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MEDIA FACTSHEET A
NParks Community in Nature Citizen Science Programmes
Citizen science encourages the public to learn more about our natural heritage, and
play an active role in contributing to organised research efforts through the collection
of large quantities of data. Awareness of Singapore’s rich natural heritage is raised
through public participation in NParks’ Community in Nature Biodiversity Watch
Programmes. The programmes encourage stewardship of nature amongst
Singaporeans, while concurrently collecting information that will inform the
development of long term conservation management strategies.
Singapore is rich in biodiversity and is home to some 2100 vascular plants, 65 mammal
species, 392 bird species, 324 butterfly species, 109 reptile species, 29 different
amphibian species, 122 dragonfly species, and 85 freshwater fish species. The
collective effort in enriching biodiversity in our urban environment, and engaging and
inspiring communities to co-create a greener country will make our vision of Singapore
as a City in a Garden a reality.
List of key Citizen Science Programmes
1. Dragonfly Watch (New) 2. Garden Bird Watch 3. Butterfly Watch 4. Heron Watch 5. Intertidal Watch 6. BioBlitz
Schedule of key Citizen Science Programmes
Date Citizen Science Programme
April 2015 Garden Bird Watch
September 2015 Butterfly Watch
November 2015 Garden Bird Watch
March 2016 BioBlitz @ Pasir Ris Park
April 2016 Garden Bird Watch
May 2016 Butterfly Watch
December 2016 BioBlitz @ Pulau Ubin
March 2017 BioBlitz @ Kent Ridge Park
April 2017 Garden Bird Watch
May 2017 Butterfly Watch
July 2017 (TBC) Heron Watch
July/August 2017 Dragonfly Watch
August 2017 Butterfly Watch
November 2017 Garden Bird Watch
December 2017 (TBC) Heron Watch
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1. Dragonfly Watch (New)
The Dragonfly Watch is a new citizen science initiative, organised as part of the NParks CIN Biodiversity Watch series, to involve the community in collecting valuable information about dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) in our parks, gardens and reserves.
With the data collected from survey transects from the various parks around Singapore, NParks can start piecing together information about where our odonates are found and in what numbers. This information will contribute towards better park management and conservation measures.
The first Dragonfly Watch is scheduled for July/August 2017. Members of the public may look out for invitations to participate on the NParks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz) and website (www.nparks.gov.sg). Interested participants can also register through email at [email protected].
2. Garden Bird Watch
The Garden Bird Watch is a citizen science initiative, organised as part of the NParks CIN Biodiversity Watch series, to get Singaporeans involved in collecting valuable information about the birds in our parks, gardens and reserves.
The Garden Bird Watch is carried out using the point-count technique, which is a method that is commonly used by researchers to survey birds, and is a simple process. All participants have to do is stay in the same spot for a short period of time and record the different birds that can be seen around them.
With the data collected from many survey points from the various parks around Singapore, NParks can start piecing together information about where our birds are found and in what numbers. This information will contribute towards better park management and conservation measures.
The list of 34 common garden birds participants are trained to spot are as follows:
Common Myna Large-billed Crow Yellow-vented Bulbul
Javan Myna Asian Koel White-breasted Waterhen
Asian Glossy Starling Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Common Iora
Oriental White-eye Collared Kingfisher Red Junglefowl
Eurasian Tree Sparrow White-throated Kingfisher Common Tailorbird
Rock Dove Olive-backed Sunbird Oriental Magpie-Robin
Spotted Dove Brown-throated Sunbird Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Zebra Dove Black-naped Oriole Blue-throated Bee-eater
Pink-necked Green Pigeon
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
Oriental Pied Hornbill
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House Crow Common Flameback Scaly-breasted Munia
*Asian Paradise Flycatcher
*Brown Shrike *Tiger Shrike
*Daurian Starling
*These migratory birds will be introduced during the Garden Bird Watch sessions that are conducted during the migratory season.
Among these 34 common species, the 10 most recorded species are:
Birds Photos
Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
Photo credit: Francis Yap
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Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Rock Dove Columba livia
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Photo credit: Francis Yap
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Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Throughout the course of the three Garden Bird Watch programmes, our citizen scientists also spotted some rare bird species.
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Bird Photo
Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus This bird is classified as critically endangered at the national level. It is usually observed around large water bodies surrounded by forest.
Photo credit: Francis Yap
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus This bird is becoming increasingly rare throughout Southeast Asia because of its popularity in the pet trade. In Singapore, it can still be observed in our remaining forests.
Photo credit: Francis Yap
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus This beautiful parrot is native to Singapore and classified as nationally endangered. However, observations of this species have increased in recent years.
Photo credit: Francis Yap
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Spotted Wood Owl Strix seloputo The Spotted Wood Owl is widely distributed throughout Singapore. Pairs of these charismatic birds may sometimes be encountered in parks and even urban areas.
Photo credit: Francis Yap
The next NParks CIN Garden Bird Watch is scheduled for 15- 23 April 2017. Members of the public may look out for invitations to participate on the NParks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz) and website (https://www.nparks.gov.sg/birdwatch) Interested participants may sign up via our website https://www.nparks.gov.sg/birdwatchregister or through email at [email protected]
3. Butterfly Watch
The Butterfly Watch, organised as part of the NParks Biodiversity Watch series, is a citizen science initiative organised in collaboration with ButterflyCircle, to get Singaporeans involved in collecting valuable information about the butterflies in our parks and gardens.
With the data collected from many survey transects from the various parks around Singapore, NParks can start piecing together information about where our butterflies are found and in what numbers. This information will contribute towards better park management and conservation measures.
