Birdwatchers turn citizen scientists to help track avian visitors

Over 100 people to log their observations in islandwide event to support global initiative

- Ang Qing Correspondent

Some birds may be elusive, but birdwatchers are becoming an increasingly common sight as they trail behind a rare feathery visitor to Singapore.

And they could be seen en masse on Oct 1, a day that witnessed about 20 photographers descending on Pasir Ris to shoot a mangrove blue flycatcher (Cyornis rufi-gastra), a palm-size bird seen on the Republic’s offshore islands every few years.

Unfortunately, even the best camera in the hands of an enthusiastic birdwatcher failed to capture every fortuitous encounter with a rarely seen bird.

But volunteer-run Bird Society of Singapore (BirdSoc SG) believes that logging these encounters is important, as every observation sketches a picture of how a species is faring.

On Oct 11, the society will organise its inaugural October Big Day, an islandwide event sponsored by Mandai Nature, the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group, to teach Singapore residents how to find birds and contribute their observations to science.

More than 100 participants and BirdSoc SG volunteers are expected to watch out for birds at five locations across the island and then attend an hour of talks at the Singapore Zoo.

BirdSoc SG vice-president Raghav Narayanswamy said: “It gives us an idea of whether there are any trends, for example, if a certain species is declining faster than another.

“This helps us do a better job in targeting conservation efforts.”