New initiatives to document S’pore’s birds

SINGAPORE — Over the next nine days, 400 people will head to specific areas across the island to count the number of scaly-breasted munia or yellow-vented bulbul they see, as well as other species of common garden birds here.

In the coming months, similar expeditions will be conducted for butterflies and other animals.

These new Citizen Science Programmes were announced yesterday by Minister of State (National Development) Desmond Lee, who also launched a mobile app, called SGBioAtlas, that allows users to upload photographs of wildlife in parks and nature reserves here. This, in turn, helps researchers collect data on biodiversity trends, and allows users to access information on biodiversity in Singapore.

In a speech at the first garden-bird counting exercise in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Mr Lee said: “Armed with the app, anyone can now contribute proactively as biodiversity’s eyes and ears by reporting an encounter with wildlife.”

Participants in the Citizen Science Programmes, which aim to raise public awareness and preserve biodiversity, will undergo basic training on how to spot and record wildlife. For example, in preparation for the garden-bird counting exercise, the participants, who include students, green groups and members of the public, underwent three hours of training on how to identify 30 different species.

This first round of counting will provide baseline data on the distribution of these species in Singapore. Subsequent rounds will help establish population trends in the long run. The next round is planned for November.

Existing Citizen Science Programmes include the observation of 18 heron species at their breeding sites and the monitoring of levels of ecotoxicity in coastal areas in Singapore.

Nature groups said greater public participation will spur people to be more passionate and inclined to protect their natural surroundings.

Mr Tan Hang Chong, assistant honorary secretary of Nature Society (Singapore), said the new initiatives allow for “greater access to information on Singapore’s rich biodiversity ... and allow people to feel more supported in a like-minded community and learn from experts at the same time”.

Founder of Butterfly Circle, Mr Khew Sin Khoon, added that the use of technology helps reduce barriers to specialised knowledge. “Humans are inherently curious and, aided with technology to provide information, people will be drawn to find out more about nature,” he said.

A participant in yesterday’s bird-counting exercise, Robin Vinod, who is a Secondary 1 student at the School of Science and Technology, said: “Now, I can more easily differentiate between two (species of) birds ... I find going out into nature relaxing, as school can be quite stressful.”