Volunteer citizen scientists are given basic training on how to spot and identify the following 23 species of butterflies:
Common Mime Lime Butterfly
Common Mormon Common Birdwing
Common Rose Emigrants
Grass Yellows Striped Albatross
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Painted Jezebel Psyche
Plain Tiger Common Tiger
Black Veined Tiger Blue Glassy Tiger
Dark Glassy Tiger Common Palmfly
Bush Browns Peacock Pansy
Chocolate Pansy Blue Pansy
Tawny Coster Leopard
Grass Blues
Among these 23 common species, the 10 most recorded species are:
Butterfly Photo
Grass Blues Lycaeninae
Photo credit: Horace Tan
Grass Yellows Eurema hecabe contubernalis
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
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Painted Jezebel Delias hyparete metarete
Photo credit: Horace Tan
Chocolate Pansy Junonia hedonia ida
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
Emigrants Catopsilia pomona pomona
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
Tawny Coster Acraea terpsicore
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
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Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus chrysippus
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
Bush Browns Mycalesis sp.
Photo credit: Horace Tan
Leopard Phalanta phalantha phalantha
Photo credit: Khew Sin Khoon
Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra agina
Photo credit: Horace Tan
Throughout the course of the two Butterfly Watch programmes, our citizen scientists also spotted some uncommon species.
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Butterfly Photo
Cornelian Deudorix epijarbas cinnabarus The Cornelian is a forest specialist that makes infrequent appearances in urban parks and gardens. It is a rapid flyer and is often spotted when flowering trees are in bloom.
Photo credit: Horace Tan
Narrow Spark Sinthusa nasaka amba The Narrow Spark was discovered in Singapore in 1995 as a new species record to Singapore. The butterfly is localy rare and is usually spotted in heavily shaded forest in our nature reserves.
Photo Credit: Horace Tan
Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda leda The Common Evening Brown is a moderately rare butterfly in Singapore which is active at dawn and before dusk. Adult butterflies appear in two forms depending on whether it is the dry or wet season.
Photo Credit: Horace Tan
The next NParks CIN Butterfly Watch is slated to take place in May 2017. Members of the public may look out for invitations to participate on the NParks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz) and website (www.nparks.gov.sg). Interested participants can also register through email at [email protected].
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4. Heron Watch
Herons are predators at the top of the freshwater food chain. As they are good
indicators of our environmental health, it is important to monitor how well they are
coping in our local setting.
Anyone can take part in Heron Watch by contributing information about heron
sightings at green spaces in your neighbourhood, canals and wooded parks.
Herons are large birds that are easily identified. Novice birders can learn to identify 18
common species of herons at our training sessions.
Grey Heron Purple Heron
Striated Heron Black-crowned Night Heron
Javan Pond Heron Chinese Pond Heron
Cattle Egret Little Egret
Great Egret Intermediate Egret
Great-billed Heron Yellow Bittern
Von Shrenck’s Bittern Chinese Egret
Cinnamon Bittern Pacific Reef Egret
Malayan Night Heron Black Bittern
The next NParks CIN Heron Watch is slated to take place in July 2017. Members of the public may look out for invitations to participate on the NParks Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz) and website (www.nparks.gov.sg). Interested participants can also contact [email protected].
5. Intertidal Watch
Intertidal Watch is a citizen science programme that engages students and public volunteers to document and monitor the biodiversity of intertidal habitats in Singapore. The main objective of this programme is to collect long-term quantitative data to facilitate science-based decision-making and management of Singapore’s coastal areas. Intertidal Watch also aims to reach out to the public and generate greater awareness on marine biodiversity and conservation in Singapore.
Volunteer activities for Intertidal Watch include intertidal surveys, outreach, design of outreach materials and data management. Volunteers will also have an opportunity to attend a workshop on marine biodiversity to prepare for the intertidal surveys.
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Intertidal surveys have been on-going since 2016 during low tides. Interested participants who are able to commit to more than 4 sessions a year can register through email by contacting [email protected].
6. BioBlitz
BioBlitz is a popular citizen science movement worldwide. The term “BioBlitz” was coined by Susan Rudy, a naturalist with the US National Park service, in 1996. BioBlitz refers to a concerted effort by scientists and the community to record as many species of flora and fauna as possible within a specific location and timeframe. BioBlitzes have been conducted around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. There is a community involvement component to many of these BioBlitzes, and members of the public are invited to join scientists and naturalists in a concerted effort to inventory species that exist within a designated area, such as an urban park or nature reserve.
NParks BioBlitz programmes have taken place across three locations – Pasir Ris Park, Pulau Ubin, and Kent Ridge Park. BioBlitz provides a unique opportunity for the community to interact with and learn from taxonomic experts during the surveys, and we hope that such programmes will encourage stewardship of biodiversity amongst Singaporeans.
At the inaugural BioBlitz in March 2016, 265 species of flora and fauna were spotted at Pasir Ris Park. Some notable species that citizen scientists came across during the BioBlitz @ Pasir Ris Park include the Buffy Fish Owl, Chek Jawa Cricket, and the Crab-eating Snake.
Species Photo
Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu This owl is a rare resident in Singapore and can sometimes be seen perched along the wooded banks of our reservoirs and coastal rivers, scanning for prey. Found throughout Asia, Fish Owls specialise in hunting fish.
Photo credit: Alvin Seng
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Chek Jawa Cricket Svistella chekjawa A species that is endemic to Singapore, the Chek Jawa Cricket can only be found in Singapore’s mangrove forests. It was first discovered at Chek Jawa in Pulau Ubin in 2012.
Photo credit: Tan Ming Kai
Crab-eating Snake Fordonia leucobalia An endangered species in Singapore, the Crab-eating Snake is one of the few snakes known to pull apart its prey instead of swallowing them whole.
Photo credit: Noel Thomas
