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Habitatnews 2001-26: Friday, 26th October 2001
The Habitat Group's Nature Information List
To subscribe, email: habitatnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Current nature-related news busy Singaporeans might otherwise miss
More information and archives at: <http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg>
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Contents

1. The Chek Jawa exhibition
2. Blue-winged Pittas crashes into glass window
3. Bio.Net - a resource for biology teachers
4. Selective Management System under fire

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---> [1] Chek Jawa travelling exhibition
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/exhibitions.htm>
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The Chek Jawa exhibition will be travelling to various parts of
Singapore over the next few months to introduce more people to
the wonderful diversity of life on Chek Jawa, and create a better
understanding of nature areas in Singapore.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Joseph Lai will be sharing his
experiences with his family and friends on Chek Jawa, the wonders
they discovered and thoughts on how nature can enrich family life.

The most current photo exhibition and talks will be from Thu
25th to Wednesday 31st October 2001 at Kinokuniya Bookstore,
Ngee Ann City, Reservation Counter.

Joe will be giving a talk on Saturday 27th Oct: 3pm

For more dates and schedules at public libraries and the Singapore
Science Centre, please see:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/exhibitions.htm>


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---> [2] Blue-winged Pitta crashes into glass window
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In a matter of three days, two dead Blue-winged Pittas were
reported in the grounds of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. These
beautifully coloured birds are flying down in the migratory season
from the north. Picture of species at:
<http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/pitta/bue-wingedpitta.html>

One bird had flown into glass at the office windows, and was passed
to me on Thursday morning by a senior curator of the zoo, Francis
Lim. Just about that time, Tan Kay Yen (Animal Management Officer)
later informed me that another bird was found in poor condition, and
eventually died two hours later, "frothing at the mouth and in spasms".

Bird enthusiasts like Benjamin Lee and Kelvin Lim were less than
surprised to hear of this, as birds crashing into windows during the
migratory season are apparently not uncommon. I have heard of this
problem particularly of Pittas fooled by the reflection of the
sky and Kelvin suggested that the bright colours ensure their bodies
are more readily noticed and talked about (and thus reported) when
they do meet with misfortune.

'In the US each year, about 100 million birds are killed in crashes
into windows or die from exhaustion after becoming mesmerized by
lighted buildings. More than a dozen Chicago skyscrapers and lakefront
buildings now turn off outdoor lights or closed window shades and drapes
to reduce the toll on migratory birds.'
See: <http://www.wienerzeitung.at/frameless/english.htm?ID=M10&Menu=9846>

These dead birds are eventually deposited at the Raffles Museum of
Biodiversity Research, where they are preserved and catalogued.


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---> [3] Bio.Net - a developing resource for Biology teachers
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Diana Ang of NIE/NTU has set up a web resource for biology teachers
in Singapore. Rather unfortunately, we missed a live chat with Prof
Leo Tan, Director of NIE last week. However, this developing page
has links and resources (including powerpoint pre-trip briefings on
Sungei Buloh Nature Park) chats and forums.

Already I found a useful link, the Straits Times feature special,
"Life Sciences made plain and simple" which ran a series of article
between January to April this year. See:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/html/webspecial/lifescience/


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---> [4] "System under fire" By TAN CHENG LI
The Star Online, Tue 23 Oct 2001
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<http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2001/10/23/features/lit
rees1&sec=features>
and a related article "Protection it is not."
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Excerpts -

"...the very basis of the countryıs forestry management, the
Selective Management System, has come under criticism."

'Selective Management introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
limits the extraction of logs by size. ... They must leave behind
32 dipterocarps ­ called residual trees ­ per hectare, each with
diameters of at least 30cm, to form the future crop. After 30
years, the forest can be logged again.'

"Since none of the forests logged under this system has completed
the 30-year cycle, it is not really known if a forest will
regenerate enough for a second round of logging within that
timeframe.

In fact, recent studies show that to be unlikely, according to
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) deputy director-general
Datuk Dr Wan Razali Wan Mohamed...

...locking up our forests for posterity just doesnıt work, not
when it deprives Malaysians of a source of revenue or when there
are development concerns, which have to be met. So, we open up
our forests for exploitation ­ but it has to be in a sustainable
manner."

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