Northern Pintail duck makes rare visit to Singapore

Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times AsiaOne 5 Feb 16;


Photo: The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - A day after World Wetlands Day, Singapore welcomed a star visitor at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

On Wednesday (Feb 3), a slim, long-necked male Northern Pintail made an appearance after more than 20 years. It was spotted feeding among a group of Egrets in the wetland reserve at about 7pm .

The last sighting of this particular species was recorded in 1992 in Senoko South, the National Parks Board told The Straits Times.

According to bird conservation group BirdLife International,the duck is native to many countries including Britain and Switzerland.

Wednesday's was the migratory bird's fifth sighting in Singapore, and a first for the wetland reserve, a critical stop-over site for migratory birds.

Every year, thousands of migratory birds arrive at the reserve in August and September and take respite from harsh winters. They come from as far as Russia, Mongolia, China and Japan.

Singapore is among more than 20 countries along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The flyway stretches from Arctic Russia and North America to Australia and New Zealand.