Blessed with tropical landscapes that remain verdant all year round and sunny weather conditions for most of the year one could hardly conceive of a more perfect venue for birding than the island nation of Singapore. Offering bird watching enthusiasts the world over a different kind of birding experience, the opportunities to observe birdlife in Singapore are ample and varied. One of the chief highlights in Singapore’s birding hotspots is of course the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Sprawled across an impressive 87 hectares, this stunning natural sanctuary looks over the Straits of Johor to the northwest of the island nation. Home to more than 140 bird varieties birding fans will find migratory as well as endemic bird species that are unique to Singapore in this lush enclave. Beautifully landscaped with mangrove shaded boardwalks and walking paths with dense jungle foliage overhead, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a visitor friendly birding site with guided tours that takes one to the popular haunts within the enclave to observe birds in their natural habitat. A number of observation points in the form of huts have also been set up across its vast terrain while the venue also regularly hosts audiovisual spectacles on the park’s rich fauna and flora heritage.
Migratory birds such as Pacific Golden Plovers, Nordmann’s Greenshanks, Common Redshanks and the Chinese Egrets are frequently spotted in the sanctuary during the migration season which falls between September and March each year. Listed on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership as one of the region’s premier sites in the conservation of migratory bird flocks, no birding adventure in Singapore would be complete without a stopover here.
The Jurong Bird Park is equally intriguing as it is home to a bird population of 8000 which includes 600 species. Thirty endangered bird species are also found at this park which is renowned for its pink flamingo, pelican and penguin populace. With walking trails stretching across 1.7km visitors can take in the sights at leisure whereas Singapore’s Avifauna Bird Farm serves as one of the world’s leading institutions for exotic bird conservation. Other points of interest for birders include the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Sembawang Park and the Labrador Nature Reserve while the birdlife in Chek Jawa wetland can be viewed from Jejawi Tower.
The Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Upper Selet Reservoir Park and Yishun Park are also worthy of exploration in addition to the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Pulau Ubin, Kent Ridge Park and Mount Faber Park.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.