Springleaf, Tengah among potential hot spots for birds crashing into buildings

Study identifies six areas with nearby forests where birds face increased risk

- Ang Qing

Singapore's ambitions to weave more nature into the city could come at a cost for certain species of birds, which are more prone to crashing into buildings near forested areas, a new study has found.

Led by Singaporean bird scientist David Tan, the study identified six areas linked to future developments including Tengah and Springleaf - where birds could face increased risk of flying into buildings.

Certain species of resident birds, like green pigeons and emerald doves, often move between forest patches in their search for food, and could face an increased risk of flying into buildings that are located near the forest edge, the study said.

Migratory species, such as the yellow-rumped flycatcher, also face the risk of crashing into buildings near forests, as they seek out forest patches to forage and rest.

The study comes amid Singapore's City in Nature push, where the Government aims to bring nature closer to places where people work and live.

"For new developments that incorporate forests into their urban design to be truly environmentally friendly, we need to think about more than just managing interactions between humans and wildlife," Mr Tan, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in biology at the University of New Mexico, told The Straits Times.