What's on this week for nature activities in Singapore

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK?!
Nature activities and events happening this week

15-21 Jan 07

16-17 Jan (Tue-Wed): ACRES Roadshow for the Wildlife Rescue Centre

Acres will be holding a roadshow at Millenia Walk to raise funds for Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC). There will also be outreach efforts to raise awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and the bear bile industry.

Time: 11am-10pm
Venue: South Galleria, outside shop unit #01-29

20 Jan (Sat): Kusu Island Reefwalk with the Blue Water Volunteers

Start your year by joining BWV at their first ReefWALK in 2007. Check out the corals and other intertidal creatures at Kusu Island. The vacancies are on a first-come-first serve basis, so don't wait and register NOW!

To register, email reefwalk@bluewatervolunteers.org with the following info: full name, contact number, email, total number of participants, contact of next-of-kin, age of children (if any)

More about Blue Water Volunteers and Kusu Island.

Time: 4pm - 8pm
Meeting Venue: To be confirmed
Cost: $15 per person

20 Jan (Sat): Venus Drive To Bt Timah Ramble with the Nature Ramblers
for NSS members only

Led by Rehan Yusoff, this ramble will take us along shady forests and old orchards from a newly created trail to Tree-Top Walk, Pipeline Trail, Rifle Range Road, the summit of Bukit Timah, before ending at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre (Hindhede Rd). We will stop for a picnic mid-way along the ramble at a nook at Upper Pierce Reservoir. So, do pack some snacks and drinks. This is a 4hr/10km ramble geared for robust walkers, suitable for adults and children above 12 years old. No booking is required.

Time: 8am, meet at the Venus Drive public car park.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

20 Jan (Sat): Birdwatching at Semakau
for NSS members only

Tan Siew Kwang leads this walk. This is a good time to visit Semakau for migratory birds and migrant surprises. Resident attractions are: Great-billed Heron. Pacific Reef Egret, Malaysian Plover, etc. Sightings are possible of rare migrants such as the Chinese Egret, Oriental Pratincole, etc.

Note: Identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Trip is strictly for members only, on a first-come, first-served basis. Children under 12 are not allowed (NEA regulation). Your reservation will be confirmed after the closing date.

More about Pulau Semakau.

Time: 7.30am, meet at the West Coast Ferry Terminal (near Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. Free parking at Carpark 2 off the West Coast Highway. We get back to mainland by 2.00pm. Cost: Non-refundable $25 fee for boat and administration charge. Send your cheque to the NSS office by 13 January with AP Form. Number of persons for trip: 11 or 22 or 33. Email Siew Kwang at siewkwang@singnet.com.sg to book.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

20 Jan (Sat): Kent Ridge Park Walk
for NSS members only

Yeo Suay Hwee of the Vertebrate Study Group leads this walk. This delightful park off South Buona Vista Road is home to a variety of verte-brate fauna like birds, a few species of bats, squirrels, frogs, lizards and fish. Join us for a leisurely stroll along the park’s lush winding trails and canopy walkway. You’ll be surprised by what you can discover!

Please register your attendance by sending an e-mail by 16 January to VSG secretary, Celine Low: leopardcat@pacific.net.sg

Time: 4.45pm, meet at the main car park at the lookout point at the end of Vigilante Drive. The walk should end by 8pm.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

20 Jan (Sat): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. (10am and 4pm slots no longer available). Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

20 Jan (Sat): National Orchid Garden Tour free guided walk

Explore the beauty and diversity of orchids at the Singapore Botanic Gardens with volunteer guides in this one-hour tour. Please register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre. more

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 4pm. Register 15 mins beforehand at Visitor Centre
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)
Admission fees to the National Orchid Garden applies. Adults - $5; Students - $1; Senior Citizens (Above 60 years) - $1; Children (Below 12 years) free.

20 Jan (Sat): Free Evolution Garden Tour, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Journey through time with our volunteer guides in this one-hour tour. Bizarre plants, bubbling pools of hot lava and lots of other things you wouldn't expect to see in a botanic garden!

Time: 9am, register at Visitor Centre Time. Register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact : Visitor Services (6471 7361)

21 Jan (Sun): Dive Hantu!

Join the Hantu Bloggers for a unique and educational dive experience in our local waters. Discover what is truly, uniquely Singapore!

Your support helps the Hantu Bloggers monitor and document Hantu's reef on a regular basis.

More of what you can see during a dive at Hantu on the Hantu Blog

RSVP with the following:
1. Your name
2. IC/Passport number
3. Your email address
4. Your handphone number, and
5. Any rental equipment required incl number of weights.

Contact: For reservations and enquiries, email hantublog@gmail.com

21 Jan (Sun): Nature Walk at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
for NSS members only

Goh Si Guim leads this walk. We will explore the upper reaches of Sungei Seletar, which was dammed to create one of the oldest reservoirs in Singapore. Although it is a public park just 15 hectares large, it remains largely natural. It lies intimately at the fringe of the Central Catchment Forest, and promises encounters with forest flora and fauna such as monkeys and monitor lizards. Come for some exciting discoveries.

Time: 8.30am, meet at the Viewing Tower of the park, off Mandai Road.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

21 Jan (Sun): Butterfly Walk at Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail
for NSS members only

Gan Cheong Weei leads this walk. This is the Butterfly Interest Group’s first official outing of 2007! Species commonly encountered here include the very urbanised Lime Butterfly, the very graceful and seductive Painted Jezebel, the diminutive and fast-flying Common Tit, the black and white Common Mormon, the slow and easy Plain Tiger and the Autumn Leaf, a foreign export that has settled down well here. If we are lucky, we may spot visitors from the forest — species like Euthalia adonia pinwilli (Green Baron) and Horaga syrinx maenala (Ambon Onyx). The walk will last about three hours.

Time: 9.30am, meet at the car park in front of Alexandra Hospital’s cafeteria.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

21 Jan (Sun): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm subject to availability of volunteer guides; for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401