Today Online 23 Feb 14;
A Whimbrel. Photo: National Parks Board
SINGAPORE — Nineteen years after it was first ringed here, a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) — a large wading bird — was spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Jan 29, marking the longest record for the repeat sighting of an individual Whimbrel species in Singapore.
The Whimbrel is believed to be about 20 years old, said the National Parks Board (NParks) in a statement today (Feb 23).
Bird ringing is the process of catching wild birds and attaching a small ring with a unique serial number around its legs. It allows researchers to, for instance, study migration patterns and the longevity of different bird species.
“Repeat sightings of the same individual can be quite rare and we are very fortunate to be able do so,” said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director of Conservation at NParks.
“The Whimbrel and other migratory bird species can still be seen at Sungei Buloh and visitors will be able to observe them until around late March, which is usually the end of the migratory bird season,” he said.
The Whimbrel, which has a long down-curved bill about twice the length of its head, is commonly sighted on the mudflats of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Pulau Ubin.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve started the bird ringing process in 1990 and conducts bird ringing sessions at least once a month during the annual migratory bird season from September to March.