feeding habits. The birds are noted on how long they engage in activities such as feeding, preening and roosting/resting.
In a study of their feeding habits, the kind of prey items, the time taken to capture them and the handling techniques are recorded. Such field observations provide information on how and when different species of shorebirds make use of the ponds.

Apart from this, sampling of mud is also conducted. This involves the collection and identification of benthic organisms, especially at areas where the birds are observed to feed. These studies confirm the prey items taken and estimate the carrying capacity of the ponds. 		Benthic organisms refers to life-forms inhabiting the bottom of the sea.

Carrying capacity refers to the number of birds the ponds can support based on the food available.
   
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park