sgbeachbum: 2012 World Migratory Bird Day @ SBWR

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve had organised some guided walks as well as talks in celebration of the World Migratory Bird Day on 12 May 2012.

The theme for 2012 was "Migratory birds and people - together through time".

Excerpts from the WMBD website : http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/

Migratory birds - and the incredible annual journeys they take - have always been a particular inspiration to people around the world. Migratory birds completely ignore national borders along their migration paths, and cross entire countries and even continents. The phenomenon of migration has fascinated people for centuries, and continues to do so today.

The connections between migratory birds and people make them interdependent. To be able to benefit from our important relationships with migratory birds we must be more conscious about how our actions might affect our feathered friends. Migratory birds have served humans in countless ways over the past centuries, and it is important to ensure they can continue to do so.

Many human activities including excessive land use and unsustainable hunting, as well as the impacts of climate change, fisheries by-catch and pollution now gravely threaten migratory bird populations around the world.

Migratory birds are especially vulnerable because they rely on a number of habitats: not only their migration destinations but also the sites they stop at during their journeys. Human beings are the greatest threat to migratory birds; man-made objects and structures such as buildings, power lines and wind turbines, are often barriers to bird migration and make their journeys much more dangerous.

We should consider the consequences of our actions have on migratory birds. Thinking about the importance of migratory birds for us culturally, economically and environmentally can help us remember that not only are there many threats facing migrating birds, but also that we have many important reasons to protect them. Protecting migrating birds and taking care so we can expect to see them return from their migrations each year will ensure that future generations can benefit and enjoy the important connections between migratory birds and people - together through time.

The entrance to the main building from the carpark had already been prepped with informative posters. What a wonderful and simple way to share snippets of information to visitors!

Have a look at the many posters leading into as well as in the reserve :

click on the photos and test your knowledge with the Q&As

At the Visitor Centre, Mendis Tan, one of the SBWR staff officers, was already speaking to a group of 'early bird' visitors before they set off for their guided walk assisted by the SBWR volunteers. There were lots of pictures as well as informative posters.

There was also a small poster on the second edition of the SBWR bird book. It's now available for $15/-. GO grab your copy quick!

Visitors were treated to a various stations along the routes with experienced volunteers helping to spot birds and other interesting features in the reserve.

Here is a little girl helped by her dad to see one of the resident crocodiles through a spotting scope

Meanwhile, other visitors spent some time at the Main Hide looking for shorebirds, raptors, monitor lizards and mudskippers et al before moving on to the other parts of the reserve.

Back at the Visitor Centre, David Li, a SBWR staff officer, gave a highly entertaining talk on the WMBD 2012 and the birds which visit Singapore on their migratory route.

Here are some of the many slides presented :

What is WMBD 2012?

Migratory birds visiting Singapore and Sungei Buloh ...

David showed a series of birds which are commonly seen at SBWR.

In addition, he shared with the audience the research tools used internationally to keep track of migratory birds. In particular, he explained about colour tagging.
Each country has its own colour combination of tags.

Did you know that Singapore uses a Green tag on top of a White tag?

He also shared about the importance of the various flyways used by migratory birds all around the world.

Singapore lies within the East Asian-Australasian flyway! and each of the wetland areas within these flyways is crucial to the survival of these migratory birds as they provide a conducive area for the birds to rest and recharge themselves with food.

Some birds can do super-long distance flys!

There are also threats and pressures on these wetland areas due to ever increasing human impact on the wetlands mainly through land development and food production.