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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Aves
Shorebirds and
sea birds

updated Oct 2016
Where seen? These rather drab but very interesting birds can be seen on and flying over our mudflats and sandflats especially during the migratory season of September to March. These are shorebirds visiting from afar. They are sometimes also called waders as they are often seen wading in water.

A group of whimbrels on the shore.
Chek Jawa, Jan 07
Seabirds are those that hunt mainly fish on open waters or coastal areas, rather than feeding on the mudflats like shorebirds. Some seabirds are also migratory.

Why do shorebirds migrate? Many shorebirds breed in the northern regions, some as far as the sub-Arctic. Summer in such places is short but hot, with the sun overhead almost 24 hours a day. During this season, plants and insects are plentiful. Shorebirds are among those that take advantage of this seasonal abundance to breed.

Winter in such places, however, is sharsh. Thus shorebirds migrate southwards in autumn. In spring, most journey back north to their breeding grounds.

On their long journeys, shorebirds depend on wetlands and intertidal flats such as Chek Jawa. Here they rest and refuel on 'fast food': high-energy food that can be harvested quickly. A chain of such wetland stopovers forms a flyway. Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Often, migratory birds must fly non-stop between such stopovers as there are no suitable habitats for them in between. The destruction of such 'stepping stones' can affect the continued existence of these marvellous birds.


Route a migrating
shorebird might take
on the East Asian-
Australasian Flyway
Role of shorebirds: Shorebirds not only feed on the shores but also give back to the shores. Studies have shown that shorebird poop helps seagrasses to grow and heal damaged seagrass meadows.

Status and threats:
The Red List of threatened animals of Singapore include resident seabirds such as the Black-naped tern (Sterna sumatrana) and Little tern (Sterna albifrons) which are listed as 'Endangered', and the Great-billed heron (Ardea sumatrana) which is listed as 'Critically Endangered'. They are primarily threatened by habitat loss as well as human disturbance of their nesting sites.

Bird poop on the shore.
Chek Jawa, Jan 11


Seabirds resting on the sand bars.
Chek Jawa, Jan 11

Lesser crested-terns.
Chek Jawa, Jan 11


Pacific golden plovers.
Chek Jawa, Jan 07

Grey heron.
Kranji Nature Trail, Dec 09

Shorebirds on Singapore shores

Photos of shorebirds for free download from wildsingapore flickr

Distribution in Singapore on this wildsingapore flickr map

Links

References

  • Mysterious entrapment of a sand-plover on a sandbar at Chek Jawa, 22 January 2020, Joleen Chan & Ria Tan, Singapore Biodiversity Records 2020: 4-5 ISSN 2345-7597, National University of Singapore.
  • Cheah, J. W. K. & A. Ng, 2008. Breeding ecology of the little tern, Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764 in Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 1: 69–73.
  • Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
 
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