Birds of a feather block together

Mohd Ishak Samon, The New Paper 17 Oct 08;

BIRD-WATCHING is now a favourite pastime at this HDB block, after a flock of 50 Little Egrets decided to make it their home.

Mr Vernon Sim, a 34-year-old executive, said the birds began roosting on a tree behind Block 50, Dorset Road, about three months ago.

'It was a weird phenomenon to see so many of these unusual birds in a HDB estate,' he said.

Every morning at 6.40am, the common migratory birds take off, flying towards the north and returning around 7pm.

Singapore is one of their wintering grounds.

Residents do not seem to mind their new neighbours.

'They don't make noise. Within 15 minutes of returning every day, they will fall asleep,' said Mr Sim.

The only inconvenience is the 'tonnes' of bird droppings.

'The residents avoid parking their cars at the five or six lots below the tree, except for one guy who still parks his motorcycle there,' said Mr Sim.

'He covers the seat with a towel. But the rest of his bike is covered with the droppings. I don't know why he does that.'

Birdwatching

Every once in a while, Mr Sim leaves his flat on the fourth floor and heads to a staircase landing on the 11th floor to watch the birds come home.

'They look very elegant because they will glide and circle around before landing on the top of the tree,' said Mr Sim.

'The aunties, especially, like it very much.'