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Habitatnews 2002-03: Wednesday, 23rd January 2001
The Habitat Group's Nature Information List
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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. Even the starfish are smiling!
2. Purple Herons back in Sungei Buloh Nature Park
3. Exhibition at NIE on Chek Jawa - a whole room!
4. Feedback and suggestions invited for Chek Jawa

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---> [1] Even the Starfish are smiling!
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The cover of the Straits Times, 15th January declared, "Even the
Starfish on the beach are smiling". Lydia Lim was quoting the
Chek Jawa postcards webpage at:
<http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/chekjawa/postcards/>

The remark was made by Chia Meng Tze who wrote on 21 Dec 2001,
after the initial announcement of 20th December 2001. She said,
"what a wonderful Christmas and New Year present from MND - even the
starfishes on the beach are smiling I bet !"

Thanks to Ria Tan for all the work in maintaing the webpage, often
entertaining extremely demanding requests at odd hours of the day!


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---> [2] Purple Herons back in Sungei Buloh Nature Park
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The Purple Herons had disappeared from Sungei Buloh some time ago,
I cannot remember when. While I know they were still around in
mid-2000 (Heron Watch programme advertisements in Habitatnews),
for some months now, the reward of the relatively long hike
around the park to get a glimpse of nesting birds had been
a mere memory.

But animals have the habit of returning to Sungei Buloh it seems.
During the New Year while we were swamped with guiding and writing
proposals for Chek Jawa, it was gratifying to receive this short
email from a friend.

Chan Su Hooi, staff of Sungei Buloh Nature Park wrote (31 Dec 2001):

"Yes, on this very last day of year 2001, I have a good news
to share : )

Was at the heronry just now, and guess what, yes, saw the herons!
They were the Purple Herons, I counted, 18 of them but should have
more. 2 were on a nest each. So, let's hope that they will stay
and more would return!" ...


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---> [3] Exhibition and Talk on Chek Jawa this Saturday
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The Humanities and Social Studies Education Academic Group of NIE,
NTU are holding their Open Day 2002, in conjunction with the NIE
Official Opening on Saturday 26th January 2002.

Venue: Block 3 National Institute of Education
1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637 616

Chek Jawa will be featured in the Open House. Staff and students
from this department contributed to the reprieve for Chek Jawa
by conducting scientific studies and contributing feedback to
the government. Some of this will be on display. A growing
chronology attempts to put the many pieces of the long journey
together.

"There is a whole room devoted to CJ." - Teh Tiong Sa

At the Environmental Studies Lab, Room 27
"Geography for Life Exhibition"
---> Talk on Chek Jawa by Joseph Lai
Time 10.30am - 11.00am

---> Exhibition featuring research and other efforts over Chek
Jawa. A GIS presentation includes algae distribution, landforms,
sedimentation profiles, transect studies, etc. See also the
traveling exhibition that has appeared on many parts of Singapore
courtesy of Ria Tan, Alan Yeo and Asian Geographic.
Time 9.30am - 3.00pm

--- source Joseph Lai & Teh Tiong Sa


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---> [4] Feedback and suggestions invited for Chek Jawa
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The measures in place at present are merely an emergency measure
to deal with providing the marine inter-tidal areas of Chek Jawa
with a chance to recover. Rather than closing it to the public,
impact minimisation has been a compromise.

The system of group and station guides has generally met with
public acceptance when it is explained to them at the site and
attempts have been made to incorporate suggestions mad so far.

Well, in end-January a committee will meet to discuss the issue
of managing Chek Jawa, as reflected in the press statement of
14th January 2002.

If you have suggestions and ideas, feedback and suggestions are
invited. We are compiling our ideas and you are invited to
add yours to the pile.

Simply reply to this email or write to chekjawa@...