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Habitatnews 2002-15: Friday, 5th July 2002
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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Content
- Biking in Ubin 2002, begins 14th July
- Crow Story – more fascinating stories
- Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve – looking for new links!
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---> [1] “Biking in Ubin 2002"
<http://ubinbiking.sivasothi.com>
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Join N. Sivasothi and friends for three rides on Sunday mornings at Pulau
Ubin. Please report at the Pulau Ubin Community Centre Basketball Court
(PUCCBC) for guides to check on brakes, gears and bike condition, and for a
briefing. Pack at least one litre of water, a snack, and a change of
clothes. A helmet is advisable and wear shoes, not sandals or slippers.
Remember to take your breakfast before coming. Details of the rides are
available at: <http://ubinbiking.sivasothi.com>
Be at Changi Jetty at least 40 minutes early for the ferry ride and to
choose your bikes. We want to ride when it is relatively cool so we will
leave on time. There is a 10 minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Jetty,
but you will have to wait for the boat to fill to capacity (12). A single
fare is $2, additional $2 for a bike. Bring your own bike or rent from one
of the many shops the island (cost: $4 - $15). Please read the webpage and
register by email.
Journey to the North, Sunday 14th July: 8.45am - 12pm: Suitable for
children and tandem bikes.
Journey to the West, Sunday 21st July: 7.45am - 1pm: The ride is not
technically demanding, but is slightly long and not suitable for young children.
Journey to the East, Sunday 27th July: 7.45am - 1pm: The ride is technically
demanding in some parts, and is not suitable for weak cyclists.
Please read details at <http://ubinbiking.sivasothi.com>
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---> [2] “Crow Story – fascinating follow ups from
Si Guim and Winnie”
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/habitatnews/message/167>
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From: Goh Si Guim
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 21:21:39 +0800
Hi Siva and all,
I would like to contribute a crow story, in two parts.
The Vindictive Crow
Years ago, I was walking in Toa Payoh between two
blocks of flats, I shooed a crow sitting on a low lamppost. I continued
walking towards the bus stop.
The crow came at me with full fury, from behind. It squawked loudly as it
came in for the attack but there was no contact. On top of what Mei Fun and
the others have mentioned, they can be real mean but at least for a
reasonable reason (I shouldn't have shooed it).
Protecting a friend
Again in Toa Payoh, along Lorong 4. There were some roost on Rain Trees and
Angsana trees there. An injured and possibly juvenile crow was hobbling
along the edge of the pavement above a deep drain. Up on a tree, a few other
crows were ‘screaming’, as if to keep harm at bay. Many people walked past
the crow without paying attention to the hapless crow.
Unfortunately, I took at glance at the poor bird on the ground. Almost
instantly, without a warning, a crow descended on me with such force that it
hit my head with a glancing blow, roughed up my hairs and set the community
of crows ‘screaming’.
The crows on the trees were very attentive to the intentions of people
walking past the inuured crow. I suspected that when the crow saw me
glancing at the injured bird, it interpreted that as imminent danger and
took a pre-emptive strike. Natural action for a crow?
I checked by head and found that there was no bleeding. Nasty bacteria is
certainly not welcome.
Thanks
Si Guim
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From: "Winnie"
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:07:31 +0800
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Hi Siva,
I just wanted to add to the crow discussion.
Something that stuck in my mind, an incident from four years ago at the
Yishun open ground by the cineplex. It was about six on a bustling evening
when I saw a bunch of pigeons/doves pecking in the middle of the field. Lo
and behold! A cat was steathily creaping on its belly towards the edge of
the pigeon circle. The ‘blur’ birds did not even notice a thing, even when
the feline was just a fraction of a feather away. It was like a timewarp, as
everything was so noisy, fumes, buses, people walking by quickly, and in the
midst of it all, the cat in such quiet concentration waiting for the right
moment to strike. I watched spellbound.
BUT at the last moment, a crow swooped down, screeched, creating a commotion
and saved the pigeon! I was stumped. Not being a regular bird-watcher,
perhaps this is usual? I just wanted to say something for the crow. There's
Mother Teresa and Attila the Hun in human society, so too, perhaps, for
crows.
Winnie*
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---> [3] Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve – links work
<http://www.sbwr.org.sg>
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In Habitatnews 2002-13, I remarked that the old link for Sungei Buloh
Nature Park was not working but I was mistaken. It is actually still
Working, see: <http://www.sbnp.org>
The new link has the additional “.sg” at the end:
<http://www.sbwr.org.sg>
I tried to list interesting links from the history of the park at:
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/news/sbwr/
If there are any links of relevance that could be added, please email
me - just reply this email.
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