July 7, 2005
Istana grounds a big draw for winged visitors
The number of bird species spotted is now 67, up from 59 eight years ago
By Radha Basu
THE sound of birdsong is getting louder at the lush Istana grounds.
GROWING DIVERSITY: One of the species found at the Istana is the pink-necked pigeon, one among 67 species sighted at a recent 'bird-audit'.
Even though the presidential palace is just metres from Orchard Road's urban sprawl, the number of bird species on the grounds is actually growing, the Singapore Environment Council said yesterday.
There were 67 species at last count, up from 59 eight years ago.
The stories of the winged visitors - their species, where they come from and what they eat - are chronicled in a new book.
RARE FIND: The stork-billed kingfisher is a regular at Sungei Buloh, but sightings in the city area are extremely rare.
The 104-page hardcover, Birds Seen At The Istana, will be launched by President S R Nathan tomorrow.
The large number of species seeking refuge in the very heart of the city shows that Singapore is progressing quickly from being 'a garden city to a city in a garden', said the council's executive director Howard Shaw.
'To have birds, you need fruits, fruit trees, bees and insects,' said Mr Shaw, whose organisation co-published the book.
ENDANGERED: Threatened species such as the yellow-crested cockatoo can be found at the Istana.
'The growing diversity shows that our trees are no longer a matter of aesthetics alone, we have established an entire ecosystem.'
The book is a result of meticulous 'bird audits' conducted by a team of nature lovers led by National Parks Board conservationist James Gan.
The most recent audits, on which the book is based, took place between August last year and March this year. An earlier audit took place in 1997.
Birds spotted range from the tiny scarlet-backed flowerpecker, which weighs less than a 20-cent coin, to the magnificent white-bellied fish eagle, which, at 70cm, is about the average height of a nine-month-old baby.
Rare and threatened species such as the yellow-crested cockatoo have also been spotted, said Mr Gan, who co-authored the book, along with avid birdwatcher Aileen Lau.
The cockatoo is now a threatened species in its native habitat in Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia, said Mr Gan, but had been known to breed here in Singapore.
'We believe these birds first took up residence here as escapees from the bird trade.'
Another rare sight is the yellow-chested, red-beaked, stork-billed kingfisher.
'This bird is a regular at Sungei Buloh, but sightings in the city are really rare,' said Mr Gan.
Forest birds such as the coppersmith barbet and birds known for their melodious calls, such as the red-whiskered bulbul, had also been spotted.
Early in the mornings and at dusk, the grounds of the Istana are filled with birdsong.
'That just shows that it is wrong to assume that Singapore is a concrete jungle,' said Mr Gan. 'Nature thrives in our midst.'
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Book on birds
PRICED at $48, Birds Seen At The Istana will be available at selected bookstores and at the Istana on open house days from the end of this week.
