Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus). Photo by Benjamin Lim.
On 8 Jul 2017, 16 participants joined three Toddycats on a Love MacRitchie Walk along Venus Loop. While discussing the conservation issues surrounding the proposed Cross Island MRT Line, the keen-eyed participants kept a lookout for creatures along the forest trail. Even the most well-camouflaged animals revealed themselves! What seemed like a woody stump turned out to be a Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) trying to take a snooze! There was also a really hairy caterpillar that seemed to blend into the tree trunk if you looked at it from the top. In the tree canopy, we would not have spotted the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Psittinus cyanurus) if it had not been dropping starfruit bits as it feasted. It looked so much like a leaf!
Caterpillar. Photo by Amanda Lek.
Blue-rumped Parrot (Psittunus cyanurus). Photo by Benjamin Lim.
There were also some brilliantly coloured creatures that never fail to catch our eyes. Before we even hit the trail, a Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) was gorging on a breakfast of Senduduk (Melastoma malabathricum) fruits. It must have been so hungry because it didn’t mind all the people standing barely a metre or two away, snapping away with their smartphones! Nearby, a beautiful turquoise coloured Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon) was sipping nectar from the Red Leea (Leea rubra).
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum). Photo by Amanda Lek.
Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon). Photo by Joyce Wong.
Recently, an unfortunate incident occured in the vicinity of Windsor Nauture Park, where a wild boar (Sus scrofa) injured a woman who was walking her dog. NParks has erected advisory signs around the park, and everyone should read them as earnestly as this young participant did! The signs read: “Wild boars have been seen in the area. If you encounter a wild boar, move calmly away from it. Do not use flash photography as it may upset the animal. Do not feed it as it is illegal to feed wild animals.”
Wild boar advisory by NParks. Photo by Chloe Tan.
The little ones who joined the walk had lots of fun trudging along the dirt trail and letting their imagination run wild!
Waiting to be teleported to another realm. Photo by Chloe Tan.
Everybody learned new things on this fun-filled walk. We shared our passion for nature in different ways, be it through photography, nature education or simply loving the great outdoors. Let us do what we can to help conserve Singapore’s Nature Reserves for the generations to come!
Group 1 with their guide, Amanda Lek (front row, first from left). Photo by Amanda Lek.
Group 2 with their guide, Claire Jonquieres (second from left). Photo by Joyce Wong.
Group 3 with their guide, Chloe Tan (back row, right). Photo by Chloe Tan.
Find out more about the Love MacRitchie movement here. See more photos of the walk on Facebook.
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You could find out more about Infinity Sponsorship ,
the Sponsorship College for Not-for-Profits and Charities or having Abby current your subsequent webinar by contacting her at abby@ or 1800 735 738.